Long Live Liner Notes!
I crave complex lyrics. Puzzling lyrics. Lyrics with pleasing alliteration. Lyrics that magnify the beauty of a song’s sound in one brief moment. And while my mind often wanders while reading poetry, the poetic lyrics of a song often hook me. There is magic in combining words and music. Some of my favorite lyrics are those that I really don’t understand, making me wonder and imagine for decades. And while many people are all about the digital download, I still love physical albums for various reasons, including the liner notes. I love seeing the lyrics written so that they can also be experienced without the music. Liner notes will also save a person from great embarrassment. You won’t make the great mistake of thinking the lyric is goats in the ocean when it is really ghost of the ocean.
Many of you may be thinking that liner notes are unnecessary, because there is a great thing called Google, and you can easily look up lyrics to almost any song. To that I say, Just let me have my liner notes!
Lyrics and Legends
I believe that Uriah Heep’s strength lies in its music, but their impressive catalog is not without memorable lyrics. A few of my favorite are:
Today is only yesterday’s tomorrow- Circle of Hands
And I will dream of my magic night
And the million silver stars that guide me with their light -The Wizard
Love is the only direction
That leads to truth
Knowing in your heart what’s right
You’ll walk upon the sea of light -Love in Silence
Sunrise
Bless my eyes
Catch my soul
Make me whole again-Sunrise
In love and silence
That you can find
Know yourself and all around
Listen to the only sound-Love in Silence
Living the Dream Lyrics
Needless to say, I wasn’t going to be satisfied with just a digital download of Uriah Heep’s latest album Living the Dream
So I thought I’d do something different than just a review of my favorite songs off the new album, and pick my ten favorite lyrics of the album. Here we go:
I’ve got the sun and the moon on the one hand
The stars as they’re falling down in the other-Living the Dream
You can lead a heart to love, but you can’t make it fall -Rocks in the Road
It was every time just about midnight
Down by the waters flowin’ -Waters Flowin’
So many stories and it makes you wonder
They’re all the same but just a different colour -It’s All Been Said
We’re been addicted and we hunger for the very next line-It’s All Been Said
The more things tend to change the more the young will make it better-Dreams of Yesteryear
Colorize me with your physical charade
You won’t leave this night alone- Grazed by Heaven
Rise to the future, it’s there to discover- Living the Dream
Take away my soul, see the look upon my face
That’s forever. -Take Away My Soul
The world is waiting this is what you need -Living the Dream
Needless to say the title track, Living the Dream, is emerging as one of my favorites from the album. Strong lyrics are very important to me, but this song also has beautiful harmonies, heavy guitar and organ, and a catchy chorus. Although the sound is heavy, this song has gratitude (“I’ve got the sun and moon in the one hand”), altruism (“You can rely on me to show you the way.”) and optimism (“the world is waiting this is what you need.”) It’s heavy, but hopeful, or maybe I should say very ‘eavy, very ‘opeful?
What do you think? Do you have favorite lyrics from Living the Dream? Let me know in the comments.
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