1960s songs, breakup songs

#373 The Warmth of the Sun- The Beach Boys

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I cried when she said
“I don’t feel the same way”.

The Beach Boys’ “The Warmth of the Sun” is actually really sad. It is about losing the love of your life and being able to take comfort in the fact that at least you will be able to feel good about dreaming about holding her while you dream at night.

At least at night—while you are dreaming—you’ll be able to feel the warmth of the sun. This is tragic. Sometimes the beauty of The Beach Boys vocals hides the seriousness of their lyrics. And their vocals are the best in rock—specifically their harmonies. There are so many layers. No band does it better. Period.

The Warmth of the Sun Meaning
The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys sometimes don’t get put into the same category as The Beatles and The Stones and that is wrong. I think there are two reasons. One, is that their surf and car-song days were slightly longer than the love-song days of The Beatles and The Stones.

Perhaps some people are not able to think of them as more than a surf band, when really, their best work came later. Also, their Full House appearances didn’t do much to help their reputation. It made a generation think of them as shtick rather than the legends they are.

Lyrics The Warmth of the Sun

What good is the dawn
That grows into day
The sunset at night
Or living this way

For I have the warmth of the sun
(Warmth of the sun)
Within me at night
(Within me at night)

The love of my life
She left me one day
I cried when she said
“I don’t feel the same way”

Still I have the warmth of the sun
(Warmth of the sun)
Within me tonight
(Within me tonight)

I’ll dreams of her arms
And though they’re not real
Just like she’s still there
The way that I feel

My love’s like the warmth of the sun
(Warmth of the sun)
It won’t ever die
(It won’t ever die)

Songwriters: Michael Love / Brian Wilson

1990s songs, falling in love

#372 Dreams- The Cranberries

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Oh, my life/
Is changing every day/
In every possible way.

Dolores O’Riordian has the most distinct female voice in rock. In “Dreams” she–singing lead for The Cranberries–sounds amazing— frankly, like a dream. With most Cranberries songs, you don’t even care about the lyrics, you just want to hear something and anything come out of Dolores mouth- that is enough.

Dreams great alltime song Meaning
The Cranberries

“Dreams” is one of The Cranberries more upbeat and lighthearted songs. It is about finding the person of your dreams and the feeling of change you feel within, but also the hope and slight fear. Fear that you might get hurt.

The Cranberries musicianship should not be ignored. Dreams contains a strong rhythm section—especially the drums. Seriously, listen to them. It is a very atypical beat. The lead electric guitar also creates several memorable riffs that would make this song recognizable for those who covered this song.

Regarding production, a lot of the signature Cranberries sound is produced by the over-dubbing of Dolores’ voice with her own voice. (Who could be a better background singer than Dolores?) Notice the difference between her two singing voices. Amazing. However, you can also hear that the other members of the band add strong vocals—especially during the outro.

Dreams Lyrics

Oh, my life-
Is changing every day,
In every possible way.

And oh, my dreams-
It’s never quite as it seems.
Never quite as it seems.

I know I’ve felt like this before.
But now I’m feeling it even more.
Because it came from you.

Then I open up and see
The person falling here is me.
A different way to be.

I want more-
Impossible to ignore,
Impossible to ignore.

They’ll come true-
Impossible not to do,
Impossible not to do.

Now I tell you openly-
You have my heart so don’t hurt me.
You’re what I couldn’t find.

Totally amazing mind-
So understanding and so kind.
You’re everything to me.

Oh, my life-
Is changing every day,
In every possible way.

And oh, my dreams-
It’s never quite as it seems.
‘Cause you’re a dream to me.
Dream to me.

Songwriters: Noel Anthony Hogan / Dolores Mary O’Riordan

1970s songs, life is hard

#371 Under Pressure- Queen/David Bowie

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It’s the terror of knowing what the world is about/
Watching some good friends screaming/
‘Let me out’.

Talk about a super-group! When David Bowie and Queen get together we expect great things—and they deliver a classic with “Under Pressure”. “Under Pressure” is about the stresses of the modern world and what it can do to you and your soul.

We hear this refrain on several other songs; from the 70s we have Staying Alive by the Bee Gees, and Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters by Elton John. Each state a careful examination of the world is terrifying. Only love is the way to conquer it—and that is fraught with perils too.

Under Pressure Meaning
Queen

If we embrace love it causes us to change the way we think about the world around us. Next thing we know we’ll have to look at the homeless around us and deal with them, rather than step over them.  Love may sound trite and old-fashioned but it really is the only way to escape the pressure.

Under Pressure Meaning
David Bowie

The introductory bass line of “Under Pressure” has to be one of the most famous of all-time, and one of the classics that every bass player learns.  How many songs are recognizable by just their bass-lines? Five? Ten max. So all bass players should love this song.

This is also one of the finest collaborations between two bands. It is interesting that this doesn’t happen more often but the muse is a fickle mistress. I think Freddie Mercury stands out more on this song than does Bowie. Specifically in his vocal riffing. It really shows how entertaining Mercury can be just singing nonsense.

Under Pressure Lyrics

Mmm num ba de
Dum bum ba be
Doo buh dum ba beh beh

Pressure pushing down on me,
Pressing down on you, no man ask for.
Under pressure that burns a building down,
Splits a family in two-
Puts people on streets.

Um ba ba be
Um ba ba be
De day da
Ee day da, that’s okay.

It’s the terror of knowing what the world is about,
Watching some good friends screaming:
“Let me out!”
Pray tomorrow gets me higher,
Pressure on people, people on streets.

Day day de mm hm
Da da da ba ba
Okay
Chipping around, kick my brains around the floor,
These are the days it never rains but it pours.
Ee do ba be
Ee da ba ba ba
Um bo bo
Be lap
People on streets,
Ee da de da de
People on streets,
Ee da de da de da de da

It’s the terror of knowing what the world is about,
Watching some good friends screaming:
‘Let me out’.
Pray tomorrow gets me higher, high,
Pressure on people, people on streets.

Turned away from it all like a blind man.
Sat on a fence but it don’t work.
Keep coming up with love but it’s so slashed and torn.
Why, why, why?
Love, love, love, love, love,
Insanity laughs under pressure we’re breaking.

Can’t we give ourselves one more chance?
Why can’t we give love that one more chance?
Why can’t we give love, give love, give love, give love,
Give love, give love, give love, give love, give love?

‘Cause love’s such an old fashioned word-
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night,
And love (people on streets) dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves:
This is our last dance,
This is our last dance.
This is ourselves under pressure.
Under pressure.
Pressure!

Songwriters: David Bowie / John Richard Deacon / Brian Harold May / Freddie Mercury / Roger Meddows Taylor