Friday, September 27, 2013

Of Music and Poetry and "Searchin' in the sun for another overload ..."

Usually, I don't care much for lyrics to a lot of songs I like.  I listen to the overall effect, and if the lyrics aren't too offensive, maudlin or repetitious, and I like the actual music, then I'll probably like the song itself.

The lyrics to this song also happen to be a beautiful poem about love and separation and day-to-day work: Jimmy Webb's Wichita Lineman. Instead of typing them out, I have a treat for you today.  This 2008 recording is one of my all-time favorite music videos: Glen Campbell performing it with The Stone Temple Pilots. Even though I loved Wichita Lineman back in the late '60s (I was thirteen when it came out,) the somewhat overproduced commercial version of it cannot compare to this one. This was recorded less than three years before Campbell revealed that he has Alzheimer's:



 Thank you, Holly Turkington, for hippin' me to this video last year!

Small, homely things—the most prosaic of jobs or circumstances, the most ordinary people, and the most mundane desires (a small vacation, in the case of the Wichita Lineman ...) are a thin veneer for what we all really want—to love and to be loved—for all time.

What are your favorite song lyrics?

8 comments:

  1. Campbell and STP - that is an odd combination.
    Thanks again for commenting at DL's and I hope you enjoy my books!

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    1. Ha ha ... you're right, but oh, how it works. The books will be here on Monday, since I also got a free 30 days of Amazon Prime. I'll let you know what I think.

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  2. Okay, you're going to think I'm a religious nut, but I find myself singing "Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all ..." and because I'm so needy, "Lord Jesus think on me ..." several times during the day.
    My husband put on Faure's Requiem last night (and how timely, since a friend just died) and I want someone to sing it for me when I die. And no, I am not morbid at all.

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    1. Or how about "Lord Jesus, have mercy on me and mine for we are poor sinners." None of this stuff is morbid ... death is something I actually like to think about. And if you're a religious nut, Vijaya, then I'm cuckoo for theology!

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  3. I absolutely agree -- often times, I'll view it from a guitarists perspective and think of the lyrics as "just the parts between the solos." But that's an odd perspective for a guy who also wants to be a writer, right? But it's probably because I can't sing, no matter how hard I try -- I've got rhythm and dynamics down, and actually have a pretty good ear, but pitch completely escapes me when I try to sing.

    But great lyrics are any of those that touch me emotionally and stick with me.

    And I loved that version of the song. Probably my favorite Glen Campbell song...

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Chris! One of my kids (almost 29, so NOT really a kid) is an amazing fiddle player (he actually owns a Mark Hough violin, maybe the second or third violin that Mark made ...), but the non-singing pitch problem thing is genetic in our family. So sad.

      And as far as lyrics are concerned, sometimes a song just comes along that does it all. Wichita Lineman is one of those songs. The words are so spare and non-sentimental but the way they are put together and then put to that lovely melody makes something beautiful and there's a sort of economy to the beauty that makes it kind of haunting.

      Sometimes I take a break from writing by doing graphic design (that's what my other blog is dedicated to, although its quite neglected right now.) Sometimes I get so bogged down with the WIP that I have to do something else creative. Lately, for me, the writing has been good, so I'm going to just keep going along until I can't anymore.

      I'll be checking in on your new blog. FYI ... I would have been the first follower, but the widget wasn't set up yet. First commenter, though!

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  4. As dorky as it is, I still like the words to Katy Perry's "Firework." It's so inspirational, whether you're 15 or 43!

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    1. So true, Stephanie! Whenever it comes on in the car and and I'm with my girls (19 and 21,) we TURN IT UP!

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