2010s songs, new love

#367 Yours- Ella Henderson

And I will find my strength to untame my mouth/
When I used to be afraid of the words.

In “Yours”, Ella Henderson describes the feelings she currently feels in her relationship. She is in love, and ready to say it but there is still that last hesitation. She doesn’t express the “whys” she feels uncomfortable taking the next step in the relationship. The specifics are unimportant, but we know without her saying that it is because she is afraid of being hurt. This song is her way of “untaming her mouth” and expressing her love. This song is her way of telling her man “I’m yours”, whereas before she was unable.

There is so much to like about this song. The simple piano arrangement really works well with Henderson’s powerful vocal. We feel the emotion she is trying to convey behind her words. The vocal feels very raw and real, as if these words mean something to her. And in turn, this makes them mean something to us. That is the key to the power of the song. It is a woman first revealing that she wishes to be with her lover.

Yours Lyrics

I wear your winter coat,
The one you love to wear.
So I keep feeling close,
To us beyond compare.
The moment we can have,
You catch me in your eyes.
That beauty on my pillow,
That holds me in the night.

And I will find my strength to untame my mouth,
When I used to be afraid of the words.
But with you I’ve learned just to let it out,
Now my heart is ready to burst.

‘Cause I, I feel like I’m ready for love.
And I wanna be your everything and more.
And I know every day you say it,
But I just want you to be sure,
That I’m yours.

And if I’ve been feeling heavy,
You take me from the dark.
Your arms they keep me steady,
So nothing could fall apart.

And I will find my strength to untame my mouth,
When I used to be afraid of the words.
But with you I’ve learned just to let it out,
Now my heart is ready to burst.

‘Cause I, I feel like I’m ready for love.
And I wanna be your everything and more.
And I know every day you say it,
But I just want you to be sure.
That I’m yours.
That I’m yours.

Songwriters: Ella Henderson / Josh Record

1980s songs, family problems

#366 Leader of the Band- Dan Fogelburg

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A quiet man of music denied a simpler fate/
He tried to be a soldier once, but his music wouldn’t wait.

“Leader of the Band” is a beautiful tribute song to Fogelburg’s father, who he dubs “The leader of the band”. We learn much about both Fogelburg and his father (and his family) in just this short song. We learn that his father was also a guitarist, and we can tell how much Fogelburg looked up to him both as a man and as a guitar player.

In many ways, it seems like Fogelburg is living his life as a tribute to his old man’s life on the road. He loved his old man’s stories of the road and now here he is out living the same life. He is grateful and he is hoping this song makes his father proud—just as he is proud of his father.

Leader of the Band Meaning — Dan Fogelburg

The simple finger-picking of the acoustic guitar sounds great. The pattern sounds relatively unique: that is hard to do. It is hard to find a unique pattern: there are only so many. I also like Fogelburg’s voice. It is in the higher range for the male voice and it excels in these delicate, soft-rock songs. Interestingly, Fogelburg chooses a trumpet to perform the solo in the song. It is a bit of a surprise but it works perfectly for the song.

Leader of the Band Lyrics

An only child alone and wild, a cabinet maker’s son,
His hands were meant for different work,
And his heart was known to none.
He left his home and went his lone and solitary way,
And he gave to me a gift I know I never can repay.

A quiet man of music denied a simpler fate,
He tried to be a soldier once, but his music wouldn’t wait.
He earned his love through discipline, a thundering velvet hand,
His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand.

The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old,
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul.
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man;
I’m just a living legacy to the leader of the band.

My brother’s lives were different for they heard another call,
One went to Chicago and the other to St. Paul.
And I’m in Colorado when I’m not in some hotel,
Living out this life I’ve chose and come to know so well.

I thank you for the music and your stories of the road.
I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go.
I thank you for the kindness and the times when you got tough,
And papa, I don’t think I said I love you near enough.

Songwriters: Dan Fogelberg

1960s songs, couples songs

#365 Love Minus Zero/No Limits- Bob Dylan

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She knows there’s no success like failure/
And that failure’s no success at all.

I would argue that “Love Minus Zero” is the one of the two true love songs that Dylan ever wrote. He wrote many songs about love, but none of them contained as overtly a positive message as this one. (Sad Eyed Lady and Sara are pretty close…interestingly all of these songs are written for the same woman. He ended up marrying her.).

Love Minus Zero/ No Limits Meaning — Bob Dylan

Dylan praises a woman differently than anyone else would, and that is what makes him the best song writer. He says, “my love doesn’t have to say she’s faithful, but she’s true like ice like fire.” And people try to charm her by the hour but valentine’s can’t buy her. She also does not judge and she speaks softly…he is very specific, and I’d imagine this would have to be intoxicating for a woman to hear. The way he describes her makes her sound amazing.

The melody of the song is solid and Dylan is in good voice. Like many of his songs it has a harmonica solo—which I like. The song is simple. There is no bridge or chorus, so it is unique and not exactly catchy, but it is a different type of song for Dylan. Combined with his beautiful lyrics it makes for an excellent love song worthy of the top 500.

Lyrics Love Minus Zero/No Limits

My love she speaks like silence
Without ideals or violence
She doesn’t have to say she’s faithful
Yet she’s true, like ice, like fire
People carry roses
And make promises by the hours
My love she laughs like the flowers
Valentines can’t buy her

In the dime stores and bus stations
People talk of situations
Read books, repeat quotations
Draw conclusions on the wall
Some speak of the future
My love she speaks softly
She knows there’s no success like failure
And that failure’s no success at all

The cloak and dagger dangles
Madams light the candles
In ceremonies of the horsemen
Even the pawn must hold a grudge
Statues made of matchsticks
Crumble into one another
My love winks, she does not bother
She knows too much to argue or to judge

The bridge at midnight trembles
The country doctor rambles
Bankers’ nieces seek perfection
Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring
The wind howls like a hammer
The night blows rainy
My love she’s like some raven
At my window with a broken wing

Songwriters: Bob Dylan

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