#64 Somebody- Depeche Mode

Though my views may be wrong, they may even be perverted/
She’ll hear me out and won’t easily be converted/

“Somebody” by Depeche Mode is one of the most underrated love songs. You never hear it mentioned as an all-time great or get radio airtime, but the song is fantastic. The lyrics are outstanding. Look at the detail and depth of thought that Martin Gore puts into what he wants in a woman.

Imagine reading his “list” of wants on a personals section. Does anyone really put that much thought into what they want in a partner other than someone hot? His wants and needs are insightful and idiosyncratic and unapologetic. That is really refreshing.

Somebody Depeche Mode Meaning
Depeche Mode

So what does he want? Gore wants someone who will be patient with him, give him the benefit of the doubt and challenge him, but also understand him. Later in “Someone” he lists other things that he envisions wanting in a woman. They are so deeply personal that I don’t see how anyone couldn’t love this song. It is so honest and open.

The melody and piano accompaniment to Depeche Mode’s “Somebody” are equally amazing. The song actually requires quite a vocal range. Gore delivers the vocals tenderly—as if they are something that have meaning to him. What else can we ask for in a song? What is crazy to me is that somehow “Somebody” is not in the top ten songs listened to in Spotify by Depeche Mode.

“Somebody” is an underappreciated love song that deserves to be discussed with the best of all-time.  For more Depeche Mode.

Somebody Lyrics

I want somebody to share, share the rest of my life
Share my innermost thoughts, know my intimate details.
Someone who’ll stand by my side and give me support,
And in return, she’ll get my support.

She will listen to me when I want to speak
About the world we live in, and life in general.
Though my views may be wrong, they may even be perverted,
She’ll hear me out and won’t easily be converted
To my way of thinking, in fact, she’ll often disagree.
But at the end of it all, she will understand me.

I want somebody who cares for me passionately,
With every thought and with every breath.
Someone who’ll help me see things in a different light,
All the things I detest I will almost like.

I don’t want to be tied to anyone’s strings,
I’m carefully trying to steer clear of those things.
But when I’m asleep I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me and kiss me tenderly.
Though things like this make me sick,
In a case like this, I’ll get away with it.

written by Martin Lee Gore (Depeche Mode)

#63 Wild Horses- The Rolling Stones

Faith has been broken tears must be cried/
Let’s do some living after we die.

The Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” is a song about young love and the transition into an adult relationship. Problems become more pronounced and it appears that the woman may be pushing the narrator away. But he isn’t having any of it. He is not going to let her ruin a good thing. Her theatrics and attempts to sabotage the relationship are not going to dissuade him. Not even wild horses will drag him away.

Wild Horses rolling stones Meaning
the Stones

The line above is very interesting: “Let’s do some living after we die.” It sounds like she wants to break up with him and live her life while she’s young…or something to that effect. He is saying “let’s be together now and worry about this ‘living’ at another time in the future.” It sounds very different than the typical impression we get of Jagger as a playboy. Here he comes off as a romantic.

The harmonies in the chorus are not elite level, but they are still good. Mick’s vocal’s sound good, but throughout even the mid seventies he was pretty consistent with his voice. Not only are his vocals clear, they sound somewhat heartfelt. That is what we want in a lyric.

Of course, I think it is the melody that stands out in “Wild Horses” as well as the overt romanticism that makes this song such a favorite. The guitar work sounds almost ad-libbed at times, but that is part of its charm. This is a song that is ripe for a great cover. There are a couple decent versions but nothing monumental.

Wild Horses Lyrics

Childhood living is easy to do,
The things you wanted I bought them for you.
Graceless lady you know who I am,
You know I can’t let you slide through my hands.

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.
Wild, wild horses couldn’t drag me away.

I watched you suffer a dull aching pain,
Now you’ve decided to show me the same.
No sweeping exit or offstage lines,
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind.

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.
Wild, wild horses couldn’t drag me away.

I know I’ve dreamed you a sin and a lie,
I have my freedom but I don’t have much time.
Faith has been broken tears must be cried,
Let’s do some living after we die.

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.
Wild, wild horses we’ll ride them some day.
Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.
Wild, wild horses we’ll ride them some day.

written by Jagger/Richards

#62 It’s All Over Now Baby Blue (live)- Bob Dylan

The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense/
Take what you have gathered from coincidence.

In “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue”: we don’t get the details from Bob Dylan about what went wrong in her life, but something has gone wrong for the protagonist. It sounds like she is in debt, and her life is in danger and she must immediately leave town (and perhaps even change her name) if she wants to survive.

Things are so bad that a vagabond is standing outside her door in the clothes she pawned. It is interesting that she is still around. The song is not about how she left for a life on the road. The song is a warning, a wake-up call. Dylan is saying “you don’t have much time left, leave now and start over”. Baby Blue is one of the more fascinating characters in Dylan’s songs.

It's All Over Now Baby Blue Meaning
Dylan

Listen to the live version at Free Trade Hall in 1966. This is the best concert of Dylan’s career, and many of the best versions of his best songs come from that performance. But most of all, it is this song. It is so much better than the album version.

One of the aspects that stands out about “It’s All Over Baby Blue” are the harmonica solos. Dylan is famous for playing the harmonica, but he is not great at it. In this performance, his two harmonica solos sound transcendent. That night his voice sounded great and he delivered the song as if the songs mattered to him.

It is truly one of the best live performances ever. It was his acoustic set that was amazing. Halfway through he switched to electric guitar and someone yelled out “Judas”. The rest of the concert did not go as well. They took their folk music seriously back then.

More Great Songs from Dylan.

It’s All Over Now Baby Blue Lyrics

You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last.
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast.
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun,
Crying like a fire in the sun.
Look out, the saints are comin’ through,
And it’s all over now, Baby Blue.

The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense.
Take what you have gathered from coincidence.
The empty-handed painter from your streets,
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets.
The sky too is folding under you,
And it’s all over now, Baby Blue.

All your seasick sailors, they’re all rowing home.
Your empty-handed army is all going home.
Your lover who just walked out the door,
Has taken all his blankets from the floor.
The carpet too is moving under you,
And it’s all over now, Baby Blue.

Leave your stepping stones behind there, something calls for you.
Forget the dead you’ve left, they will not follow you.
The vagabond who’s rapping at your door,
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore.
Strike another match, go start anew.
And it’s all over now, Baby Blue.

written by Bob Dylan