1980s songs, relationship problems

#425 Listen to Your Heart- DHT/ Roxette

I don’t know where you’re going and I don’t know why,
But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye.

I have not heard many people refer to Roxette’s “Listen To Your Heart” as a great song but I am presenting it here as a top 500 song of all-time. The melody is so catchy and it is such a perfect vocal for a power ballad. Also, make sure to list to DHT’s version. It is much more stripped down than Roxette’s version, and it can help you hear just how well-crafted the song is.

If there is anything negative about Roxette’s version, it is that the instrumentation and production is a bit over the top. But that was the 80s. Underneath the synthesizer and guitar solo there is a beautiful song.

The lyrics are great. It sounds like the narrator is counselling a friend or daughter to look twice at the good thing she has with her current relationship before she throws it away. Sure, the relationship may not be as wild as it once was, and the relationship doesn’t seem as “magical”, but there is love there, so “listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye”.

Listen To Your Heart Lyrics

I know there’s something in the wake of your smile
I get a notion from the look in your eyes, yeah
You’ve built a love but that love falls apart
Your little piece of Heaven turns too dark

Listen to your heart when he’s calling for you
Listen to your heart, there’s nothing else you can do
I don’t know where you’re going and I don’t know why
But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye

Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile
The precious moments are all lost in the tide, yeah
They’re swept away and nothing is what is seems
The feeling of belonging to your dreams

And there are voices that want to be heard
So much to mention but you can’t find the words
The scent of magic, the beauty that’s been (beauty that’s been)
When love was wilder than the wind

Listen to your heart (take a listen to it) when he’s calling for you
Listen to your heart (take a listen to it) there’s nothing else you can do
I don’t know where you’re going and I don’t know why
But listen to your heart before, oh

Listen to your heart
Listen to your heart (take a listen to it)
Listen to your heart
Listen to your heart (take a, take a listen to it)
Listen to your heart
Listen to your heart (oh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, ooh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, oh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, oh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Listen to your heart (oh, oh)

Songwriters: Rolf Letekro / Tony Harnell

1990s songs, party songs

#424 Closing Time- Semisonic

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Closing time/
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

Semisonic’s “Closing Time” is a 90s pop staple about the end of the night at a bar. Closing up the bar each night not only involves the routine maintenance of the bar, but the band notices the patrons follow a routine as well. And that is obviously a lot more interesting.

Last call is made, lights are turned on and people are told to grab their jackets and leave. There is a last-minute chance to hook up with whomever hasn’t left with someone else already. But sometimes “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” Occasionally there can be more in store for you for that evening.

“Closing Time” is popular because everyone has felt the shame and excitement of a night ending without anyone. Also it turns a usually shameful situation into a message of hope: this could be a new beginning! It is also a very sing-able song: great for karaoke.
The drummer of Semisonic wrote a good book about his experience as a “one-hit wonder” touring these small bars, called: So You Wanna Be A Rock Star. Check it out.

Closing Time Lyrics

Closing time
Time for you to go out go out into the world.
Closing time
Turn the lights up over every boy and every girl.
Closing time
One last call for alcohol so finish your whiskey or beer.
Closing time
You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here.

I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home

Closing time
Time for you to go back to the places you will be from.
Closing time
This room won’t be open ’til your brothers or you sisters come.
So gather up your jackets, and move it to the exits
I hope you have found a
Friend.

Closing time
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

Yeah, I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home

Closing time
Time for you to go back to the places you will be from
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home

Closing time
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end

Songwriters: Dan Wilson

1960s songs, growing up

#423 My Back Pages- Dylan/ The Byrds

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Ah, but I was so much older then/
I’m younger than that now.

That has to be one of the better lyrics in Rock n Roll history. In “My Back Pages” Dylan writes that the more he experiences the less he understands. For some of us it is because we are indoctrinated with school and religion when we are young and then when we begin to experience life…it comes at you fast and in unexpected ways, and it is humbling. The certainty of my beliefs that I felt as a young man might conflict with experience and that leaves me feeling like I know less than I knew before. This is one of Dylan’s deeper song meanings. Genius.

Every Dylan song has been covered, and some of the covers are better than Dylan’s original. In this case I think the Byrds version is slightly better than Dylan’s version, but they are both great. Even without the Byrds version it would still be a top 500 song. We will see other covers of Dylan songs that are so good that the cover is the only one worth listening to. For most of Dylan’s songs, his own versions are the best. This one could go either way.

The Byrds made Dylan more accessible for many people. David Crosby from CSNY and Roger McGuinn from The Band were first in The Byrds and give them that distinct sound: the harmonies and the rich electric guitars. Dylan’s voice can be an acquired taste, but his songs are universally beloved.

My Back Pages Lyrics

Crimson flames tied through my ears, rollin’ high and mighty traps
Pounced with fire on flaming roads using ideas as my maps
“We’ll meet on edges, soon, ” said I, proud ‘neath heated brow
Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now

Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth, “rip down all hate, ” I screamed
Lies that life is black and white spoke from my skull, I dreamed
Romantic facts of musketeers foundationed deep, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now

Girls’ faces formed the forward path from phony jealousy
To memorizing politics of ancient history
Flung down by corpse evangelists, unthought of, though somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then. I’m younger than that now

A self-ordained professor’s tongue too serious to fool
Spouted out that liberty is just equality in school
“Equality, ” I spoke the word as if a wedding vow
Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now

In a soldier’s stance, I aimed my hand at the mongrel dogs who teach
Fearing not that I’d become my enemy in the instant that I preach
My existence led by confusion boats, mutiny from stern to bow
Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking I had something to protect
Good and bad, I define these terms quite clear, no doubt, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then I’m younger than that now

Songwriters: Bob Dylan

Top 500 Greatest Rock Songs of All-time