1960s songs, toxic relationship

#6 Can’t Find My Way Home- Blind Faith

Come down off your throne and leave your body alone/
Somebody must change.

Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” is about a toxic relationship that probably involves substance abuse. Not necessarily a romantic relationship but it is possible. Perhaps both parties are guilty of imbibing.

Regardless, the strength of the song lies elsewhere. Each of the musicians have outstanding contributions. Let’s start with the beautiful vocals. They sound so emotional and the melody is so delightful and dreary—Winwood delivers them fantastically. The range he exhibits is impressive.

Clapton plays acoustic guitar here. He is more known for his work on electric guitar. He sounds well equipped to handle it. The intro, fills and solo all sound solid. Baker’s drumming is unconventional as always. He lets the bass keep the time and uses percussion to add flair to the song. Hitting the high hats is a pretty jarring sound. In the outro, Baker goes full out drum solo over the vocal and it rocks.

can't find my way home meaning — Clapton and Winwood

Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” is the result of yet another one of Eric Clapton’s groups—like Cream and Derrick and the Dominoes. Blind Faith was a supergroup and one-hit wonder.

Blind Faith consisted of Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech. They released one album…with that famous cover. “Can’t Find My Way Home” was the highlight, written and sung by a young Steve Winwood.

Somehow, the Rolling Stone List completely left this song off their all-time greatest songs list!

Can’t Find My Way Home Lyrics

Come down off your throne and leave your body alone.
Somebody must change.
You are the reason I’ve been waiting so long.
Somebody holds the key.

But I’m near the end and I just ain’t got the time.
And I’m wasted and I can’t find my way home.

Come down on your own and leave your body alone.
Somebody must change.
You are the reason I’ve been waiting all these years.
Somebody holds the key.

But I’m near the end and I just ain’t got the time.
And I’m wasted and I can’t find my way home.

But I can’t find my way home.
But I can’t find my way home.
But I can’t find my way home.
And I ain’t done nothing wrong,
But I can’t find my way home.

Written by Steve Winwood

1960s songs, contentment

#5 For Emily-Wherever I May Find Her- Simon & Garfunkel

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And when I awoke and felt you warm and near/
I kissed your honey hair with my grateful tears.

Simon & Garfunkel’s “For Emily Wherever I May Find Her” tells a great story of the narrator’s crazy, wonderful dream. We know it is a dream–Simon tells us in the first line. In the dream the narrator walks down empty streets and alleys with closed shops. The scene is picturesque. He hears cathedral bells in the distance. What is going on?

The streets turn into a frosty field an in it he sees his love, Emily. She is beautiful. She runs to him; they embrace, then hold hands as they walk through the fields. He has never been happier. But then he awakes!

He sits up and turns in bed. He sees Emily is sleeping beside him. His real life is better than his dream–as the woman he loves is sleeping next to him. A tear runs down his cheek as he gives her a kiss and tells Emily that he loves her.

For Emily Wherever I May Find Her Meaning — Simon and Garfunkel

It is amazing how dream-like Simon’s guitar intro sounds. The intro transports us into his dream. We walk the endless streets and see Emily. As he awakes the pace of the guitar quickens to the reveal. All of this is accomplished with just an acoustic guitar. In this live version it is astonishing how much sound can be produced with just Simon’s acoustic guitar and Garfunkel’s voice.

Garfunkel’s vocals are spectacular. They are dynamic. They capture the sensitive dream-like state at the beginning of the song and erupt into the euphoria upon the reveal. Garfunkel has one of the best male voices. For Emily Wherever I May Find Her is one of the best and most underrated love songs. This is Simon & Garfunkel at their best.

For Emily Wherever I May Find Her Lyrics

What I dream I had
Pressed in organdy.
Clothed in crinoline
Of smoky Burgundy,
Softer than the rain.

I wandered empty streets down,
past the shop displays.
I heard cathedral bells
Tripping down the alley ways.
As I walked on…

And when you ran to me
Your cheeks flushed with the night.
We walked on frosted fields
of juniper and lamplight.
I held your hand.

And when I awoke,
And felt you warm and near.
I kissed your honey hair
With my grateful tears.
Oh I love you girl.

Oh I love you!

written by Paul Simon

1960s songs, love songs

#4 Tomorrow is a Long Time- Bob Dylan

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If tomorrow wasn’t such a long time,
Then lonesome would mean nothing to you at all.

This version of “Tomorrow is a Long Time” was released on Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Volume 2 and it was the highlight of the album. It was a previously unreleased version of an obscure song that he performed live, in 1963, a couple years before he went electric. We get to hear what made everyone so crazy about Dylan. With just a guitar and a harmonica he could captivate an audience by gently singing about anything. In this case, we hear one of his few love songs.

Dylan’s guitar work is not as precise as someone like Paul Simon and his voice isn’t as good, but he seems to tell more intimate tales and be more intimate with the audience (when he feels like it, like in this recording). He takes his words and his work seriously, so we do too. You can tell the audience is engaged by the utter silence when he begins playing the guitar. He plays very quietly. Any crowd noise would be heard, yet there is utter silence.

The melody for “Tomorrow is a Long Time” is particularly good and I think it matches Dylan’s voice well. It is interesting to me that he never released this on a regular album. Had he released it in 1963 when he originally wrote it it would have been a hit with the folk community. But it is more than just a good folk song. It is a great song that compares favorably with any song on this list. “Tomorrow is a Long Time” is Bob Dylan’s best song.

Tomorrow is a Long Time Lyrics

If today was not an endless highway,
If tonight was not a crooked trail.
If tomorrow wasn’t such a long time.
Then lonesome would mean nothing to you at all.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin’,
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin’.
Only if she was lyin’ by me,
Then I’d lie in my bed once again.

I can’t see my reflection in the waters.
I can’t speak the sounds that show no pain.
I can’t hear the echo of my footsteps,
Or can’t remember the sound of my own name.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin’,
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin’.
Only if she was lyin’ by me,
Then I’d lie in my bed once again.

There’s beauty in the silver, singin’ river,
There’s beauty in the sunrise in the sky.
But none of these and nothing else can touch the beauty
That I remember in my true love’s eyes.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin’,
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin’.
Only if she was lyin’ by me,
Then I’d lie in my bed once again.

written by bob dylan

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