1960s songs, love songs

#465 Here, There and Everywhere- The Beatles

I want her everywhere/
And if she’s beside me I know I need never care.

“Here, There and Everywhere” is a Beatles love song by McCartney off the Revolver album. This is from the early-middle Beatles period. We see Paul experimenting with complex chord progressions, but his lyrics are still relatively simple…though more complex than “And I Love Her” which he wrote a couple years prior.

Here, is a great example where Paul gets his reputation as the one who writes the silly love songs. He writes about feeling complete only when she is with him, and how their love will never die. These are romantic expressions perfect for a ballad, and Paul is the king of the ballad.

Here There and Everywhere Meaning — Paul

A couple notes: George Harrisons guitar work is prominently displayed in this song. That sound he achieves with the guitar is unique. This song was written after Paul heard the Beach Boys Pet Sounds. The background harmonies are something we hadn’t heard from The Beatles since perhaps “That Boy”.

McCartney perhaps drew inspiration from Brian Wilson. While much is made of The Beatles inspiring the Rolling Stones and the arms race between them, it was Brian Wilson who was really doing the most amazing work of this time period and The Beatles took notice and their work was inspired by it.

Here, There and Everywhere Lyrics

To lead a better life
I need my love to be here

Here, making each day of the year
Changing my life with a wave of her hand
Nobody can deny that there’s something there
There, running my hands through her hair
Both of us thinking how good it can be
Someone is speaking
But she doesn’t know he’s there

I want her everywhere
And if she’s beside me I know I need never care
But to love her is to need her everywhere
Knowing that love is to share
Each one believing that love never dies
Watching her eyes and hoping I’m always there

I will be there
And everywhere
Here, there and everywhere

Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney

1970s songs, infatuation

#464 Bell Bottom Blues- Derrick & The Dominoes

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Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I’d gladly do it…

Along with Cream and Blind Faith, Derrick and the Dominoes was another Eric Clapton led band. It was short lived. They produced one album. But it was amazing. In “Bell Bottom Blues” Clapton has it bad for some woman (I assume she wore bell bottoms?). He loves her even though she treats him poorly, and he wants more. (It would be interesting how the reception of this song would have been had it been released by a woman.)

He doesn’t care if he has to beg. He’ll gladly do it. Whatever it takes. In the end he even half threatens her that he will find someone new if she doesn’t take him back. This song deals with very raw, unprocessed and unfiltered emotions and that is why it is so powerful.

Unique to “Bell Bottom Blues” is the guitar work. It sounds like dueling guitars…especially throughout the verses. It sounds almost improvised. The guitars are also extremely distorted for the time period. This was some hard rock at the time. We also catch a rare glimpse of Clapton’s falsetto, and also some attempts at harmonizing.

Also, you can hear the difference between a Cream song and a Derrick and the Dominoes song if you listen to the drumbeat. Ginger Baker of Cream played much more complex beats.

Bell Bottom Blues Lyrics

Bell bottom blues, you made me cry.
I don’t want to lose this feeling.
And if I could choose a place to die
It would be in your arms.

Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I’d gladly do it because
I don’t want to fade away.
Give me one more day, please.
I don’t want to fade away.
In your heart I want to stay.

It’s all wrong, but it’s all right.
The way that you treat me baby.
Once I was strong but I lost the fight.
You won’t find a better loser.

Bell bottom blues, don’t say goodbye.
I’m sure we’re gonna meet again,
And if we do, don’t you be surprised
If you find me with another lover.

Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I don’t want to fade away.
Give me one more day, please.
I don’t want to fade away.
In your heart I want to stay.

I don’t want to fade away.
Give me one more day please.
I don’t want to fade away.
In your heart I long to stay.

Songwriters: Eric Patrick Clapton / Bobby Whitlock

1980s songs, breakup songs

#463 Open Arms- Journey

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But now that you’ve come back/
Turned night into day/
I need you to stay.

The main strength of Journey’s “Open Arms” lies with the strong piano intro. The piano score throughout is quite good. It is so recognizable and so beautiful- very few songs are comparable. Maybe “You are so Beautiful” by Joe Cocker, but not many. “Open Arms” tells the story of a love taken for granted.

In the beginning, things seemed to be going great but the love was “blind”. The couple ended up drifting apart. He ends up living alone and doesn’t enjoy the cold nights and misses having her in his arms. And now he is reaching out to her. The theme of Journey’s “Open Arms” is “I’m sorry, take me back.” It is not clear whether or not his plea works but the song sounds hopeful.

Open Arms Lyrics

Lying beside you
Here in the dark,
Feeling your heartbeat with mine.

Softly you whisper,
You’re so sincere.
How could our love be so blind?

We sailed on together,
We drifted apart.
And here you are
By my side.

So now I come to you
With open arms,
Nothing to hide,
Believe what I say

So here I am
With open arms.
Hoping you’ll see
What your love means to me.
Open arms.

Living without you-
Living alone.
This empty house seems so cold.

Wanting to hold you,
Wanting you near.
How much I wanted you home.

But now that you’ve come back,
Turned night into day.
I need you to stay.

So now I come to you
With open arms.
Nothing to hide,
Believe what I say.