The song has lyrics that are: "Side by side on my piano..."
And the word "piano" is placed on notes that turn it into a two-syllable word (instead of the normal three).
Irving Berlin wrote "I Love a Piano" in 1915, and for the most part he also used "piano" as a two-syllable word. Interestingly, when the lyrics specify a grand piano, it becomes a three-syllable word.
Of course, his spelling of the word casts everything in doubt: "P-I-A-N-Oh!-Oh!-Oh!"
I don't remember the name of the song, but Elton John had one in the 1970s that I'm sure you've all heard which goes...
If I were a sculpter But then again....no
I don't know why, but that lyric always strikes me as really goofy for some reason. Surely he and his writing partner (was it Bernie Taupin, or some name like that?) could have come up with a better line than that, in an otherwise fine song.
Wehell I see them every night in tight blue jeans In the pages of a Blue Boy magazine Hey I've been thinking of a new sensation I'm picking up good vibration Ooh she bop, she bop
Do I want to go out with a lion's roar Huh, yea, I want to go south and get me some more Hey, they say that a stitch in time saves nine They say I better stop or I'll go blind Ooh she bop, she bop
She bop he bop and we bop I bop you bop and they bop Be bop be bop a lu bop I hope he will understand She bop he bop and we bop I bop you bop and they bop Be bop be bop a lu she bop Ohh ohh she do she bop
Hey, hey they say I better get a chaperon Because I can't stop messin' with the danger zone Hey, I won't worry, and I won't fret Ain't no law against it yet, oh she bop, she bop
She bop he bop and we bop I bop you bop and they bop Be bop be bop a lu bop I hope he will understand She bop he bop and we bop I bop you bop and they bop Be bop be bop a lu she bop Ohh ohh she do she bop
Information Society had a song called "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)" with a voice sample of Leonard Nimoy that was clipped from "Errand of Mercy," and a sample of Deforest Kelley from "I, Mudd." It's a great song. But there's a line that's a bit off:
I find myself alone again, All alone with you.
and later there's a line where they really missed the boat:
I know I could break you down, but what good would it do? I could surely never know that what you say is true
I would like that to read "I could never rest assured that what you say is true."
Better, right?
Also:
"It's Easy to Say" from the movie 10 (1979) is a song I finally got after literally decades of not understanding the lyric. Words I couldn't get:
You walk away and for a while, you try the summer of a younger smile
and
You could search the years away, that old cliche, Is the first of May to old or new love
Don't even get me started on The Man with the Golden Gun. I know the words now, but again I went decades in the dark on that one. Couldn't even guess.
We had a discussion on the song HALLELUJAH. I love the song. What makes me "nutty" are the various interpretations of this song. It seems to be used during a solemn or religious occasion when it really is pretty sexual. See various insights below.
This one made me nutty. I always thought it was "Is the first Ovv made to old, or new, love".
Yeah, it made no sense. I never got it listening to the LP. But recently the movie was on TCM and for some reason, on TV I heard it clearly. It's a great easy-listening song, and even better when you don't have to bluff your way through the words.
"Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is my friend. Jesus is a friend of mine. I have a friend in Jesus. Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is my friend. Jesus is a friend of mine.
He taught me how to live, my life as it should be. He taught me how to turn my cheek when people laugh at me. I've had friends before, and I can tell you that, He's one who will never leave you flat.
Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is my friend. Jesus is a friend of mine. I have a friend in Jesus. Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is my friend. Jesus is a friend of mine.
He taught me how to pray, and how to save my soul. He taught me how to praise my God and still play rock and roll. The music may sound different but the message is the same. It's just the instruments who praise His name.
Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is my friend. Jesus is a friend of mine. I have a friend in Jesus. Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is a friend of mine.
Funky guitar riff
Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is a friend of mine.
Once I tried to run, I tried to run and hide. But Jesus came and found me and He touched me down inside. He is like mountie, He always gets His man, and He'll zap you any way he can. Zap.*
Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is my friend. Jesus is a friend of mine. I have a friend in Jesus. Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is my friend. Jesus is a friend of mine.
He loves me when I'm right, He loves me when I'm wrong. He loves me when I waste my time by writing silly songs. He loves me when I'm quiet and I have nothing to say. He'll love me when I'm perfect if I ever get that way. Whooo!
Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is my friend. Jesus is a friend of mine. I have a friend in Jesus. Jesus is a friend of mine. Jesus is my friend. Jesus is a friend of mine. I have a friend in Jesus. Jesus is a friend of mine. J-J-J-Jesus. Jesus is a friend of mine."
* Yep. He does sing "Zap".
"He loves me when I waste my time by writing silly songs." - Obviously.
If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can't I paint you.
That's from Bread, although the old bald lolly-pop sucker had a hit with it in England. You could go mad trying to make some sense of it.
Seventies SPARKS lyrics were brilliant, but there's one song where I haven't got a clue what they're singing about. Profile. I think it's playing cards talking to each other, but I could be very wrong:
All that would presuppose a power bigger than us baby, baby, baby start looking at me!
I know you've got a left eye I know you've got a right But will they be appearing together tonight
Profile, Profile Don't your head include more than a profile
We're always cheek to cheek or cheek to face or face to cheek but never face to hey, what do you say
Jackie serves to Johnny Johnny serves to Jack Jackie serves to Johnny, Johnny serves to Jack
Profile, Profile Don't your head include more than a profile
I ain't that fussy that a bit of second best would cause a sudden little turn in our affair
Once you've been ushered in, you ought to face the music and ignore the guiding hand, surely you can
You ain't Whistler's Mother Or any other art You ain't seen me lately though we never part
Profile, Profile Don't your head include more than a profile
U.S. Power Metal band Savatage had a song called "Conversation Piece" on their "Edge Of Thorns" album (1993).
This is a HEAVY METAL band (one of my favourites).
METAL bands are supposed to be MACHO.
And yet, in this song, they sing about a "cup of tea"!
I mean, come on!!!
And it's played totally straight (and heavy), as if they don't realise how daft it sounds.
I haven't thought about you for awhile It seemed so far away I keep your picture hidden in a file Of favorite one act plays
The pieces of myself Cut off in desperation as offerings to thee, yeah I keep them on a shelf They're good for conversation over a cup of tea Yeah, cup of tea
I put it all down in a letter once A letter, I don't send It made me feel much better at the time I thought it'd help me mend
The pieces of myself Cut off in desperation as offerings to thee, yeah I keep them on a shelf They're good for conversation over a cup of tea Yeah, cup of tea
Seventies SPARKS lyrics were brilliant, but there's one song where I haven't got a clue what they're singing about. Profile. I think it's playing cards talking to each other, but I could be very wrong
Heh - Ron's lyrics are so brilliant that if something's a little obscure I assume that the lack of understanding is my failure!
Another arcane favourite is "Without Using Hands", which needs to be heard to be fully appreciated.
The canopy over the main doorway of the Ritz hotel Had served as a very large umbrella when the May rains fell Still the men of Paris glistened and their ladies did as well As long as their powder was dry there'd be some heterosexual thrills With or without the protection of the Paris Ritz hotel
And every single Parisian will love tonight without using hands
And these are the slides that Mary took when we were overseas Oh, look at the funny little Frenchman with some French company There's the Ritz hotel where me and Mary Stayed a couple of days Jerry, let go of your sister, what is wrong with you today Sit over there with your mother and let's sing La Marseillaise
The only way children are punished, unlike old times is without using hands
Oh, what a lovely city, city, city, city Oh, what a lovely city, city, city, city Oh, what a lovely city, city, city, city Oh, what a lovely city, city, city, city Oh, are you willing to go Oh, are you willing to go How about letting me know, without using hands
When the explosion rocked the lobby of the Ritz hotel Nobody moved for fear of learning that they weren't all that well Is there is anybody missing, answer only if you're well Everyone cheered the good fortune, for indeed it turned out well Only the manager suffered, but at least his face looks swell
The manager is going to live his entire life Without using hands
