1960s songs, looking for love

#55 Light My Fire- The Doors

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You know that I would be a liar/
If I was to say to you/
Girl we couldn’t get much higher…

The Doors’ “Light My Fire” is a very distinctive sound. One reason is due to Jim Morrison’s voice.  Morrison’s has one of the manliest and sexiest male voices. Another reason The Doors sound so distinct is that they rely on keyboards and don’t use a bass guitar. Does any other band not use a bass? None that I know of. It obviously creates a tinny sound. I do wonder if this song would have been enhanced with a bass part. Though, it apparently does fine without.

Light My Fire Meaning
The Doors

If you like keyboards The Doors “Light My Fire” is the song for you. I cannot think of any song that utilizes keyboard solos to the extent that “Light My Fire” does. And they are great solos. The lyrics were extremely risqué at the time, but now they seem relatively tame by today’s standard.

“Light My Fire” references sex and drugs in a roundabout way…it doesn’t use those words anyways. This is a good way to write about risqué topics. Hint at the topic, rather than say it directly. Current musicians could look to Morrison for inspiration in this regard. At the time of release, The Doors “Light My Fire” wasn’t considered so circumspect.

Another great Doors song on this list is Break on Through.

Lyrics Light My Fire

You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl we couldn’t get much higher

Come on baby light my fire
Come on baby light my fire
Try to set the night on fire

The time hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre

Come on baby light my fire
Come on baby light my fire
Try to set the night on fire

You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl we couldn’t get much higher

Come on baby light my fire
Come on baby light my fire
Try to set the night on fire

written by Jim Morrison

1960s songs, songs about sex

#54 Ask Me No Questions- Bridget St John

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Ask me no questions, tell me no lies if you don’t mind, and come with me.

“Ask Me No Questions” by Bridget St. John is not a song you will hear on the radio, but it is one of the most tender, loving songs about love-well, making love—sung by an amazing artist. The song is a classic folk song: just the singer and a guitar and little else.

Bridget St. John talks about sex in a very direct way (that is what the song is about) but she uses poetic language to make it seem mystical and important. She asks her partner to surrender to her, leave everything behind, and they can go to a place of bliss. Together. In the morning they will both agree to forget everything and keep it a secret.

Ask Me No Questions Meaning
Bridget St. John

It is interesting that the title of the song is “Ask Me No Questions” as the theme of the song is really more about two people coming together. But in her mind, in order for it to happen they must both temporarily set everything behind by not asking each other questions about their pasts or promising things about the future. Only then, will they be able to completely belong to each other in that moment.

Perhaps the past can get in the way of enjoying the present if we let it. You might also like another Bridget St John song on this list:  Song to keep you Company.

Ask Me No Questions Lyrics

Ask me no questions,
Tell me no lies if you don’t mind, and come with me.
There, where the sun flies.
There, where the sky is bluer still is where we’ll be.
Take nothing with you.
I’ll give you everything I can, have no fear.
For if you stumble, or should you fall down on the way, I’ll be there.
Close your eyes, my love.
Close your eyes, gently, come.
And in the morning,
Don’t tell a soul of what you saw, it’s just for you.
Keep this a secret, make me a promise that you will.
I’ll make one too.
Close your eyes, my love.
Close your eyes, gently, come.
Ask me no questions,
Tell me no lies if you don’t mind, and come with me.
There, where the sun flies.
There, where the sky is bluer still is where we’ll be.

written by Bridget st John

1990s songs, unrequited love

#53 I Can’t Make You Love Me- Bonnie Raitt

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‘Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t/
You can’t make your heart feel something it won’t.

“I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt is one of the rare songs that had cross-over success on both the country charts and the pop charts. The song also sounds bluesy. It is truly hard to create a great song for both audiences. I think there are less than five such songs on this list.

“I Can’t Make You Love Me” is about how Raitt wishes her lover could feel more for her but he/she simply doesn’t. So, she will take what she can and accept the physical intimacy that is offered. The song is sad, since it is one of mismatched desires and unrequited love. Ideally, she wants to be love, but for tonight she’ll accept whatever he is willing to give her. What else can she do? She can’t make him love her.

I Can't Make You Love Me Meaning
Bonnie Raitt

This is another song on this list where the piano part is played by Bruce Hornsby. The End of the Innocence was also. The piano has some standout riffs—I believe that is harder to pull off on piano than on guitar. The song also has keyboards to fill in the sound.

Raitt’s vocal makes the song. She sounds resigned to her current situation. We empathize because it is a situation most of us can relate to. And it is heartbreaking. Interestingly Raitt’s biggest hit was when she over forty. So few artists have new hits after 40. I think Sia and Leonard Cohen might be the only two others on this list.

Check out the great cover by SOAK.

I Can't Make You Love Me Meaning
SOAK

I Can’t Make You Love Me Lyrics

Turn down the lights,
Turn down the bed.
Turn down these voices inside my head.
Lay down with me,
Tell me no lies.
Just hold me close, don’t patronize,
Don’t patronize me.

‘Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t.
You can’t make your heart feel something it won’t.
Here in the dark, in these final hours,
I will lay down my heart and I’ll feel the power.
But you won’t, no you won’t,
‘Cause I can’t make you love me, if you don’t.

I’ll close my eyes, then I won’t see,
The love you don’t feel when you’re holding me.
Morning will come and I’ll do what’s right,
Just give me till then to give up this fight.
And I will give up this fight.

‘Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t.
You can’t make your heart feel something it won’t.
Here in the dark, in these final hours,
I will lay down my heart and I’ll feel the power.
But you won’t, no you won’t,
‘Cause I can’t make you love me, if you don’t.

written by Bonnie Raitt