Song Lyric Sunday — “Thunder Road”

Song Lyric Sunday, to me, is an adventure — rediscovering old favorites, unearthing new ones. Our intrepid leader, Jim Adams, has provided mutiple paths to adventure with this week’s theme of Avenue/Bouelvard/Drive/Lane/Road/Street. Naturally, my first thought was “Drive” by The Cars, but I used that song for one of last August’s themes. Jim’s chosen topics are so broad, I’d feel like a cheater if I didn’t come up with something different.

So I decided to go with “Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen. Featured on his seminal 1975 album, “Born to Run,” the song is a fan favorite and is generally considered one of Springsteen’s, and rock’s, best songs. Funny thing about “Thunder Road,” though. When I searched for the right video, I stumbled across another song called “The Ballad of Thunder Road,” written by actor Robert Mitchum and Don Raye for the movie “Thunder Road.” Coincidentally, I later read that Springsteen’s song title comes from the movie.

While I often feature multiple videos of the same song, this week you’re getting two different songs with similar titles. Lyrics are in the videos.

Song Lyric Sunday — The Young Rascals — “Groovin'”

You may say “such an obvious choice,” and I’d have to agree. We could probably place bets on how many other people also choose this song. But, when I see the Song Lyric Sunday theme is “Cool/Groovy/Hip/Nifty/Radical/Swell,” and I immediately start singing this song ….. well, sometimes ya gotta go with ya gut.

“Groovin'” by The Young Rascals is really the perfect song for this theme, for a Sunday, and for the weekend that’s the real beginning of summer. It’s one of those songs that, as soon as I hear the first notes, I’m immediately transported back to my early teenage years, hanging out with friends at Cove Beach in Stamford, CT. The picture in my head is so vivid, I can feel the warmth of the sun, see the hazy heat waves rising from the sand, hear the laughter, and feel the start of another god-awful sunburn. (And, for those who may be familiar with the Cove, I’m thinking of East Beach with the cool kids not family-friendly Horseshoe Beach where my father taught us to swim amid the prehistoric horseshoe crabs.)

Enjoy!

“Groovin‘”

Groovin’, on a Sunday afternoon
Really couldn’t get away too soon

I can’t imagine anything that’s better
The world is ours whenever we’re together
There ain’t a place I’d like to be instead of

Groovin’, down a crowded avenue
Doin’ anything we like to do

There’s always lots of things that we can see
We can be anyone we want to be
And all those happy people we could meet just

Groovin’, on a Sunday afternoon
Really couldn’t get away too soon

Ah-ha-ha
Ah-ha-ha
Ah-ha-ha

We’ll keep on spending sunny days this way
We’re gonna talk and laugh our time away
I feel it comin’ closer day by day
Life would be ecstasy, you and me endlessly

Groovin’, on a Sunday afternoon
Really couldn’t get away too soon

Ah-ha-ha
Ah-ha-ha
Ah-ha-ha

Writer/s: Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati

Song Lyric Sunday — Wilson Pickett “In The Midnight Hour”

When I was in high school, the Catholic parishes held dances on Friday nights. I think they alternated weeks among St. Bridget’s, St. Gabriel’s, and St. Mary’s. Freshman and sophomore years, even into junior year, the Friday night parish dance was THE place to be, partly because we didn’t yet have drivers’ licenses and had to rely on parents to get us there. In my case, the Friday night dance was just about the only place my parents allowed me to go at night, foolishly thinking a Catholic dance was the safest place for a young Catholic girl.

Anyway, this week’s Song Lyric Sunday “Dawn/Noon/Dusk/Midnight/Nocturnal/Diurnal” theme got me nostalgic for those dances, because every Friday, no matter which parish was hosting or which band was playing, we knew the night was just about over when we heard the first chords of Wilson Pickett’s “In The Midnight Hour.”

“In The Midnight Hour”

I’m gonna wait ’till the midnight hour
That’s when my love come tumbling down
I’m gonna wait ’till the midnight hour
When there’ no one else around
I’m gonna take you, girl, and hold you
And do all things I told you, in the midnight hour

Yes I am, oh yes I am
One thing I just wanna say, right here

I’m gonna wait till the stars come out
And see that twinkle in your eyes
I’m gonna wait ’till the midnight hour
That’s when my love begins to shine

You’re the only girl I know
Can really love me so, in the midnight hour

Oh yeah, in the midnight hour
Yeah, all right, play it for me one time, now

I’m gonna wait ’till the midnight hour
That’s when my love come tumbling down
I’m gonna wait, way in the midnight hour
That’s when my love begin to shine, just you and I
Oh, baby, just you and I
Nobody around, baby, just you and I
Oh, right, you know what?
I’m gonna hold you in my arms, just you and I
Oh yeah, in the midnight hour
Oh, baby, in the midnight hour

Writer/s: WILSON PICKETT, STEVE CROPPER

Song Lyric Sunday – Dean Lewis – “7 Minutes”

Once again Jim Adams has chosen a remarkably diverse theme for Song Lyric Sunday. Hurt/pain/agony/suffer is a universal thread weaving through musical genres and sub-genres, from opera to standards to jazz to blues to country to rock. Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis‘s debut studio album released in March, “A Place We Knew,” embodies this week’s SLS theme with every song.

One of the cuts, “Be Alright,” became a worldwide hit on the singles’ charts in 2018, certified sextuple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Two other tracks, “7 Minutes” and “Stay Awake” were released as singles prior to the album release.

While I love every track on Lewis’ album, I’m featuring “7 Minutes” on the strength of one visceral line: “I forgot to love you.”

“7 Minutes”

It’s been seven minutes now since I lost my way
It doesn’t seem that long, but my whole world has changed
It’s in all the little things, when you smile, now it stings
It’s been seven minutes since I lost the girl of my dreams

It’s been half an hour now since I dropped you home
And I’m driving past the places we both know
Past the bar that we first kissed and that movie that we missed
‘Cause we were hanging out in the parking lot

Now I sink a little deeper, think a little clearer
Looking at myself through these new-found eyes

Is it too late to turn around?
I’m already halfway out of town
Now I know how I let you down
Oh, I finally figured it out

I forgot to love you, love you, love you
I forgot to love you, love you, love you

Radio was playing songs for me and you
“Chasing Cars” reminds me of nights in your room
Drinking wine under your window, back when love was so damn simple
How the hell did I end up losing you?

Is it too late to turn around?
I’m already halfway out of town
Now I know how I let you down
Oh, I finally figured it out

I forgot to love you, love you, love you
I forgot to love you, love you, love you
I forgot to love you, love you, love you
I forgot to love you, love you

If I came back now would you still be there?
If I come around, would you even care?
If I came back now would you still be there?
If I come around, would you even care?

Is it too late to turn around?
I’m already halfway out of town
Now I know how I let you down
Oh, I finally figured it out

I forgot to love you, love you, love you
I forgot to love you, love you, love you
I forgot to love you, love you, love you
I forgot to love you, love you, love you
Writer/s: Dean Lewis / Edward Holloway / Nick Atkinson
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Song Lyric Sunday – “River of Fire”

Burn/Fire/Flame is another expansive Song Lyric Sunday prompt from Jim Adams. Narrowing the topic to “fire,” I’ve chosen “River of Fire,” co-written by Stan Meissner and Glen Burtnik (nee Glenn Burtnick). Each released the song separately on solo albums, Meissner on his 1992 album, “Undertow,” and Burtnik on 1996’s “Retrospectacle.”

Canadian Meissner, despite his 30 year career as a singer-songwriter, is not well-known in the United States. He has released two other solo albums and multiple singles which have done well on Canadian music charts. His songs have been recorded by many singers, such as, Celene Dion, B.J. Thomas, and Eric Clapton.

Glen Burtnik’s creative output is diverse and prolific. He has portrayed Paul McCartney in the Beatles tribute show “Beatlemania;” has performed in two separate stints as a member of the rock band Styx; has released eight solo albums; has written chart-topping hits for artists such as Patti Smyth, Don Henley, Cheap Trick, and Randy Travis. As if he is not busy enough, Burtnik has, for over 20 years, produced and hosted the annual charity show “Xmas Xtravaganza.”

One of the many artists who has recorded a Meissner and/or Burtnik song is Benjamin Orr, who recorded “River of Fire” in 1993 as the title song of a not-yet-released second solo album. Orr’s first verse differs from the original, but, as Burtnik put it: “I didn’t care, I was just thrilled that Ben Orr was singing one of my songs!” Since it was okay with Burtnik, I’m posting the lyrics that Orr sang.

(Note: Whenever possible, I prefer live vids, regardless of picture quality, as long as the audio passes muster. The lyric link below takes you to sweetpurplejune’s page that has a video using the studio recording.)

River of Fire

My life you hold in your heart
I look for the light, I wait in the dark
Burning emotions, I’m drawn to the flame
Chasing the shadows that call out your name

Searching for some kind of escape
I find my way right here to this place
‘Cause the night has no end
All of my life my dreams run wild, now I stand alone in this river of fire
Days of despair and nights of desire, I wait for you in this river of fire

I still remember the look in your eyes
I wish I knew then that it was goodbye
I try to fight it but I know I can’t win
Sometimes your dreams just get lost in the wind

Something beyond all time and space
Leads me right back here to this space
At the edge of this world
All of my life my dreams run wild, now I stand alone in this river of fire
Days of despair and nights of desire, I wait for you in this river of fire

Burn for you… burn for you… burn for you… burn for you…

All of my life my dreams run wild, now I stand alone in this river of fire
Days of despair and nights of desire, I wait for you in this river of fire.