#288 Clocks- Coldplay

You are/
Home, home, where I wanted to go.

The lyrics to Coldplay’s “Clocks” are obscure, but there are two central themes: One is the idea of time and missed opportunities: the roads taken and the roads not taken. I make decisions and they guide the path of my life, but they close off other opportunities. All the while the clock is ticking down the hours of my life.

Clocks Meaning
Coldplay

The other hint to “Clocks” is in the chorus and outro, which is quoted above: “You are/ Home, home, where I wanted to go.” This is like a refrain for him to remind himself of his values. While opportunities might be missed, I need to remember that the ultimate thing of importance is the person I love—my home—and that is where I want to go.

The piano intro is a great riff that continues throughout the song and is one of the iconic piano intros of all-time. The piano is extremely up tempo. Usually we think of piano as a great song for delicate ballads. Here, Chris Martin shows that it can be a great instrument to drive a real rock song.

The tempo and matching drumbeat have a lot to do with that. The bass plays a surprisingly important part in the background of this song-though you might not notice it unless you listen for it. Altogether one of Coldplay’s best.

Clocks Lyrics

The lights go out and I can’t be saved.
Tides that I tried to swim against,
Have brought me down upon my knees,
Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing…

Come out of the things unsaid,
Shoot an apple off my head and a
Trouble that can’t be named,
A tiger’s waiting to be tamed, singing…

You are, you are…

Confusion that never stops,
The closing walls and the ticking clocks. gonna
Come back and take you home,
I could not stop, that you now know. singing…

Come out upon my seas,
Cursed missed opportunities am I
A part of the cure,
Or am I part of the disease? Singing…

You are, you are…
You are, you are…
You are, you are…

And nothing else compares,
And nothing else compares,
And nothing else compares.

You are, you are,
Home, home, where I wanted to go,
Home, home, where I wanted to go.
Home, home, where I wanted to go (You are),
Home, home, where I wanted to go (You are).

Songwriters: Guy Rupert Berryman / Jonathan Mark Buckland / William Champion / Christopher Anthony John Martin

#287 Run To Me- The Bee Gees

Am I unwise to open up your eyes to love me?

In “Run To Me”, The Bee Gees’ demonstrate beautiful harmonies. Notice how they layer the vocals. They add one voice at a time during the chorus so that you can really hear their mastery of harmonizing. If you like harmonies, they are tier one, up there with The Beach Boys and Simon and Garfunkel.

I feel that “Run To Me” is on of The Bee Gees more accessible songs for non-Bee Gees fans as there is minimal falsetto, it is a rock song with a great melody, it isn’t disco and the vocal vibrato is mostly minimized. Sometimes Barry can go crazy with the vibrato—but that was his thing.

Run To Me Meaning
Bee Gees

“Run to Me” asks an interesting question: “Am I unwise to open up your eyes to love me?” That is, how much action should I take to make someone love me versus just hoping that someone will naturally be drawn to me. If I open up someone’s eyes, does that make the love any less pure? I don’t think so. Perhaps Cupid just needs a kick in the ass sometimes.

But it would be nice if life were like the movies were everything was a series of meet-cutes where we were stumbling into potential partners every day. Since it isn’t, we might have to actively open up someone’s eyes to receive love.

Run To Me Lyrics

If ever you’ve got rain in your heart
Someone has hurt you, and torn you apart
Am I unwise to open up your eyes to love me?

And let it be like they said it would be
Me loving you girl, and you loving me
Am I unwise to open up your eyes to love me?

Run to me whenever you’re lonely
(To love me)
Run to me if you need a shoulder
Now and then, you need someone older
So darling, you run to me

And when you’re out in the cold
No one beside you, and no one to hold
Am I unwise to open up your eyes to love me?

And when you’ve got nothing to lose
Nothing to pay for and nothing to choose
Am I unwise to open up your eyes to love me

Run to me whenever you’re lonely
(To love me)
Run to me if you need a shoulder
Now and then, you need someone older
So darling, you run to me

Run to me whenever you’re lonely
Run to me if you need a shoulder
Now and then, you need someone older
So darling, you run to me

Run to me whenever you’re lonely
Run to me if you need a shoulder
Now and then, you need someone older
So darling, you run to me

Songwriters: Barry Gibb / Maurice Ernest Gibb / Robin Hugh Gibb

#286 I’m Into Something Good- Herman’s Hermits

Last night I met a new girl in the neighborhood/
Somethin’ tells me I’m into something good.

Herman’s Hermits is an under-rated pop group from the sixties that focused on harmonies and created a couple really fantastic pop songs. This is one of them. “I’m Into Something Good” is written by Carole King song, but she never recorded it solo. She was a songwriter first before she became a performer.

I'm Into Something Good Meaning
songwriter: Carole King

Herman’s Hermits’ sound is kind of like the male version of The Supremes: the lead voice will be featured but the background vocals always play a huge part in establishing the sound of their song. It is no different in “I’m into Something Good”. Great background vocals and harmonies.

I'm Into Something Good Meaning
Herman’s Hermits

“I’m into Something Good” has a couple bright spots in production. Hand-clapping is used well. It adds a great organic beat that a drum in unable to replicate. The piano part also fits the song perfectly. Note that the left hand on the piano is playing the bass line. This song is very optimistic.  It is hard not to feel upbeat and happy for the singer for finding someone good.

I’m Into Something Good Lyrics

Woke up this mornin’ feelin’ fine
There’s somethin’ special on my mind
Last night I met a new girl in the neighbourhood, whoa yeah
Somethin’ tells me I’m into something good (Somethin’ tells me I’m into somethin’)

She’s the kind of girl who’s not too shy
And I can tell I’m her kind of guy
She danced close to me like I hoped she would (she danced with me like I hoped she would)
Somethin’ tells me I’m into something good (Somethin’ tells me I’m into somethin’)

We only danced for a minute or two
But then she stuck close to me the whole night through
Can I be fallin’ in love
She’s everthing I’ve been dreamin’ of
She’s everthing I’ve been dreamin’ of

I walked her home and she held my hand
I knew it couldn’t be just a one-night stand
So I asked to see her next week and she told me I could
(I asked to see her and she told me I could)
Somethin’ tells me I’m into something good (somethin’ tells me I’m into somethin’)
(Somethin’ tells me I’m into somethin’, ahhh)

I walked her home and she held my hand
I knew it couldn’t be just a one-night stand
So I asked to see her next week and she told me I could
(I asked to see her and she told me I could)
Somethin’ tells me I’m into something good (somethin’ tells me I’m into somethin’)
Somethin’ tells me I’m into something good (somethin’ tells me I’m into somethin’)
To something good, oh yeah, something good (somethin’ tells me I’m into somethin’)
To something good, something good, something good
Songwriters: Carole King / Gerry Goffin