1970s songs, love songs

#431 Let’s Stay Together- Al Green

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Lovin’ you whether, whether/
Times are good or bad, happy or sad.

Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” is a great R&B/ Soul tune from the early 70s. The first line to the song, it is so classic. “I I I..am so in love with you”.  Al Green’s voice is so smooth! He goes in and out of falsetto so effortlessly…go ahead, try to sing along.

The song is so likable: it is an optimistic love song about staying together…not about wanting to get the girl. And he wants to stay together whether “times are good, bad, happy or sad.”

I'm So in Love Meaning
Al Green

The beat on this song is strong… I was a huge Soul Train fan. When I was younger, I watched reruns of the show and Al Green appeared on one of the episodes.  He “sung” and danced to this song and I remember thinking what a stud he was.

Also, the song was about my speed on the dance floor…there was no one doing the splits during this song, so it at least seemed like I might be able to dance to this song, should the time ever necessitate me busting out some moves. Thankfully, it never did. I say “sung” because no one sang live in those days on TV, unfortunately. Almost every band lip-synced. Some better than others.

Let’s Stay Together Lyrics

I, I’m I’m so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is all right with me
Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you
Let me say that since, baby, since we’ve been together
Loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me, be the one you come running to
I’ll never be untrue

Oh baby
Let’s, let’s stay together (‘gether)
Lovin’ you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

Why, why some people break up
Then turn around and make up
I just can’t see
You’d never do that to me (would you, baby)
Staying around you is all I see
(Here’s what I want us do)

Let’s, we oughta stay together (‘gether)
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Come on
Let’s stay, (let’s stay together) let’s stay together
Loving you whether, whether times are good or bad

Songwriters: Willie Mitchell / Al Green / Al Jackson Jr

1990s songs, falling in love

#430 My Little Corner- Yo La Tengo

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I always knew that I’d find someone like you/
So welcome to my little corner of the world.

“My Corner of the World” was written in the sixties, but I didn’t become a classic until Yo La Tengo covered it in the 90s. They sing it with the tenderness that the song deserves. It lets the lyrics come to life. The song really has a great rhythm with a nice guitar solo. Almost dance-able—if one were so inclined.

My Little Corner of the World Meaning
Yo La Tengo

In the beginning of the song the author is inviting someone to his “little corner of the world”. He says if you’d like to stay we can make it “our little corner of the world”.  Interestingly the song ends with “we always knew that we’d find someone like you…” Here it is not clear who “we” is or who “we” could be. Is the author a single father? Is he using the “royal we”? I think he is. I think he is saying that now this girl is his girlfriend, and he is changing tense.

There are more fun possibilities to consider though: Is he inviting a third into the relationship? Is he young and sharing his apartment with a roommate? Is he buying a dog? Perhaps we’ll never know.

My Little Corner Lyrics

Come along with me,
To my little corner of the world,
And dream a little dream,
In my little corner of the world.

Tonight my love,
We’ll share a sweet embrace,
We’ll soon forget,
There’s any other place.

And if you care to stay,
In my little corner of the world,
Then we can hide away,
In my little corner of the world.

I always knew,
I’d find someone like you,
So welcome to,
My little corner of the world.

written by: Lee Pockriss / Bob Hilliard

1960s songs, secular hymn

#429 Across the Universe- The Beatles

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Jai Guru Deva, Om/
Nothing’s gonna change my world.

The Beatles’ “Across the Universe” is like a prayer: Lennon says his mantra while he notices all the things going on all around him. Some of the words and images enter his mind and are “inciting and inviting” him and others just past by him just as all the rain would pass by a paper cup if you set out a cup to gather the rain.

Light, laughter, sound, sorrow, joy…it is all around him…across the universe. But right now, he is not going to let any of it penetrate him. He is going to do his mantra and calm his mind and “nothing is going to change his world.”

Across the Universe Meaning
The Beatles

There are various versions of this song and the world wildlife version may be the best-though Lennon did not like that version. The bird sounds in the beginning add a spiritual and nature vibe that the other versions lack. The non-professional background singers in this version is preferable  to the choir in the remastered version. The WWF version has the proper amount of sitar too. The difference is slight though. Also check out the “naked” version.

Across the Universe Lyrics

Words are flowing out
Like endless rain into a paper cup,
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe.
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy,
Are drifting through my opened mind,
Possessing and caressing me.

Jai Guru Deva, Om.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.

Images of broken light,
Which dance before me like a million eyes
They call me on and on across the universe.
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box,
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe.

Jai Guru Deva, Om.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.

Sounds of laughter, shades of life,
Are ringing through my open ears
Inciting and inviting me.
Limitless, undying love,
Which shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe.

Jai Guru Deva, Om.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.
Nothing’s gonna change my world.

Jai Guru Deva.
Jai Guru Deva.
Jai Guru Deva.
Jai Guru Deva.
Jai Guru Deva.
Jai Guru Deva.

Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney