Disco
I love exotic Disco hits, or new edits of old disco tracks. I find a lot of great stuff on the BCE’s blog. They recently posted some great vintage Lebanese Disco and as I was looking for similar links when I discovered Nazia Hassan
Disco Deewane is one of her biggest hits. She was Pakistani but sang in Urdu and Hindi. She started as a Playback singer when she was 15! Here’s the download link for Aap Jaisa Koi, however you have to watch the video below: it’s her voice but it’s not her on stage. The movie is Qurbani, Bollywood’s biggest movie of 1980!
Anyway, so this young girl and her brother Zoheb were launched by Biddu, a legendary Indian music producer. His biggest achievement was producing Kung-Fu Fighting, Carl Douglas’ only hit in 1974. Perhaps you know the Cee-Lo Green + Jack Black version from the Kung Fu Panda soundtrack?
This track surfed the chopsocky wave AND was the first mainstream disco hit. So when disco died in the West, Biddu returned to India and launched the whole 80s Bollywood Disco fever. If you go back up and listen to Disco Deewane, it sounds a lot like Kung Fu Fighting (especially the Uh-Huhs…). The album was a huge hit around the world with 60 million copies sold?! Check out some of the different covers for the latin american versions here and here.
In my opinion, her best track is Boom Boom. You could say it’s Bollywood’s take on Donna Summer’s I Feel Love
The only sad part of this post is that Nazia Hassan passed away in August 2000. She had stopped singing and had dedicated her life to charity organizations and to her family. She was only 35. Here’s the Guardian obituary and a beautiful tribute I found online.
What’s in a word (press)?
Just to inform you that this blog is going back to it’s origins starting tomorrow.
For some weird reason, WordPress won’t let me renew the ‘Domain Mapping’, the ‘Domain Registration’ and the ’10GB Space Upgrade’ for www.audiogrammes.com
It’s either an expiry date problem with my card, or a country issue…. All that expires on February 3, 2012 / tomorrow!!!
This means, most of the old podcasts won’t be available to download but more importantly you’ll have to type http://audiogrammes.wordpress.com to get here. I’m hoping to get an answer from their support team very soon. In the meantime the only thing I can say is “What’s up with that?” = What’s in a word + Word up
Dry the rain
© Fouad Elkoury
Ooooo-oo-oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
I like watching the puddles gather rain
And all I can do is just pour some tea for two
And speak my point of view
But it’s not sane, it’s not sane
I just want someone to say to me no, oh, oh, oh
I’ll always be there when you wake, yea-ah
You know I’d like to keep my cheeks dry today
So stay with me and I’ll have it made
And I don’t understand why I sleep all day
And I start to complain that there’s no rain
And all I can do is read a book to stay awake
And it rips my life away, but it’s a great escape
Escape……escape……escape……
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
You don’t like my point of view
You think that I’m insane
It’s not sane, It’s not sane
I just want someone to say to me no, oh, oh, oh
I’ll always be there when you wake, yea-ah
You know I’d like to keep my cheeks dry today
So stay with me and I’ll have it made
And I’ll have it made
And I’ll have it made, oh
Lord no no
You know I’m really gonna, really gonna have it made
You know I’ll have it made
Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ahhh
Blind Melon were pretty much a on-hit wonder band. I also like another track: Change but their career ended with their lead singer’s death.
Download this track here and check out this really amazing Stripped away version
And if you ever wondered whatever happened to the bee girl from the video check this link
This is the definition of my life
Lying in bed in the sunrise
Choking on a vitamin tablet the doctor gave
In the hope of saving me
In the hope of saving me
Mott’s in the corner of the room
Junkyard fool with eyes of [glue/gloom/blue]
I asked him time again,
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain,
Take me in and dry the rain,
The rain, the rain, the rain, the rain, my rain now
Dusty brown boots in the corner by the ironing board
Spray-on dust is the greatest thing
Sure is the greatest thing
Since the [light/lie], since the [light/lie]
Mott’s in the corner of the room
Junkyard fool with eyes of [glue/gloom/blue]
I asked him time again
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
The rain, the rain, the rain, the rain, my rain now
I asked him time again,
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
The rain, the rain, the rain, the rain, my rain now
If there’s something inside that you wanna say
Say it alright it’ll be okay
I will be your light, I will be your light
I will be your light, I will be your light
If there’s something inside that you wanna say
You can say it alright it’ll be okay
I will be your light, I will be your light
I will be your light, I will be your light
I need love
I need love
I discovered this track in the movie High Fidelity. The Beta Band have produced a number of tracks since but this stays my favorite. I used to work at a record store and to me this scene is just epic… followed closely by Jack Black’s rant on Stevie Wonder.
And here is the track that started the whole Rain trilogy (I’m thinking of having a small addendum, BTW…)
Rain, rain go away
Come back some other day
Rain, rain go away
Come back some other day
Well it’s been raining in my life
Everyday and night
I’m so confused with the blues
I couldn’t even eat a bite
But I met me a new little friend
Maybe my luck will change…
Bob Azzam is actually Lebanese (Wadih Georges Azzam!). He gave us timeless songs like Fais moi du Couscous Chérie and Mustapha. The last one was about a waiter called Mustapha Chehadeh that worked at Ajami restaurant in downtown Beirut in the 50s. Seems this guy was a legend. He used to give you the bill: Hommos 3 liras, Fattoush 4 liras, “In marrat” 10 liras… And if you asked what that item was, he’d say “Ma marret…” (“If it slips by” / “it didn’t slip by” for the non-Arabic speakers among you…)
And since we’ve been promised a lot of sunshine for the next week, I’m going to give you a CCR rain double bill
Long as I remember The rain been coming down.
Clouds of myst’ry pouring Confusion on the ground.
Good men through the ages, Trying to find the sun;
And I wonder, Still I wonder, Who’ll stop the rain.
I went down Virginia, Seeking shelter from the storm.
Caught up in the fable, I watched the tower grow.
Five year plans and new deals, Wrapped in golden chains.
And I wonder, Still I wonder Who’ll stop the rain.
Heard the singers playing, How we cheered for more.
The crowd had rushed together, Trying to keep warm.
Still the rain kept pouring, Falling on my ears.
And I wonder, Still I wonder Who’ll stop the rain.
And more importantly
Someone told me long ago
There’s a calm before the storm
I know it’s been coming for some time
When it’s over so they say
It’ll rain on a sunny day
I know shinning down like water
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain
Coming down on a sunny day
Yesterday and days before
Sun is cold and rain is hard
I know, been that way for all my time
‘Til forever, on it goes
Through the circle of fast and slow
I know it can’t stop, I wonder
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain
Coming down on a sunny day
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain
Coming down on a sunny day
I think we’re going to stop the rain for a few posts / Expect another one whenever it starts pouring again
Just yesterday you slipped
away from me
without so much
as one word of good-bye
You packed the sunshine
in your big old suitcase
Now only the rain fills the sky
You were mine
but suddenly it’s changed
Wish that I… could find a way
to stop the rain
I thought that everything
was going fine
But I was blind
blind as a man could be
I took for granted
what you tried hard to give
And now the rain
is all I can see
You were mine -
but that was yesterday
Wish that I… could find a way
to stop the rain
Now tell me please
do you understand
what this feeling
is all about
‘Cos when you left me
you took my heart -
squeezed the sunshine out
But in time
this heart of mine will heal
the Sun will shine
and I can find a way to stop the rain
I can’t stand the rain
Photo © Karen Kalou. Check out her Rain Series. This has been Beirut for the last 2 weeks…
I can’t stand the rain
Against my window
Bringing back sweet memories
Hey window pane
Do you remember
How sweet it used to be
When we was together
Everything was so grand
Now that we’ve parted
There’s just one sound
That I just can’t stand
I can’t stand the rain
Against my window
Bringing back sweet memories
I can’t stand the rain
Against my window
Cause he’s not here with me
Alone with the pillow
Where his head used to lay
I know you’ve got
Some sweet memories
But like the window
You ain’t got nothing to say
I can’t stand the rain
Against my window
Bringing back sweet memories
I can’t stand the rain
Against my window
Bringing back sweet memories
Just keeps on haunting me
Hey rain,
Get off my window…
I think we’re gonna have a “rain post trilogy”. This is officially number 2, after I like Rain.
I love this song. It was Ann Peebles biggest (only hit?) but was also covered by Tina Turner and I originally discovered it in Alan Parker’s The Commitments (yet another northern blue eyed soul discovery…).
Download her whole album here.
There are a lot of songs about rain and tears. The most obvious being Aphrodite’s Child‘s track of the same name. Useless trivia: this psychedelic one hit wonder band launched the careers of 2 of Greece’s biggest musical exports: Demis Roussos and Vangelis!!!!
Rain and tears, are the same
But in the sun
You’ve got to play the game
When you cry
In winter time
You can pretend
It’s nothing but the rain
How many times i’ve seen
Tears coming from your blue eyes
Rain and tears, are the same
But in the sun
You’ve got to play the game
[interlude]
Give me an answer of love
(o—-ooohhh)
I need an answer of love
(o—-ooohhh)
Rain and tears in the sun
But in your heart
You feel the rainbow waves
Rain and tears
Both i shun
For in my heart there ‘ll never be a sun
Rain and tears, are the same
But in the sun
You’ve got to play the game
Game…
And so we go back to Motown and the Temptations who are actually wishing for rain.
Sunshine, blue skies, please go away.
My girl has found another and gone away.
With her went my future, my life is filled with gloom.
So day after day, I stay locked up in my room.
I know to you it might sound strange.
But I wish it would rain. (Oh how I wish that it would rain)
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
‘Cause so badly I wanna go outside. (Such a lovely day)
But everyone knows that a man ain’t supposed to cry, listen.
I gotta cry ‘cause cryin’ eases the pain, oh yeah.
People this hurt I feel inside, words could never explain.
I just wish it would rain (Oh how I wish that it would rain)
Oh, let it rain.
Rain, rain, rain. (Oh how I wish that it would rain)
Oh baby. Let it rain.
(Let it rain) Oh yeah, let it rain.
Day in, day out, my tear-stained face, pressed against the window pane.
My eyes search the skies, desperately for rain.
‘Cause raindrops will hide my teardrops.
And no one will ever know.
That I’m cryin’, (crying) cryin’ (crying) when I go outside.
To the world outside my tears, I refuse to explain.
Oh, I wish it would rain. (Oh how I wish that it would rain)
Oh baby.
Let it rain (Let it rain), let it rain.
I need rain to disguise the tears in my eyes.
Oh, let it rain.
(Let it rain) Oh yeah, yeah listen.
I’m a man and I got my pride.
‘Til it rains I’m gonna stay inside.
Let it rain (Let it rain) …
The instrumental bit reminds me so much of their best know track My Girl. No?
Since we’re talking about the weather, The Velvet Underground are right to ask Who Loves The Sun?
Who loves the sun
Who cares that it makes plants grow
Who cares what it does
Since you broke my heart
Who loves the wind
Who cares that it makes breezes
Who cares what it does
Since you broke my heart
Pa Pa Pa Pa
Who loves the sun
Pa Pa Pa Pa
Who loves the sun
Pa Pa Pa Pa
Not everyone
Pa Pa Pa Pa
Who loves the sun
Who loves the rain
Who cares that it makes flowers
Who cares that it makes showers
Since you broke my heart
Who loves the sun
Who cares that it is shining
Who cares what it does
Since you broke my heart
Pa Pa Pa Pa
Who loves the sun
Pa Pa Pa Pa
Who loves the sun
Pa Pa Pa Pa
Not everyone
Pa Pa Pa Pa
Who loves the sun
Well it seems that Irma Thomas does.
It’s raining so hard
Looks like it’s going
To rain all night
And this is the time
I’d love to be
Holding you tight
I guess I’ll have
To accept the fact
That you are not here
I wish tonight
Would hurry up and end
My dear
It’s raining so hard
It’s really coming down
Sittin’ by my window
Watchin’ the rain
Fall to the ground
This is the time
I’d love to be
Holding you tight
I guess I’ll just go
Crazy tonight
It’s raining so hard
Brings back memories
Of the times
When you were
Here with me
Counting every drop
About to blow my top
I wish this rain
Would hurry up
And stop
I’ve got the blues
So bad
I could hardly
Catch my breath
The harder it rains
The worst it get
This is the time
I’d love to be
Holding you tight
I guess
I’ll just go
Crazy tonight…
And I’m gonna end this post with Karen Dalton tearing you heart out.
(Expect another rain post very soon… it’s probably going to be longer than a trilogy if the weather stays as bad this year in Beirut)
If I should leave you
Try to remember all the good times
Warm days filled with sunshine
And just a little bit of rain
And if you should look back
Try to forget all the bad times
Lonely blue and sad times
And just a little bit of rain
If I should leave you
Try to remember all the good times
Long days filled with sunshine
Just a little bit of rain
Everyday is like Sunday
© Rima Abdel-Baki
Trudging slowly over wet sand
Back to the bench where your clothes were stolen
This is the coastal town
That they forgot to close down
Armageddon – come Armageddon!
Come, Armageddon! Come!
Everyday is like Sunday
Everyday is silent and grey
Hide on the promenade
Etch a postcard :
“How I Dearly Wish I Was Not Here”
In the seaside town
…that they forgot to bomb
Come, Come, Come – nuclear bomb
Everyday is like Sunday
Everyday is silent and grey
Trudging back over pebbles and sand
And a strange dust lands on your hands
(And on your face…)
(On your face …)
(On your face …)
(On your face …)
Everyday is like Sunday
“Win Yourself A Cheap Tray”
Share some greased tea with me
Everyday is silent and grey
It was also covered by Natalie Merchant and the 10.000 Maniacs
And by the Pretenders
I like rain
It’s cold outside the knife-edge (the knife-edge)
The paper in the stream looks brittle (brittle)
Shiny white and grey are the colours (colours)
It’s good to be inside and comfy
I like rain
Falling on my window (I like rain)
I like rain
Splashing on the roof (I like rain)
I like rain
Dancing on the pavement (I like rain)
I like rain
When I’m inside
Falling down
Falling down
I like rain
The Jean-Paul Sartre Experience was an indie band from New Zealand. This song is 25yrs old. I discovered it when Lali Puna covered it. Go to this blog to download their gorgeous version or watch it below. Or you can go here and download the JPS’ album Love Songs.
Let’s stay positive about the rain despite our wet socks. We’re not equipped to face this weather in Beirut / so what!? Here’s a song from the nineties.
Come and wash away the pain, step into the blessed rain
Cool the fire in your soul, the rain will make you whole
Take me dancing naked in the rain
Feel it washing over me, oh oh
Join me dancing naked in the rain
Cover me in ecstasy
And of course there’s the classic Gene Kelly song from the movie Singin’ in the Rain.
I’m singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feeling
I’m happy again
I’m laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun’s in my heart
And I’m ready for love
For love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I’ve a smile on my face
I’ll walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Singing, singing in the rain
In the rain.
I thought I was ending this post on a happy note. But actually, this song will always remind me of Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange. As Alex, the leader of the droogs he indulges in a bit of the “old ultra-violence” while he whistles and sings this tune.
It always triggers a very primitive feeling of let’s just break everything. A bit like this Mano Negra song
J’ai comme envie de tourner le gaz
Comme envie de m’faire sauter les plombs
Comme envie de t’expliquer comme ça
Que ton indifférence, elle ne me touche pas
Je peux très bien me passer de toi
Comme envie de sang sur les murs
Comme envie d’accident d’voiture
Comme envie d’expliquer comme ça
Que ton indifférence elle ne me touche pas
Je peux très bien me passer de toi
J’ai comme envie d’n'importe quoi
Comme envie de crever ton chat
Comme envie d’tout casser chez toi
Comme envie d’expliquer comme ça
Je peux très bien me passer de toi
J’ai comme envie d’une fin torride
Comme on en voit qu’au cinéma
J’ai comme envie qu’ce soit terrible
Et qu’ça se passe juste en bas de chez toi
Je peux très bien me passer de toi
Hail, Hail
“If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’.” — John Lennon
This post is a weird double whammy. Actually, read on… It might even be a quadruple-whammy.
I was going through my digital music library and decided I’d clean it up a bit and make some space. I don’t know how I got to a really lo-res (56kbps!!!) version of Chuck Berry’s Memphis Tennessee.
And I remembered that John Lennon had nicked Come Together‘s opening line (Here come ol’ flat-top, he was movin’ up with me) from a Chuck Berry lyric. A few google search attempts later and I had discovered it was You Can’t Catch Me. I’d always thought it was Come on…
He’d later record a whole album of Rock’n'Roll standards in order to settle this royalties issue.
It’s funny, I usually post so many lyrics, and this is a lyric-initiated blogpost but it’s actually leading to a mostly instrumental theme. Bear with me…
I then realized John Lennon was also “inspired” for Sun King, another track on Abbey Road.
Forget about the lyrics: they’re mostly gibberish and Google translate didn’t recognize the Span-talian at the end.
Focus on the progression: it sounds a lot like a Fleetwood Mac instrumental called Albatross
And the worst part is Peter Green got his inspiration from Chuck Berry‘s Deep Feeling
Once again, we have the Chuck Berry connection…
But wait, there’s more!
It seems a lot of lesser-known musicians are still not credited by the big boys. Click here to read some more about about Jake Holmes and Led Zeppelin’s Dazed and Confused.
And all this “inspiration” took me straight back to that lyric from 1992: “Hail hail rock ‘n’ roll, comes from r ‘n’ b and soul…”
Ahaha ahaha ….
Pockets of hate, rockets of love
It’s never too late, the change in the color of
The color of her, the color of him
It really doesn’t matter what skin you’re in
Big yellow taxi cab passed me by
Stopped on the next corner to pick up a white guy
The color of you, the color of me
You can’t judge a man by looking at the marque
Hail hail rock ‘n’ roll, comes from r ‘n’ b and soul
Don’t leave me standing in the cold
I used to fake ‘I never grow old’
Hail hail rock ‘n’ roll, don’t leave me standing on the bleak
Don’t leave me stranded on the street
I see the light, I feel the heat
Blame it on you, blame it on me
Now let’s the race that won’t let’s get on history
Pain in my heart won’t let me be
Take it from me but don’t you take away my liberty
Father of coal, mother of pearl
Never too black to blush to pick up a white girl
The color of you, the color of me
You can’t judge a man by looking at the marque
Hail hail rock ‘n’ roll, comes from r ‘n’ b and soul
Don’t leave me standing in the cold
I used to fake ‘I never grow old’
Hail hail rock ‘n’ roll, don’t leave me standing on the bleak
Don’t leave me stranded on the street
I see the light, I feel the heat
Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Fats Domino
Here come Elvis, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee
Hail hail rock ‘n’ roll, comes from r ‘n’ b and soul ….
Hail hail rock ‘n’ roll, comes from r ‘n’ b and soul ….
Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Fats Domino
Here come Elvis, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee
Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Fats Domino
Here come Elvis, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee
I love everything about this song: the video, the lyrics, the story behind the album “Don’t Call Me Buckwheat” as well as Garland Jeffreys‘ crazy career.
But wait! there’s more… we go full circle once again: Hail hail rock ‘n’ roll is a documentary film that chronicles two concerts celebrating Chuck Berry‘s 60th birthday!!!
Post-Scriptum: As I was finishing this post I did a small research and realized John Lennon and Chuck Berry had actually played together on the Mike Douglas show in 1972!!! Thank you WFMU. I’ll leave you with some a great version of the track that started this whole post!!!
Bound
Je suis allé au marché aux oiseaux
Et j’ai acheté des oiseaux
Pour toi
Mon amour
Je suis allé au marché aux fleurs
Et j’ai acheté des fleurs
Pour toi
Mon amour
Je suis allé au marché à la ferraille
Et j’ai acheté des chaînes
De lourdes chaînes
Pour toi
Mon amour
Et je suis allé au marché aux esclaves
Et je t’ai cherchée
Mais je ne t’ai pas trouvée
Mon amour
Tell her I’ll be waiting
In the usual place
With the tired and weary
There’s no escape
To need a woman
You’ve got to know
How the strong get weak
And the rich get poor
You’re running with me
Don’t touch the ground
We’re the restless hearted
Not the chained and bound
The sky is burning
A sea of flame
Though your world is changing
I will be the same
Slave to love
And I can’t escape
I’m a slave to love
Can you help me?
The storm is breaking
Or so it seems
We’re too young to reason
Too grown up to dream
And the spring is turning
Your face to mine
I can hear your laughter
I can see your smile
Slave to love
And I can’t escape
I’m a slave to love
Chains, my baby’s got me locked up in chains.
And they ain’t the kind that you can see.
Whoa, oh, these chains of love got a hold on me, yeah.
Chains, well I can’t break away from these chains.
Can’t run around, ’cause I’m not free.
Whoa, oh, these chains of love won’t let me be, yeah.
I wanna tell you, pretty baby,
I think you’re fine.
I’d like to love you,
But, darlin’, I’m imprisoned by these
Chains, my baby’s got me locked up in chains,
And they ain’t the kind that you can see,
Oh, oh, these chains of love got a hold on me.
Please believe me when I tell you,
Your lips are sweet.
I’d like to kiss them,
But I can’t break away from all of these
Chains, my baby’s got me locked up in chains.
And they ain’t the kind that you can see.
Whoa, oh, these chains of love got a hold on me, yeah.
Chains, chains of love
Cette chanson a également été reprise par les Beatles.
Je ne sais pas pourquoi, mais tout ça me fait penser à la légende de Merlin l’enchanteur et de Viviane (La Dame du Lac). Commes toutes les légendes, il y a plusieurs déclinaisons mais en gros il l’aimait tellement qu’il lui a appris le sort qu’il savait qu’elle allait jeter sur lui pour qu’il devienne son “éternel amant”…
My body is a cage
That keeps me from dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
My body is a cage
That keeps me from dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
I’m standing on the stage
Of fear and self-doubt
It’s a hollow play
But they’ll clap anyway
I’m living in an age
That calls darkness light
Though my language is dead
Still the shapes fill my head
I’m living in an age
Whose name I don’t know
Though the fear keeps me moving
Still my heart beats so slow
My body is a cage
We take what we’re given
Just because you’ve forgotten
Doesn’t mean you’re forgiven
I’m living in an age
Still turning in the night
But when I get to the doorway
There’s no one in sight
I’m living in an age
They’re laughing, I’m dancing
With the one I love
But my mind holds the key
Still next to me
My mind holds the key
Set my spirit free
Love ->
When my love
Stands next to your love,
I can’t define love
When it’s not love.
It’s not love.
It’s not love.
Which is my face,
Which is a building,
Which is on fire.
When my love
Stands next to your love,
I can’t define love
When it’s not love.
It’s not love.
It’s not love.
Which is my face,
Which is a building,
Which is on fire.
I’ve got two loves
I’ve got two loves
And they go tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, like little birds
They’re my two loves…
Count them one, two loves…
Count them one, two loves.
Which is my face
Which is a building
Which is on fire
It’s not love.
It’s not love.
Which is my face,
Which is a building,
Which is on fire.
Love → Building on Fire was the Talking Heads‘ first single. For more info on this song, click here.
To download it, click here.
For the book that I’m dying to read click here.
For the podcast that initiated this post, click <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/11/22/142550159/when-new-york
Time
Time takes a cigarette, puts it in your mouth
You pull on your finger, then another finger, then your cigarette
The wall-to-wall is calling, it lingers, then you forget
Ohhh how how how, you’re a rock ‘n’ roll suicide
You’re too old to lose it, too young to choose it
And the clocks waits so patiently on your song
You walk past a cafe but you don’t eat when you’ve lived too long
Oh, no, no, no, you’re a rock ‘n’ roll suicide
Chev brakes are snarling as you stumble across the road
But the day breaks instead so you hurry home
Don’t let the sun blast your shadow
Don’t let the milk float ride your mind
They’re so natural – religiously unkind
Oh no love! you’re not alone
You’re watching yourself but you’re too unfair
You got your head all tangled up but if I could only
make you care
Oh no love! you’re not alone
No matter what or who you’ve been
No matter when or where you’ve seen
All the knives seem to lacerate your brain
I’ve had my share, I’ll help you with the pain
You’re not alone
Just turn on with me and you’re not alone
Let’s turn on with me and you’re not alone (wonderful)
Gimme your hands cause you’re wonderful (wonderful)
Gimme your hands cause you’re wonderful (wonderful)
Oh gimme your hands.
And I really recommend you watch this live version.
That’s the last song of the final Ziggy Stardust concert at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, on July 3, 1973. Before beginning the song, Bowie announced: “Everybody… this has been one of the greatest tours of our lives. I would like to thank the band. I would like to thank our road crew. I would like to thank our lighting people. Of all of the shows on this tour, this particular show will remain with us the longest because not only is it–not only is it the last show of the tour, but it’s the last show that we’ll ever do. Thank you.”
Of course he only meant he was killing off Ziggy. Thankfully he continued touring for another 30 years before disappearing a few years ago. I got to see him in the early noughties around the same time I saw Bob Dylan! Now that was a good year for concerts…
Most of the time
I’m clear focused all around
Most of the time
I can keep both feet on the ground
I can follow the path
I can read the sign
Stay right with it when the road unwinds
I can handle whatever
I stumble upon
I don’t even notice she’s gone
Most of the time.
Most of the time it’s well understood
Most of the time I wouldn’t change it if I could
I can make it all match up
I can hold my own
I can deal with the situation right down to the bone
I can survive and I can endure
And I don’t even think about her
Most of the time.
Most of the time my head is on straight
Most of the time I’m strong enough not to hate
I don’t build up illusion ’til it makes me sick
I ain’t afraid of confusion no matter how thick
I can smile in the face of mankind
Don’t even remember what her lips felt like on mine
Most of the time.
Most of the time she ain’t even in my mind
I wouldn’t know her if I saw her
She’s that far behind
Most of the time I can even be sure
If she was ever with me
Or if I was ever with her
Most of the time I’m halfway content
Most of the time I know exactly where it went
I don’t cheat on myself I don’t run and hide
Hide from the feelings that are buried inside
I don’t compromise and I don’t pretend
I don’t even care if I ever see her again
Most of the time.
Avec le temps…
Avec le temps, va, tout s’en va
On oublie le visage et l’on oublie la voix
Le coeur, quand ça bat plus, c’est pas la peine d’aller
Chercher plus loin, faut laisser faire et c’est très bien
Avec le temps…
Avec le temps, va, tout s’en va
L’autre qu’on adorait, qu’on cherchait sous la pluie
L’autre qu’on devinait au détour d’un regard
Entre les mots, entre les lignes et sous le fard
D’un serment maquillé qui s’en va faire sa nuit
Avec le temps tout s’évanouit
Avec le temps…
Avec le temps, va, tout s’en va
Même les plus chouettes souvenirs ça t’as une de ces gueules
A la Galerie je farfouille dans les rayons de la mort
Le samedi soir quand la tendresse s’en va tout seule
Avec le temps…
Avec le temps, va, tout s’en va
L’autre à qui l’on croyait pour un rhume, pour un rien
L’autre à qui l’on donnait du vent et des bijoux
Pour qui l’on eût vendu son âme pour quelques sous
Devant quoi l’on se traînait comme traînent les chiens
Avec le temps, va, tout va bien
Avec le temps…
Avec le temps, va, tout s’en va
On oublie les passions et l’on oublie les voix
Qui vous disaient tout bas les mots des pauvres gens
Ne rentre pas trop tard, surtout ne prends pas froid
Avec le temps…
Avec le temps, va, tout s’en va
Et l’on se sent blanchi comme un cheval fourbu
Et l’on se sent glacé dans un lit de hasard
Et l’on se sent tout seul peut-être mais peinard
Et l’on se sent floué par les années perdues
Alors vraiment
Avec le temps on n’aime plus.
Evidemment c’est une reprise de Léo Ferré… Mais j’adore cette version. Elle arrive à transmettre tellement en évitant les excès dramatiques de l’originale
If you’re lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I’ll be waiting
Time after time
And we end with a small jazzy bonus. Good night!
PS: For more info on the artwork illustrating this post, please click here
