How many times have you heard an artist wax poetic about a song they thought was headed straight to the top of the charts, but never achieve the lofty goals they expected?
I am running a couple of days behind for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday but I say better late than never. So getting to it, Jim at A Unique Title for Me has asked us to explore songs that just missed their climb to the top of the charts, great expectations that ultimately missed the mark. I have chosen to explore two such songs, one from British rockers Supertramp and the second from Country superstar Kenny Chesney.
For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, Jim at A Unique Title for Me asks us to explore songs whose lyrics mention or display amazement, astonishment, curiosity, shock, surprise, and/or wonderment.
Once again, I have chosen a song that doesn’t explicitly mention any of the keywords however one would have to agree that the things the protagonist does in the song are all of those keywords personified. Plus, the song is ridiculously fun and the video is a riot, literally!
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are the Ohio duo known as the Black Keys. Their influence on music over the last two decades is immeasurable. From a series of best-selling records to production, recording, and mixing credits for countless other acts.
For today’s song they teamed up with rapper, actor, filmmaker, and record producer Robert Fitzgerald Diggs aka RZA of Wu-tang Clan fame for the track, “The Baddest Man Alive” taken from the soundtrack for the Tarantino film “The Man With the Iron Fists.”
Have you ever experienced that feeling of excitement when you’ve met someone new? All you can do is think about them morning, noon, and night and when you are away you just gotta get back to them.
This week Jim at A Unique Title for Me asks us to explore the primary emotions of excitement, pleasure, sentiment, or spirit for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday. The song I have chosen doesn’t explicitly mention any of the keywords defining this emotion but the singer himself exudes the excitement he feels about getting back to that someone knew he has met.
There are times in our lives we do shameful things for which we feel no remorse. Slinking around in the shadows seeking instant gratification without caring who our actions hurt or the consequences that follow.
This week Jim at A Unique Title for Me asks us to explore the primary emotions of Disgust, Embarrassment, Guilt, Regret, Remorse, and Shame for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday. The song I have chosen is much more literal than last week’s entry and deals with shame or lack thereof for our actions.
We have all met that person at some point in our life. They appear like a god or goddess and we end up completely enamoured with them, but then something unexpected happens. They open their mouths and your realized they are shallow, materialistic, cruel, and not at all what they appeared to be at first impression. Unfortunately, it’s too late, we are trapped. Stuck in a toxic and often one-sided relationship with no way to get ourselves out.
I’ve missed Song Lyric Sunday the last couple of weeks, but I am back. This week Jim at A Unique Title for Me asks us to feature a song that deals with the concepts of appearance, image, likeness, object, picture, or photograph. While the song I have chosen does not specifically mention any of these terms the song is all about the appearance and image a person projects.
The Northern Pikes are a Canadian rock outfit hailing from the prairie town of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The band includes Jay Semko, Bryan Potvin, Merl Bryck, and Don Schmid. Although they still perform and record the period from 1987 through 1993 was the band’s heyday with songs like ‘Teenland‘, ‘Things I Do for Money‘, ‘Girl With a Problem‘, ‘Believe‘, and this week’s song choice ‘She Ain’t Pretty‘.
It’s said that shoes can change your outlook on life. Take a bad day and make it good. This week Jim at A Unique Title for Me has ask that we find songs that are about or mentions Socks, Shoes, Boots and/or Feet for Song Lyric Sunday.
This week I am highlighting a track by Scottish singer, songwriter and musician Paolo Giovanni Nutini. Nutini who hails from Paisley is Scotland released his debut album “These Streets” in 2006 where it peaked at #3 in the UK. The fourth single “New Shoes” reached #21 in the UK and #1 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart in the USA.
There is nothing quite like a burlesque show circa 1924. We have all seen it romanticize on Broadway and in the movies. The experience seeming nothing like the seedy strip clubs of modern day. No doubt the shows of the roaring 20s and the Soprano style clubs of today are designed to sell sex but there was an art to burlesque that is lost in today’s striptease acts.
This week Jim at A Unique Title for Me set the theme for Song Lyric Sunday to clothing. Think suits, pants, shirts, dresses. Instantly classic tracks such as ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man” or Chris de Burgh’s “Lady in Red” come to mind.
“Patricia the Stripper” is the 4th track on the vinyl A-side of Chris de Burgh’s sophomore release “Spanish Train and Other Stories“. The album was released in 1975 and highlights de Burgh’s knack for storytelling. His lyrics come to life, drawing you in and making you feel as though you are in the scene. You will feel like your soul is truly on the line in “Spanish Train“, ‘La Bise‘ is swirling about your feet in “Lonely Sky“, and you are bearing witness to the return of Christ in “A Spaceman Came Travelling“.
This week’s selection “Patricia the Stripper” is no different. The story revolves around Patricia, or should I say Delicia, whose clothing ends up strewn across the stage floor. DeBurgh weaves the tale of the lovely Patricia so vividly that you can almost feel the ‘tremendous applause as she took off her drawers’ or the uproar in the riotous courtroom when the Judge decrees, ‘Case dismissed… this girl was in her working clothes!!’
The best I can tell the song never received wide release as a single although I did find a Canadian release from 1976 and a promo single from 2000 supporting the release of “The Ultimate Collection” greatest hits compilation. I highly recommend immersing yourself in de Burgh’s world. Patricia will have you captivated as will the other tracks on “Spanish Train and Other Stories“. Enjoy.
Patricia the Stripper Lyrics
Dennis is a menace with his "anyone for tennis?"
And beseeching me to come and keep the score...
And Maud saya "Oh Lord! I'm so terribly bored!"
I really can't stand it anymore...
I'm going out to dinner, with a gorgeous singer,
To a little place I've found down by the quay;
Her name is Patricia, she calls herself Delicia,
And the reason isn't very hard to see...
She says God made her a sinner just to keep fat men thinner,
As they tumble down in heaps before her feet.
They hang around in groups like battle-weary troops,
One can often see them queue right down the street...
You see Patricia, or Delicia, not only is a singer
She also removes all her clothing...
For Patricia is the best stripper in town.
And with a swing of her hips she started to strip,
To tremendous applause she took off her drawers,
And with a lick of her lips she undid all the clips,
Threw it all in the air, and everyone stared,
And as the last piece of clothing fell to the floor,
The police were banging on the door,
On a Saturday night, in nineteen twenty-four...
Take it away boys!
But poor Patricia was arrested and everyone detested,
The manner in which she was exposed,
And later on in court, well, everybody thought
A summer run in jail would be proposed,
But the judge said, "Patricia,
Or may I say, Delicia,
The facts of this case lie before me...
Case dismissed... this girl was in her working clothes!!"
And with a swing of her hips, she started to strip,
To tremendous applause she took off her drawers,
And with a lick of her lips she undid all her clips,
Threw it all in the air, and everyone stared,
And as the last piece of clothing fell to the floor,
The police were yelling out for more!!!
On a Saturday night in nineteen twenty-four...
On a Saturday night in nineteen twenty-four...
Songwriter: Chris de Burgh
Photos: 1. Unknown | 2. Mary Pickford | 3. Theda Bara | 4. Louise Brooks | 5. Clara Bow Images 2-5 from burlexe.com | Album Art: discogs.com Copyright 2022 Greg Glazebrook, All Rights Reserved.
Quietly he laughs and shaking his head, Creeps closer now, closer to the foot of the bed…
Step Into My Parlour…
For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday Jim at A Unique Title for Me is asking that we highlight a song with emotions as the central theme. The song I have chosen is filled with anxiety and fear. The tension builds as the lyrics progress and is augmented by the creeping arrangement of the song’s instrumentation.
Robert Smith and The Cure were one of the most influential bands of the 1980s. From early Goth culture, along with other bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees, to superstar status as the decade wore on. Smith was known for his lush lyrics, cutting-edge experimentation and trend-setting styling.
In 1989, The Cure released their eighth studio album, “Disintegration“. The album would become the band’s biggest commercial success charting at number three in the UK and 12 in the US. The album would include the hits Pictures of You, Lovesong, Fascination Street and the anxiety-filled track I will be highlighting today, Lullaby.
The sun, the surf, the salty air, and the sand between my toes. Colourful umbrellas, surfboards and bikini-clad girls everywhere.
“In the wake of the Beach Boys’ success, many singles by new surfing and hot rod groups were produced by Los Angeles groups. Himes notes: “Most of these weren’t real groups; they were just a singer or two backed by the same floating pool of session musicians: often including Glen Campbell, Hal Blaine and Bruce Johnston. If a single happened to click, a group would be hastily assembled and sent out on tour. It was an odd blend of amateurism and professionalism.”1
This week Jim at A Unique Title for Me, host of Song Lyric Sunday has asked us to look to the beach for inspiration. The song I am highlighting is “Surf City.” Released by Jan and Dean in 1963, the only other band from the surf era to achieve any real commercial success. Jan and Dean’s success would be cut short when real life would mimic one of the band’s other songs. Jan Berry would crash his Corvette not far from the location prominently featured in one of the band’s other hits, “Dead Man’s Curve.” The accident would leave him with brain damage. Berry would eventually overcome the effects of the accident but Jan and Dean would never achieve the success they saw prior.
In 2003 a United States led coalition invaded Iraq. The Iraqi forces were quickly overwhelmed leading to the fall of the Ba’athist government led by Saddam Hussein. The coalition would remain in Iraq for the next 8 years, officially withdrawing from the country in 2011.
In October 2008 Chicago based punk rock giants Rise Against released their 5th studio album entitled “Appeal to Reason“. The theme for this week Song Lyric Sunday is Army / Soldier / War and I have chosen to highlight the track “Hero of War” from that release. The track was only released as a promo single but did receive significant play on alternative radio.
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