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If someone comes to your door during shelter in place, this should be your response.
R.I.P Little Richard, 1932-2020
Here's a new one from Randy Newman written specifically for the pandemic.
THE END (but which one?)
An upbeat ditty about the end of the world by REM
A dustopian anthym, same theme, by THE DOORS
And THE BEATLES get the final word.
I listened to all of Fleetwod Mac's Rumours today. I've had that forever but I don't think I ever just listened to the whole album all the way through. I rarely listen to whole albums anymore, so this was kind of fun.
Rumours is a great album. (I have it on both vinyl and CD.)I haven't listened to it in a while myself, but I also have a tribute album with all of the songs from it, in album order, each covered by a different artist or band. I have one like that for the Beatles' Rubber Soul, too.
Hey, Travis... I've been meaning to ask you: How's that "Beach Party"? It seems to me 300 beach-themed song would be perfect for a virtual trip to the beach during lockdown.
My COVID-releated choice for the day is another Woody Guthrie song (more for the chorus than the verses).
I went across the river and I laid down to sleep
I went across the river and I laid down to sleep
When I woke up, I had shackles on my feet
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long
Twenty-one links of chain around my leg
Twenty-one links of chain around my leg
And on each link, is initial of my name
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long
I asked that judge, what's gonna be my fine?
I asked the judge, what's gonna be my fine?
Twenty one years on the Rocky Mountain Line
Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime
Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime
Twenty-one years and I still got ninety-nine
It’s hard to believe that this song was released 50 years ago; it could have been written today.
Every day just gets a little shorter don't you think?
Take a look around you, and you'll see just what I mean
People got to come together, not just out of fear
Where do we go
Where do we go
Where do we go from here?
Try to find a better place, but soon it's all the same
What once you thought was a paradise is not just what it seems \
The more I look around I find, the more I have to fear \
Where do we go
Where do we go
Where do we go from here?
I know it's hard for you to
Change your way of life
I know it's hard for you to do
The world is full of people
Dying to be free
So if you don't my friend
There's no life for you, no world for me
Let's all get together soon, before it is too late
Forget about the past and let your feelings fade away
If you do I'm sure you'll see the end is not yet near
Where do we go
Where do we go
Where do we go from here?
Here's one from Stevie Wonder (and the Jackson 5) from 1974, that still stings:
We are amazed but not amused
By all the things you say that you'll do
Though much concerned but not involved
With decisions that are made by you
But we are sick and tired of hearing your song
Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong
'Cause if you really want to hear our views
"You haven't done nothing"!
It's not too cool to be ridiculed
But you brought this upon yourself
The world is tired of pacifiers
We want the truth and nothing else
And we are sick and tired of hearing your song
Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong
'Cause if you really want to hear our views
"You haven't done nothing"!
Jackson 5 join along with me say
Doo doo wop - hey hey hey
Doo doo wop - wow wow wow
Doo doo wop - co co co
Doo doo wop - naw naw naw
Doo doo wop - bum bum bum
Doo doo wop
We would not care to wake up to the nightmare
That's becoming real life
But when misled who knows a person's mind
Can turn as cold as ice, un hum
Why do you keep on making us hear your song
Telling us how you are changing right from wrong
'Cause if you really want to hear our views
"You haven't done nothing"!
Yeah
Jackson 5 sing along again say
Doo doo wop
Doo doo wop - oh
Doo doo wop - co co co
Doo doo wop - sing it baby
Doo doo wop - bum bum bum
Doo doo wop - um
Sing it loud for your people say
Doo doo wop - um um um
Doo doo wop - stand up be counted, say
Doo doo wop - co co co
Doo doo wop - ow
Doo doo wop - bum bum bum
Doo doo wop - ah hum
Targeted at Richard Nixon, who resigned two days after this single was released.
Wow, I've known that song all my life but I never made the connection that it was about Nixon specifically, but that tracks. Thanks for that! Here's another one that could apply today as well (substituting "Donald" for "Richard").
A SONG FOR RICHARD AND HIS FRIENDS
If you will think now, then you will see
How you can change things
People are waiting, turning away
Tired of killing
Hey now
Will you go away
We're so tired
Of things that you say
Even though you never said word that would help anyone but yourself
Tomorrow is such a bad dream
Oh, bad dream
If you stay now
It will only get worse
Let us pray now
'Cause the truth really hurts
Have to be a man so today with your brothers and sisters lay dying
Tomorrow is such a bad dream
Yeah, such a bad dream
Listen
Please be gone
Go away and leave us alone
Bring police
Go away and leave us in peace
Yeah
Please be gone
Go away and leave us alone
Bring police
Go away and leave us in peace
Will you go now
Will you take all your friends
Woah now,
If you'd stood like a man
Even though I know that you cannot be blamed all alone for all the sadness you've caused
Tomorrow is such a bad dream
Yeah, such a bad dream
Oh yeah, such a bad dream
Dig it
If you will think now you will then you will see
How we can change things
People are waiting, turning away
Tired of killing
In The Wake Of Poseidon by King Crimson, their second album. Quite good in spite of occasional moments of prog rock excess.
AM I BLUE?
Does sheltering in place have you feeling blue? This song was first performed by Ethyl Waters in the film “On with the Show” in 1929.
My favorite version is Billie Holiday's
For those of you who like to look at something while you’re listening, here’s a clip from "To Have and Have Not" with Bogie and Bacall.
NOTE: That’s Hoagy Carmichael at the piano, the man Ian Fleming had in mind for James Bond.
It was a morning, long before dawn
Without a warning
I found he was gone
How could he do it
Why should he do it
He never done it before
Am I blue?
Am I blue?
Ain't these tears, in these eyes telling you
How can you ask me "am I blue"?
Why, wouldn't you be too?
If each plan
With your man
Done fell through
There was a time
When I was his only one
But now I'm
The sad and lonely one, lonely
Was I gay Until today?
Now he's gone, and we're through
Am I blue?