1950s songs, looking for love

#179 Earth Angel- The Penguins

I hope and pray that someday/
That I’ll be the vision of your happiness.

The melody of The Penguin’s “Earth Angel” is classic. I also like the concept of this song. He is calling his beloved an “Earth Angel”…that’s awesome. The lyrics of this song are not terribly deep, but that is not what pop music was about at this time.

“Earth Angel” was written in 1954, so that is even pre-Buddy Holly, Valens or the Everly Brothers. This song had everything else. Notice the attempts of harmonies. They are rudimentary, but they are important to the development of the genre. There would also be many covers of this song that sound really good. Perhaps the best version of this song has yet to be done.

If you are a fan of Boys II Men or Motown, this is where it all started—this song was recorded in a garage where The Penguins practice. They would never have another hit.

Earth Angel Lyrics

Earth angel, Earth angel, will you be mine?
My darling dear, love you all the time.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you.

Earth angel, Earth angel, the one I adore
Love you for ever, and ever more.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you.

I fell for you, and I knew
The vision of your love’s loveliness.
I hope and I pray, that some day
I’ll be the vision of your hap, happiness.

Earth angel, Earth angel, please be mine.
My darling dear, love you all the time.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you.

I fell for you, and I knew
The vision of your love’s loveliness.
I hope and I pray, that some day
I’ll be the vision, the vision of your happiness.

Oh, oh, oh, Earth angel, Earth angel, please be mine.
My darling dear, love you for all time.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you.

written by Curtis Williams / Gaynel Hodge / Jesse Lorenzo Belvin

1990s songs, friendship

#178 Isobel (live)- Dido

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Would he have loved you, and not let you down/
And would he be stronger than his father.

Isobel is a friend who had an abortion and, in her sorrow, may have skipped town because she felt ashamed. I am sure of the former part, not certain about the later. Dido’s lyrics rarely provide a complete picture, but they usually provide a hint, with the listener left to fill in the blanks.

What is amazing about this song is the live performance. Dido’s “Isobel” live version is a much different song than the the album version. The energy and production are completely different. Jam songs can get boring, but Dido and her band riff for a couple minutes at the end and it is heavenly.

If you like Dido, or great live concerts, or singer-songwriters, you owe it to yourself to buy Dido’s Live from Brighton Academy. It is one of the best concerts I have ever seen. It is also visually stunning. I go to a concert for the sound, but this experience is something else with the visual production and just seeing the beautiful Dido in her prime, singing.

Another interesting thing about this song is the number of melodies that come out of it. The verses into “…Isobel I hope you’re well” are pretty rocking, and sound great. Even better is the refrain, “I’m helping it past by loving, loving you more.” That line is great, and the melody of that line is so special.

Isobel Lyrics

I thought it was funny when you missed the train
When I rang you at home they said you left yesterday
I thought it was strange when your car was found
By the tree in Ennis where we used to hang around

Dear Isobel
I hope you’re well and what you’ve done is right
Oh it’s been such hell
I wish you well I hope you’re safe tonight

It’s been a long day coming and long will it last
When it’s last day leaving, and I’m helping it pass by loving you more

And who he would become, all the things he’d have done
Would he have loved you, and not let you down
And would he be stronger than his father
Don’t punish yourself, leave it well alone

Dear Isobel
I hope you’re well and what you’ve done is right
Oh it’s been such hell
I wish you well I hope you’re safe tonight

It’s been a long day coming and long will it last
When it’s last day leaving, and I’m helping it pass by loving you more
It’s been a long day coming and long will it last
When it’s last day leaving, and I’m helping it pass by loving, loving you more.

written by Dido

1970s songs, songs about exes

#177 If You See Her Say Hello- Bob Dylan

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She might think that I’ve forgotten her/
Don’t tell her it isn’t so.

Bob Dylan is one of the biggest hard-asses of all-time. In “If You See Her, Say Hello” we see a different side of him. He seems regretful of a lost love—though he never comes right out and says that. He speaks of this woman quite tenderly, and we can tell that he misses her. Compare this with other songs about women in which is downright scornful like Just Like A Woman, You’re A Big Girl Now or It’s All Over Now Baby Blue.

If You See Her Say Hello Meaning — Dylan

In “If You See Her, Say Hello” he is speaking with a friend that he and his ex had in common. He says to say “hello” to her and to look me up, but don’t make it seem like I am too eager. Dylan was prideful. We all are.

This is from Dylan’s album Blood on the Tracks, which may be his best album. There are several different versions of this song you can check out, all of them good. The one from The Bootleg Series might be the best as it is a little faster paced and more striped down, but the album version is great too. Dylan’s voice sounds good here, and the mandolin is mixed in to make the song feel more solemn.

If You See Her Say Hello Lyrics

If you see her, say hello
She might be in Tangier
She left here last early spring
Is livin’ there, I hear
Say for me that I’m all right
Though things get kind of slow
She might think that I’ve forgotten her
Don’t tell her it isn’t so

We had a falling-out
Like lovers often will
And to think of how she left that night
It still brings me a chill
And though our separation
It pierced me to the heart
She still lives inside of me
We’ve never been apart

If you get close to her
Kiss her once for me
I always have respected her
For doin’ what she did and gettin’ free
Oh, whatever makes her happy
I won’t stand in the way
Though the bitter taste still lingers on
From the night I tried to make her stay

I see a lot of people
As I make the rounds
And I hear her name here and there
As I go from town to town
And I’ve never gotten used to it
I’ve just learned to turn it off
Either I’m too sensitive
Or else I’m gettin’ soft

Sundown, yellow moon
I replay the past
I know every scene by heart
They all went by so fast
If she’s passin’ back this way
I’m not that hard to find
Tell her she can look me up
If she’s got the time

written by Bob Dylan

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