1950s songs, unrequited love

#285 All I Have To Do is Dream- The Everly Brothers

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I love you so and that is why/
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is dream.

“All I Have to Do is Dream” is a song about unrequited love. The Everly Brothers aren’t just singing about dreaming about their girlfriend while their apart…”Gee Whiz, I’m dreaming my life away”.  (I am not a big fan of the “Gee Whiz” but, I suppose in 60 years or so we should expect that language changes a bit). Like many early 60s pop songs, the lyrics were not incredibly deep, but rock was just starting to get their too. The Beatles were doing “She Loves You”—not exactly Earth-shattering lyrics wise. Only folk and soul really had great lyrics at that time.

All I Have To Do Is Dream Meaning
The Everly Brothers

What “All I Have to Do” did have is a timeless melody that still sounds great sixty years later. Also, the Everly Brothers were the pioneers of the harmonizing duos and bands. It is especially apparent in this song. The Simon & Garfunkels, & Beach Boys, CSNY were influenced heavily by their work.

I don’t value influence that much at all in these rankings. I believe that the song should still sound relevant if it is truly one of the top 500 top pop and rock songs. But it is interesting to see where some of our favorite bands drew inspiration from. This song is one of the classics.

All I Have To Do is Dream Lyrics

Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream,
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream.
When I want you in my arms,
When I want you and all your charms,
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream.

When I feel blue in the night,
And I need you to hold me tight.
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam.

I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine,
Anytime night or day.
Only trouble is, gee whiz,
I’m dreamin’ my life away.

I need you so that I could die,
I love you so and that is why,
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream.
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam.

I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine,
Anytime night or day.
Only trouble is, gee whiz,
I’m dreamin’ my life away.

I need you so that I could die,
I love you so and that is why
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream.
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream.
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream.

Songwriters: Boudleaux Bryant

1990s songs, life is hard

#284 What’s Up- 4 Non-Blondes

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I realized quickly when I knew I should/
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man/
Or whatever that means.

I always thought the title to the 4 Non-Blondes classic “What’s Up” was “What’s Going On?” Apparently, they changed it because it was the name of an already very famous song. Linda Perry was the lead singer and guitarist for 4 Non-blondes. They were a bit of a one hit wonder, but Perry became a super successful songwriter, mostly covered by other females. We will see her name on this list again.

What's UP? Meaning
4 Non-Blondes

“What’s Up” is a song about disillusionment. Part of the disillusion may be due to her age. She mentions she is 25 and trying to figure things out—as all young people are trying to do at that age. But she points out that there are institutions that seem to be keeping her away from the good life, and she hopes for a revolution.

She doesn’t name these institutions, but we can imagine what they might be, and it can be whatever we feel holds us back. This is what makes it such a relatable song. Perry is looking for her lot in life, it is not coming, and it is making her scream to the heavens “what’s going on?”

What’s Up Lyrics

25 years and my life is still
Tryin’ to get up that great big hill of hope…
For a destination.

I realized quickly when I knew I should,
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man.
For whatever that means.

And so I cry sometimes when I’m lying in bed,
Just to get it all out what’s in my head.
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar.

And so I wake in the morning and I step outside,
And I take a deep breath and I get real high,
And I scream from the top of my lungs
“What’s going on?”

And I say, hey-ey-ey
Hey-ey-ey
I said “Hey, a-what’s going on?”
And I say, hey-ey-ey
Hey-ey-ey
I said “Hey, a-what’s going on?”

written by Linda Perry

1970s songs, love songs

#283 I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song- Jim Croce

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Every time I tried to tell you the words just came out wrong/
So I have to so I love you in a song.

“I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song” is very meta. I love the fact that Croce just flat out gets to the point of this whole love-song-writing business. He is around a girl that he is in love with and it makes him stumble upon his words. But he has so many feelings that he needs to express: so he wrote this song.

I imagine hearing this must have made the ladies/lady swoon. I feel that this is a common experience among a lot of songwriters. They have feelings that they want to express to their love-interest, but they find it easier to do so in song than in words for whatever reason. Lucky for us.

Ill Have To Say I Love You In a Song Meaning
Jim Croce

Croce’s voice always sounds amazing. His sound is very distinct and if you don’t listen closely it sounds like a lot of his songs sound similarly, but I really believe he has a deep catalog that is under-explored. Partially due to the fact that soft-rock doesn’t get the due that other genres do and partially due to his short career.

He was so young when he died. He never had a chance to go through phases and reinvent himself or explore other sides of his genius. Jim Croce is one of the biggest omissions from the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song Lyrics

Well, I know it’s kind of late,
I hope I didn’t wake you.
But what I’ve got to say can’t wait,
I know you’d understand.
‘Cause every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong.
So I’ll have to say “I love you” in a song.

Yeah, I know it’s kind of strange,
Every time I’m near you,
I just run out of things to say,
I know you’d understand.
‘Cause every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong.
So I’ll have to say “I love you” in a song.

‘Cause every time the time was right
All the words just came out wrong.
So I’ll have to say “I love you” (I love you) in a song.

Yeah, I know it’s kind of late, (it’s kind of late)
I hope I didn’t wake you.
But there’s something that I just got to say.
(I know you’d understand)
I know you’d understand.
‘Cause every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong.
So I’ll have to say “I love you” in a song.

Songwriters: Jim Croce