2010s songs, death

#443 Broken- Jake Bugg

I’m waiting for you/
For I’m broken down…

The narrator of Broken by Jake Bugg, tells us at the beginning of the song that he is broken and waiting for his Sophie. But he knows she is not coming. You see, Sophie committed suicide at her house, after she perhaps had unsuccessfully tried before. She was broken.

He knows that for at least the immediate future, a big part of his life will be overcoming the fact that he, himself, is broken. He is angry, yet he still loves her. Why could she not see this? He feels an obligation to appear together, perhaps because there are other people in her life who are equally hurting.

The next section of lyrics are slightly obfuscated—so we have to fill in some of the blanks to create a coherent picture of what Bugg is singing about. How does he keep it together? It appears that he imagines her in a happy, heaven-like place: “down in the valley where the church bells cry…with a future bright…never broken.”

He tries to share this vision of her (in a better place) with others, and it seems to bring him some sort of peace. In this future he and all her friends and family will gather in the valley of the church bells. This thought brings him peace.

The vocal delivery really makes this song. It is a sad song and Bugg delivers it perfectly. While the immediacy of the lyrics might not hit us, it is clear what emotion he is expressing. That is a rare feat in music. Bugg sounds like a mix of Dylan and Donovan-which is saying something.

Broken Lyrics

I’m waiting for you
For I’m broken down.
Coming down this time.
For my heart lies
Far and away where they took you down.
Let them over to your house-
Where I’m broken.
Down by the people if they let you breathe;
Don’t give a damn if you still can’t see,
Still my heart beats, for you
Have become, all I love
And all I hoped for.
But I, must carry on
Always one
Never broken.
Run to the lobby where I saw you try.
Don’t give a damn for your reasons why.

Where Sophie’s down in the valley where the church bells cry,
I’ll lead them over to your eyes.
Woah, I am one.
I am one.
Pray, story eye
Peace and love
In a future
Bright. Sacrifice
Came around, never broken.
Down by the people if they let you breathe,
Don’t give a damn if you still can’t see,
Traveling a street that I did not go.
Lifetime to the winter load.
Down in the valley where the church bells cry
I’ll lead them over to your eyes.
Woah, I am one
Woah, I am one
I am one.

written by Jake Bugg/Crispin Hunt

1960s songs, community

#442 San Francisco- Scott McKenzie

admin Leave a comment

For those who come to San Francisco/
Summertime will be a love-in there.

San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) is a beautifully sung song by Scott McKenzie and would be his only hit. This was another song from the summer of 1967. “San Francisco” was written by John Phillips, of the Mamas and the Papas, who would have a huge career.

Papa John was a bit of a Utopian, and he saw a lot of hope in California and the hippy movement of the 1960s. He explored this theme in many of his songs, including two others in the top 500. Come to San Francisco, you’ll find love and acceptance and gentle people. Those were his ideals.

San Francisco Greatest Songs Meaning — Scott McKenzie

The Mamas & Papas are one of the greatest bands of all times, and it is a shame they never recorded this song. It is not clear why Papa John gave this song to McKenzie. McKenzie was not completely a one hit wonder, he did co-write The Beach Boys hit “Kokomo”.

San Francisco Lyrics

If you’re going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you’re going to San Francisco
You’re gonna meet some gentle people there

For those who come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
In the streets of San Francisco
Gentle people with flowers in their hair

All across the nation
Such a strange vibration
People in motion
There’s a whole generation
With a new explanation
People in motion
People in motion

For those who come to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there

Songwriters: John Edmund Andrew Phillips

1980s songs, words not needed

#441 Enjoy the Silence- Depeche Mode

admin Leave a comment

Vows are spoken/
To be broken.

There is a common trope in movies where two lovers are in bed and usually the woman will say to the guy just stop talking and come here (and have sex with me). Hinting that more words are likely to seal the deal in the wrong direction. Why? Because sometimes words get in the way of communication.

Enjoy the Silence Meaning — Depeche Mode

This can also take place in a loving relationship with a significant other. There are several songs written about this. “Enjoy the Silence” riffs on that motif. Martin Gore is saying “as long as I am holding you, nothing else needs to be said. I have everything I want.” But he is also saying “don’t ruin a good thing by speaking.

Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” is an 80s classic which means heavy on the synthesizer and drum machine. It works well with Depeche Mode’s somewhat unfeeling or monotonous vocal delivery. To be fair, the synthesizer is used much better here than in most songs. It is used as a supplementary instrument for the most part—except for the solo.

The use of the “choir” sound is especially good. The laser sounds are a bit over the top, but that was the time and place. Overall, the great melody holds together some of the idiosyncratic choices of production.

Lyrics Enjoy the Silence

Words like violence,
Break the silence.
Come crashing in
Into my little world.

Painful to me,
Pierce right through me.
Can’t you understand?
Oh my little girl.

All I ever wanted,
All I ever needed,
Is here in my arms.
Words are very unnecessary,
They can only do harm.

Vows are spoken
To be broken.
Feelings are intense,
Words are trivial.

Pleasures remain,
So does the pain.
Words are meaningless,
And forgettable.