#449 Someday Never Comes- Creedence Clearwater Revival

You better learn it fast; you better learn it young/
‘Cause, “Someday” Never Comes.”

Creedence was only around for five years but they had so many hits, and this is one of their best. “Someday Never Comes” is a “Carpe Diem” message passed on from father to the author and then from the author to his son. It is a simple message but such a powerful way to present it. Fogerty sings the song with urgency for his song and “all mother’s sons”, as life is short. Creedence’s songs tended to be simple, but they always sounded unique due to Fogerty’s vocals.

Someday Never Comes Meaning
CCR

There is another theme in this song, about spending time with your kids now because eventually they will be grown up and you will have time for them but they won’t have time for you because they will be older now. Harry Chapin expressed similar thoughts in “Cat’s in the Cradle”. “Someday Never Comes” is one of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s finest songs.

Someday Never Comes Lyrics

First thing I remember,
Was asking Papa, “Why?”
For there were many things I didn’t know.
And Daddy always smiled,
Took me by the hand,
Saying, “Someday you’ll understand”.

Well, I’m here to tell you now each and every mother’s son,
You better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
‘Cause someday never comes.

The time and tears went by,
And I collected dust,
For there were many things I didn’t know.
When Daddy went away,
He said, “Try to be a man,
And someday you’ll understand.”

But I’m here to tell you now each and every mother’s son,
You better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
‘Cause someday never comes.

And then one day in April,
I wasn’t even there,
For there were many things I didn’t know.
A son was born to me,
Mama held his hand,
Saying, “Someday you’ll understand.”

Well, I’m here to tell you now each and every mother’s son,
You better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
‘Cause someday never comes.
Ooh, someday never comes.

Think it was September,
The year I went away,
For there were many things I didn’t know.
And I still see him standin’,
Tryin’ to be a man,
I said, “Someday you’ll understand.”

But I’m here to tell you now each and every mother’s son,
You better learn it fast, you better learn it young.
‘Cause someday never comes,
Ooh, someday never comes.

Songwriters: J. C. Fogerty

#448 Somewhere Only We Know- Keane

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I’m getting old, and I need something to rely on.

When we’re weary from our daily problems, sometimes we seek out familiar patterns and places to bring us comfort. In Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” it appears like a relationship is having difficulties and the man is asking his love to meet him at their private place that only they know about. It is special that he can just say “our place” and the two of them would both know where that is. He is reminding himself and her.

Somewhere Only We Know Meaning
Keane

Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” is driven by its strong melody. It is really catchy and powerful. The singing sounds like a man yearning for something: perhaps to be comforted by his love. The instrumentation is strong. Both piano and keyboards are used to strong effect. The drums are well done.

A strong, purposeful bridge helps bring the song home. The building of the song from piano in the beginning building towards forte at the end is the right choice. It feels like Keane starts sad and upon reflection sees a course of action to fix the relationship and needs to fix the relationship now.

Somewhere Only We Know Lyrics

I walked across an empty land,
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand.
I felt the earth beneath my feet,
Sat by the river and it made me complete.

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I’m getting old and I need something to rely on.
So tell me when you’re gonna let me in.
I’m getting tired and I need somewhere to begin.

I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me.
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I’ve been dreaming of?

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I’m getting old and I need something to rely on.
So tell me when you’re gonna let me in.
I’m getting tired and I need somewhere to begin.

And if you have a minute, why don’t we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything.
So why don’t we go
Somewhere only we know?
Somewhere only we know.

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I’m getting old and I need something to rely on.
So tell me when you’re gonna let me in.
I’m getting tired and I need somewhere to begin.

And if you have a minute, why don’t we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything.
So why don’t we go?
So why don’t we go?

Ahh
Ohh
This could be the end of everything.
So why don’t we go,
Somewhere only we know.
Somewhere only we know.
Somewhere only we know?

Songwriters: Richard David Hughes / Timothy James Rice-Oxley / Tom Chaplin (Keane)

#447 Staying Alive- The Bee Gees

We can try to understand/
The New York Times’ effect on man.

“Staying Alive” is a song about how a big city can suck the life out of you. You have no choice but to try to stay alive. That is what everybody is trying to do in the big city.

The song sounds so upbeat, but the message is a bit deep. Of course, this song is one of the most iconic ones of all time. How many songs define a music genre? This sound was so influential that it blew up the Disco scene. It is a dance sensation that gets a bad rap. Sure, some of the songs are silly, but it was the dance music of the 70s.

Staying Alive Meaning
Bee Gees

Listen to the heavy rhythm section. The bass is turned way up as is the drums. The guitar is turned down and the guitar is often played with “muted” strings rather than fretted strings. It creates a unique sound. And of course, you have the great vocal harmonies of the Bee Gees. And the falsetto! If you are new to The Bee Gees, disco was not really a big part of their career. Most of their hits were closer to soft rock. They are one of the best groups of all time at harmonizing.

Staying Alive Lyrics

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm, I’ve been kicked around
Since I was born
And now it’s alright, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man

Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive

Well now, I get low and I get high
And if I can’t get either, I really try
Got the wings of heaven on my shoes
I’m a dancin’ man and I just can’t lose
You know it’s alright, it’s okay
I’ll live to see another day
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man

Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive

Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm
I’ve been kicked around since I was born
And now it’s all right, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man

Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive

Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive

Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive

Songwriters: Maurice Ernest Gibb / Robin Hugh Gibb / Barry Alan Gibb