1990s songs, life is hard

#191 Everybody Hurts- R.E.M.

If you think you’ve had too much/
Of this life. Well, hang on.

R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” has so much going right for it. The message is particularly comforting. For a rock star to speak plainly that even he hurts, that even he feels alone sometimes, that can be a comfort to many. That is one of the reasons “Everybody Hurts” has resonated with so many people.

The band R.E.M.s Everybody Hurts” addresses a common problem that everyone faces at some point in their life and delivers a simple message: “You’re not alone”. There is also another issue it addresses: suicide. Stipe’s answer is to “hang on”. For those in trouble, I think this is the perfect message to hear until they can get the proper medical treatment.

The melody of “Everybody Hurts” is great, though most songs at this level of the list will be. The production is stellar. Listen to the percussion. It is almost absent yet plays a key part in the transition from bridge to the next verse. I like the arpeggiated guitar pattern that is the backbone of the song. It is simple and steady, and fun to play (for those of you aspiring guitar players). The strings fill out the song perfectly. Stipe’s voice sounds good and he sings with meaning. “Everybody Hurts” has a bit of everything.

Everybody Hurts Lyrics

When your day is long.
And the night-
The night is yours alone.
When you’re sure you’ve had enough
Of this life.
Well hang on.

Don’t let yourself go.
‘Cause everybody cries,
And everybody hurts, sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong.
Now it’s time to sing along.

When your day is night alone (hold on).
(Hold on) if you feel like letting go (hold on).
If you think you’ve had too much
Of this life.
Well, hang on.

‘Cause everybody hurts.
Take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts.

Don’t throw your hand,
Oh, no.
Don’t throw your hand,
If you feel like you’re alone,
No, no, no, you’re not alone.

If you’re on your own
In this life.
The days and nights are long.
When you think you’ve had too much
Of this life.
To hang on.

Well, everybody hurts, sometimes.
Everybody cries.
And everybody hurts sometimes.
And everybody hurts sometimes.
So, hold on, hold on.

Hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on.
Everybody hurts.
You are not alone.

written by R.E.M.

1960s songs, story songs

#190 The Wind Cries Mary- Jimi Hendrix

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Somewhere a king has no wife/
And the wind, it cries Mary.

Why is the Wind crying and whispering Mary’s name and what does that mean? It sounds like a ghost from your past. You have taken care of your daily job and things are all in order but still the wind whispers Mary. People are hurrying home at night and a queen is weeping and the wind still cries out Mary. It is like the city is haunted by Mary.

The Wind Cries Mary Meaning — Jimi lighting guitar on fire

So Jimi asks the wind will there be a different name tomorrow? The wind answers “no, this will be the last.” So obviously something happened to Mary and The Wind is haunting our lives by making us remember her.

The musicianship in Hendrix “Wind Cries Mary” is subtle, but what you have to realize is that Jimi is playing the lead guitar part while singing. And the two parts are not easy to perform together, but he does it effortlessly. We also get to hear his backup band “The Experience” show off their chops a bit here. Both the drums and bass play an important to the sound of the song. Jimi’s voice sounds at its most confident in this song. He feels comfortable with the material in the performance.

The Wind Cries Mary Lyrics

After all jacks are in their boxes,
And the clowns have all gone to bed.
You can hear happiness staggering on down the street.
Footprints dressed in red.

And the wind whispers “Mary”.

A broom is drearily sweeping
Up the broken pieces of yesterday’s life.
Somewhere a queen is weeping,
Somewhere a king has no wife.

And the wind, it cries “Mary”.

The traffic lights they turn a blue tomorrow,
And shine their emptiness down on my bed.
The tiny island sags downstream,
‘Cause the life that they lived is dead.

And the wind screams “Mary”.

Will the wind ever remember?
The names it has blown in the past.
And with its crutch, its old age and its wisdom,
It whispers “no, this will be the last”.
And the wind cries “Mary”.

written by Jimi Hendrix

1970s songs, words not needed

#189 How Can I Tell You- Cat Stevens

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It always ends up to one thing, honey/
And I can’t think of right words to say.

When a poet feels something so immense that he can’t think of words to describe how he is feeling it becomes difficult to write songs. “How Can I Tell You” is Cat Stevens attempt to deal with this very problem. He feels immensely for this girl, but does the word “immensely” even begin to signify the feelings of his racing mind and raging heart? They really don’t.

“How Can I Tell You” is about the “ineffable”: that which cannot be put into words. Some great loves might elicit feelings that transcend normal means of communication. Thus, perhaps a song will have to do. Jim Croce, expresses a similar sentiment in “I’ll have to Say I Love You in a Song”.

I love Cat Steven’s light guitar intro. The pace is perfect. Overall, the finger-picking is amazingly delicate and perfect for the song. Stevens voice sounds great, as he delivers a performance about his inability to communicate his love to a woman. The light use of a flute and one line of a background singer highlights the proper message. Note how Stevens can convey emotion without straining his voice, nor doing vocal runs and barely changing volumes. He is a master.

How Can I Tell You Lyrics

How can I tell you
That I love you?
I love you,
But I can’t think of right words to say.

I long to tell you,
That I’m always thinking of you.
I’m always thinking of you,
But my words just blow away.
Just blow away.

It always ends up to one thing, honey
And I can’t think of right words to say.

Wherever I am girl
I’m always walking with you.
I’m always walking with you,
But I look and you’re not there.

Whoever I’m with
I’m always, always talking to you.
I’m always talking to you,
And I’m sad that you can’t hear,
Sad that you can’t hear.
It always ends up to one thing, honey
When I look and you’re not there.

I need to know you.
Need to feel my arms around you,
Feel my arms surround you
Like a sea around a shore.

Each night and day I pray
In hope that I might find you.
In hope that I might find you,
Because heart’s can do no more;
Can do no more.

It always ends up to one thing, honey
Still I kneel upon the floor.

How can I tell you
That I love you?
I love you,
But I can’t think of right words to say.

I long to tell you
That I’m always thinking of you.
I’m always thinking of you,
It always ends up to one thing, honey,
And I can’t think of right words to say.

written by Cat Stevens

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