J: Jolene by Dolly Parton

 

Welcome AtoZ-ers and other blog friends! This month I'm participating in the AtoZ blogging challenge, and you'll see a post every day (except Sundays) about one of the Songs of my Heart. Today's edition: Jolene by Dolly Parton.  (If my embedded video won't work, you can listen at this link).

 

In the 70s, I mostly listened to whatever music the adults in my life listened to, since I was but a wee lass myself. My parents listened to folk rock and country music at the time, in the era of folks like Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gale, Waylon Jennings, and, of course, Dolly Parton. 

One of the great things about Dolly's songs is their sing-along-ability, if that's a word. She sings in a pretty ordinary vocal range and whether you're an 8 year girl or her 30 year old mother, you can probably at least kind of sing with her. I have fond memories of doing just that, singing along to the radio with my mother to this and many other of Dolly's great songs. 

Lyrics from AtoZ lyrics: 

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can

Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green

Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene

He talks about you in his sleep
There's nothing I can do to keep
From crying when he calls your name, Jolene

And I can easily understand
How you could easily take my man
But you don't know what he means to me, Jolene

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can

You could have your choice of men
But I could never love again
He's the only one for me, Jolene

I had to have this talk with you
My happiness depends on you
And whatever you decide to do, Jolene

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him even though you can

Jolene, Jolene

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

I: I'm Shipping Up to Boston by the Dropkick Murphys

 

Wlcome AtoZ-ers and other blog friends! This month I'm participating in the AtoZ blogging challenge, and you'll see a post every day (except Sundays) about one of the Songs of my Heart. Today's edition: I'm Shipping up to Boston, as recorded by the Dropkick Murphys.  (If my embed doesn't work, listen at this link).

 

There are certain songs that just startle something in my heart or ears or soul or whatever it is, and I feel awake in a whole different way when I hear them. They express something I haven't been able to express for myself with such perfection. That's I'm Shipping Up to Boston for me. 

I mean, I'm not a pirate--I even pay for my movies and books! And I'm not all that Irish all these generations after the Irish portion of my ancestors crossed the Atlantic. But there's such black comedy in this man yelling about having lost his leg and it's just…satisfying. I don't think I can explain it any better than that. You'll have to listen and see what you think.

Lyrics from AtoZ: 

I'm a sailor peg
And I lost my leg
Climbing up the top sails
I lost my leg!

I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping off
To find my wooden leg

I'm a sailor peg
And I lost my leg
Climbing up the top sails
I lost my leg!

I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping off
To find my wooden leg

 

H: Hurt by Johnny Cash

 

Welcome AtoZ-ers and other blog friends! This month I'm participating in the AtoZ blogging challenge, and you'll see a post every day (except Sundays) about one of the Songs of my Heart. Today's edition: Hurt, as recorded by the Johnny Cash.  (If my embed doesn't work, listen at this link).

If you're reading along, then you already know that I have a fondness for covers that significantly change the original song and make something new of it. This is one of those songs. It's originally a Nine Inch Nails song (link to video here). That version was good. There was a reason it was a big hit. It captured a certain kind of sadness. 

But, it's a very different song in the hands of Johnny Cash, especially at the age and point of life he was at when he recorded it. I'm not even a huge Johnny Cash fan, but I was aware of his addiction and relationship issues, and that added a "meta" layer to the song made of real biography on top of a great performance of a great song. So much sadness, and regret intermixed with acceptance that those things cannot actually be changed. 

Lyrics from AtoZ: 

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

What have I become
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here

What have I become
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way 

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

G: Goodnight, Irene

 

Welcome AtoZ-ers and other blog friends! This month I'm participating in the AtoZ blogging challenge, and you'll see a post every day (except Sundays) about one of the Songs of my Heart. Today's edition: Goodnight, Irene, as recorded by the Weavers.  (If my embed doesn't work, listen at this link).

 

This song came to me in a roundabout way. When I was a kid, my grandfather did some carpentry work for a friend and was paid with a juke box. Something kind of like this: 

image source

My grandmother was enraged, probably rightly so. I'm sure they needed cash money more than a jukebox.

 But the other grandchildren and I were delighted. It came loaded with 78 record albums of songs from the 30s and 40s. We'd take turns picking songs and listen rainy days away (probably driving my grandparents crazy with the repetition). 

Goodnight, Irene by the Weavers was one of them and it really got stuck in my head, especially at bedtime. In fact, I still hum it when I'm headed to sleep to this day. 

Lyrics from Songs for Teaching: 

Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

Last saturday night I got married

Me and my love settled down
Now me and my love are parted
I'm gonna take another stroll downtown

Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in the town

Sometimes I have a great notion
To jump In the river and drown

Irene goodnight, Irene good night
Good night Irene, good night Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

Ramblin' stop your gamblin'
Stop stayin' out late at night
Go home to your wife and your family
Sit down by the fireside bright

Irene goodnight, Irene good night
Good night Irene, good night Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

Irene goodnight, Irene good night
Good night Irene, good night Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

F: Fine Again by Seether

 

Welcome AtoZ-ers and other blog friends! This month I'm participating in the AtoZ blogging challenge, and you'll see a post every day (except Sundays) about one of the Songs of my Heart. Today's edition: Fine Again, as recorded by Seether.  (If my embed doesn't work, listen at this link).

2004 was one of the roughest years of my life. I had given up a job I loved in a community I loved and moved to a small town in Kansas in an attempt to rescue a failing marriage…and it finished failing. I was facing divorce, losing a house I'd already come to love but wouldn't be able to afford alone, becoming a single mom to a toddler, and feeling in general like I'd failed at life. 

Like I often do when I'm hurting, I turned to music. A friend sent me this song and it became an anthem to me as I slogged forward, and the mixture of anger, regret, and determination was exactly what I needed. Even now when my life is much more what I want it to be, this song always helps me channel my energy in the right direction. 

Lyrics from AtoZ: 

It seems like every day's the same
And I'm left to discover on my own
It seems like everything is gray
And there's no color to behold
They say it's over and I'm fine again, yeah
Try to stay sober feels like I'm dying here

And I am aware now of how
Everything's gonna be fine one day
Too late, I'm in hell I am prepared now,
Seems everyone's gonna be fine
One day too late, just as well

I feel the dream in me expire
And there's no one left to blame it on
I hear you label me a liar
'Cause I can't seem to get this through
You say it's over, I can sigh again, yeah
Why try to stay sober when I'm dying here

And I am aware now of how
Everything's gonna be fine one day
Too late, I'm in hell
I am prepared now,
Seems everyone's gonna be fine
One day too late; just as well

And I'm not scared now.
I must assure you,
You're never gonna get away
And I'm not scared now.
And I'm not scared now. No…

I am aware now of how
Everything's gonna be fine one day
Too late, I'm in hell
I am prepared now
Seems everyone's gonna be fine
One day too late, just as well
I am prepared now,
Seems everything's gonna be fine for me
For me; for myself.
For me, for me, for myself
For me, for me, for myself

I am prepared now for myself
I am prepared now and I am fine... again 

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

E: Eat it! Weird Al Yankovic

 

Welcome AtoZ-ers and other blog friends! This month I'm participating in the AtoZ blogging challenge, and you'll see a post every day (except Sundays) about one of the Songs of my Heart. Today's edition: Eat it!, as recorded by Weird Al Yankovic.  (This one has "embed" blocked, so you can listen at this link).

No Embed available, Listen Here

 

I'm an old school Weird Al fan, from back in the early 80s, in the heyday of MTV and music video culture. I'm not sure which of his song parodies I fell in love with first--they were all so much fun! I've remained a fan to the present day and I'm hoping to catch a show in his latest tour.

Weird Al is a one of a kind act made of clever twists on the original lyrics and hilarious and fun videos that play with the videos for the original songs. The wholesome, silly humor always pleased me. 

He did especially good work with Michael Jackson songs. "Eat it" is of course based on "Beat it" (see that video here) The video for Eat it is a scene by scene redo of Michael Jackson's video, with additional comedy. 

Lyrics from Weird Al and the source material: 

Eat It: by Weird Al Yankovic (from AZ lyrics) How come you're always such a fussy young man Don't want no Captain Crunch, don't want no Raisin Bran Well, don't you know that other kids are starving in Japan So eat it, just eat it Don't wanna argue, I don't wanna debate Don't wanna hear about what kind of food you hate You won't get no dessert 'til you clean off your plate So eat it Don't you tell me you're full Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it Get yourself an egg and beat it Have some more chicken, have some more pie It doesn't matter if it's boiled or fried Just eat it, eat it, just eat it, eat it Just eat it, eat it, just eat it, eat it, ooh Your table manners are a cryin' shame You're playin' with your food, this ain't some kind of game Now, if you starve to death, you'll just have yourself to blame So eat it, just eat it You better listen, better do what you're told You haven't even touched your tuna casserole You better chow down or it's gonna get cold So eat it I don't care if you're full Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it Open up your mouth and feed it Have some more yogurt, have some more spam It doesn't matter if it's fresh or canned Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it Don't you make me repeat it Have a banana, have a whole bunch It doesn't matter what you had for lunch Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it Eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it Eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it If it's gettin' cold, reheat it Have a big dinner, have a light snack If you don't like it, you can't send it back Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it Get yourself an egg and beat it (oh lord) Have some more chicken, have some more pie It doesn't matter if it's boiled or fried Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it Don't you make me repeat it (oh no) Have a banana, have a whole bunch It doesn't matter what you had for lunch Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it

Beat it: By Michael Jackson (from AZ lyrics) They told him, "Don't you ever come around here Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear" The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear So beat it, just beat it (Ooh!) You better run, you better do what you can (Ooh!) Don't wanna see no blood, don't be a macho man (Ooh!) You wanna be tough, better do what you can So beat it, but you wanna be bad Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin' how funky and strong is your fight It doesn't matter who's wrong or right Just beat it (Beat it) Just beat it (Beat it) Just beat it (Beat it) Just beat it (Beat it, uh) They're out to get you, better leave while you can Don't wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man You wanna stay alive, better do what you can So beat it, just beat it (Ooh!) You have to show them that you're really not scared (Ooh!) You're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare (Ooh!) They'll kick you, then they'll beat you, then they'll tell you it's fair So beat it, but you wanna be bad Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin' how funky and strong is your fight It doesn't matter who's wrong or right Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin' how funky and strong is your fight It doesn't matter who's wrong or right Just beat it (Beat it, beat it, beat it) Beat it (Beat it, beat it, ha, ha, ha, ha) Beat it (Beat it, beat it) Beat it (Beat it, beat it) Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin' how funky and strong is your fight It doesn't matter who's wrong or right (Who's right) Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it (Hoo-hoo!) No one wants to be defeated (Oh, lord) Showin' how funky (Hee-hee!) and strong is your fight (Hee-hee-hee!) It doesn't matter who's wrong or right Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it (Beat it!) No one wants to be defeated (Oh-no!) Showin' how funky (Hoo-hoo!) and strong is your fight (Hee-hee! Hoo!) It doesn't matter who's wrong or right Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin' how funky and strong is your fight It doesn't matter who's wrong or right (Who's right) Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it (Hoo-hoo!) No one wants to be defeated

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

D: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

 I'm definitely cheating for today's "Song in My Heart" A to Z blogging challenge post. Dr. Horrible's Singalong blog is not a song…it's a complete musical, even if it's only 42 minutes long. 

(if my embedded video doesn't work, listen here)

My love of this one started with the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Before Joss Whedon disappointed me (like so damn many famous men disappoint me with their abuse and misogyny), I enjoyed his work. And "Once More With Feeling" was AMAZING. I still think it is, even if it now comes with a yucky aftertaste. 

I don't exactly remember how I came to know about Dr. Horrible's Sing-along blog, but I did--I have the DVD!, This complicated little superhero/villain story where the bad guys aren't all bad and the good eyes aren't fully good really grabbed me. Doesn't hurt that Neil Patrick Harris plays Dr. Horrible and that he's a ridiculously talented actor and singer. "My Eyes" is an amazing juxtaposition of optimism and pessimism by two different characters looking at the same thing and coming to opposite conclusions. 

I'll post the lyrics to "My Eyes" (from lyricsmania) since it's the song I highlighed in my comments, but I recommend the whole thing. Note: the lines marked H and P are sung at the same time, overlapping each other.

Horrible:
Any dolt with half a brain
Can see that humankind has gone insane
To the point where I don't know if I'll upset the status quo
If I throw poison in the watermain

Listen close to everybody's heart
And hear that breaking sound
Hopes and dreams are shattering apart
And crashing to the ground

I cannot believe my eyes
How the world's filled with filth and lies
But it's plain to see evil inside of me
Is on the rise

Penny:
Look around
We're living with the lost and found
Just when you feel you've almost drowned
You find yourself on solid ground

And you believe there's good in everybody's heart
Keep it safe and sound
With hope you can do your part
To turn a life around

I cannot believe my eyes
Is the world finally growing wise?
Because it seems to me
Some kind of harmony
Is on the rise

H: Anyone with half a brain
P: Take it slow

H: Could spend their whole life howling in pain
P: He looks at me and seems to know

H: Because the dark is everywhere and
P: The things that I'm afraid to show

H: Penny doesn't seem to care that soon the dark in me is all that will remain
P: And suddenly I feel this glow

H: Listen close to everybody's heart
P: And I believe there's good in everybody's heart

H: And hear that breaking sound
P: Keep it safe and sound

H: Hopes and dreams are shattering apart
P: With hope you can do your part

H: And crashing to the ground
P: To turn a life around

H: I cannot believe my eyes, how the world's filled with filth and lies
P: I cannot believe my eyes, how the world's finally growing wise

H: But it's plain to see evil inside of me is on the rise
P: And it's plain to see rapture inside of me is on the rise 

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com