Song Lyric Sunday: “Drive” (or, Benjamin Orr’s voice)

OK….You know the saying “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” when someone judges you for day drinking? Well, as soon as I saw this theme ….. “it’s Sunday somewhere.” Song Lyric Sunday, that is; with a theme of Drive/Driving! Thank you, Helen Vahdati!

“Drive“
written by Ric Ocasek; sung by Benjamin Orr

Who’s gonna tell you when it’s too late
Who’s gonna tell you things aren’t so greatYou can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?Who’s gonna pick you up when you fall
Who’s gonna hang it up when you call
Who’s gonna pay attention to your dreams
Who’s gonna plug their ears when you scream

You can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?

Who’s gonna hold you down when you shake
Who’s gonna come around when you break

You can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?

You know you can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?

Because you can’t have too much Benjamin Orr:

Three seems like overkill ( to you, maybe, but not to me or my pal sweetpurplejune), but I had to throw this one in for a change of pace. It’s really worth listening to.

Song Lyric Sunday — Song of the Magician

While following ephemera rooted in Song Lyric Sunday, I re-discovered singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, father of singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley.

Song of the Magician

When I sing I can’t bring everything on the wing
Flying down from dizzy air
To the ground because I care
You will be love and your love will live

When I smile I beguile all the while every mile
As I walk across the sky
Of the clockwork of your eye
You will be love and your love will live

Casting spells from the well I can tell you the bells
Listen to my magic voice
Learn the tune of children’s toys
You will be love and your love will live

When I die do not cry hear my sigh passing by
After I have turned to win
I will try to help you then
You will be love and your love will live

Songwriters: Larry Beckett / Tim Buckley (1966)

Song of the Magician lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Song Lyric Sunday — Pink Champagne

You all know by now that I’ll take any opportunity to post music by Benjamin Orr and/or the Cars. This week’s Song Lyric Sunday is no exception; and I guarantee you have never heard this song before (unless you’re a Benjamin Orr fanatic like me). Helen Vahdati’s theme this week is “drink,” and Benjamin Orr’s first record fits the bill. Long before he became the co-founder, bassist, and a lead singer for the Cars, Ben Orzechowski was a teen rock star in his native Cleveland, Ohio. He had joined a popular local band, The Grasshoppers, at 15 years old as a rhythm guitarist and lead singer. The Grasshoppers soon became the house band for a local American Bandstand style TV show, The Big 5 Show (renamed Upbeat upon national syndication), opening for major acts such as Dave Clark Five and Paul Anka. In 1965, The Grasshoppers recorded two regional hits, including “Pink Champagne (And Red Roses)” written and sung by young Mr. Orr (second from the right in the first picture on the video). Take a listen:

Pink Champagne (And Red Roses)

Well, pink champagne and red, red roses

For you, my love, there will be, yeah

Pink champagne and red, red roses

If you spend your life with me

You are my angel from above

I’ll never cast away your love

If you’ll just say you’ll linger with me

Pink champagne and roses there will be

Sometimes a heart can be the very start

So, my dear… and come right here

Pink champagne and red, red roses

For you, my love, there will be, yeah

Pink champagne and red, red roses

If you spend your life with me

With me

Written in response to Song Lyric Sunday theme “drink”

Song Lyric Sunday — Dancing in the Street

Finally! It’s Sunday and time for my favorite prompt of the week: Helen Vahdati’s Song Lyric Sunday. This week’s theme is “street.”

Martha Reeves and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street” has been my favorite summer song since I first heard it when it was released in 1964. Written by Marvin Gaye, William “Mickey” Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter, this is a song that makes your feet start dancing, whether the rest of your body wants to or not. I dare you not to dance!

“Dancing In The Street“
Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat
Summer’s here and the time is right
For dancing in the street

They’re dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)
Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)
In New York City (dancing in the street)

All we need is music, sweet music
There’ll be music everywhere
There’ll be swinging, swaying, and records playing
Dancing in the street

Oh, it doesn’t matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world

They’ll be dancing (dancing in the street)
They’re dancing in the street (dancing in the street)

It’s an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There’ll be laughing, singing, and music swinging
Dancing in the street

Philadelphia, P-A (dancing in the street)
Baltimore and D.C. now (dancing in the street)
Can’t forget the Motor City (dancing in the street)

All we need is music, sweet music
There’ll be music everywhere
There’ll be swinging, swaying, and records playing
Dancing in the street

Oh, it doesn’t matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world

They’re dancing
They’re dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Way down in L.A. (dancing in the street)
Every day, they’re dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Let’s form a big, strong line (dancing in the street)
Get in time, we’re dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Across the ocean blue (dancing in the street)
Me and you, we’re dancing in the street

Song Lyric Sunday — “I Talk To The Wind”

As is often the case when Helen Vahdati announces the theme for Song Lyric Sunday, this weeks’ theme — speak — brought a host of songs to mind. My choice out of those is the whimsical “I Talk To The Wind” from King Crimson’s 1969 debut album, In The Court of the Crimson King. Known as a seminal prog rock band, they are also known for their personnel turnover; three of the five original members left during and after their tour in support of their first album. Those first five (Greg Lake, Ian McDonald, Michael Rex Giles, Peter John Sinfield, and Robert Fripp) are credited on several internet sites as having written this song. The U.S. Copyright Office, however, shows Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield as the sole writers.

“I Talk To The Wind”

Said the straight man to the late man
Where have you been
I’ve been here and I’ve been there
And I’ve been in between

I talk to the wind
My words are all carried away
I talk to the wind
The wind does not hear
The wind cannot hear

I’m on the outside looking inside
What do I see
Much confusion, disillusion
All around me

I talk to the wind
My words are all carried away
I talk to the wind
The wind does not hear
The wind cannot hear

You don’t possess me
Don’t impress me
Just upset my mind
Can’t instruct me or conduct me
Just use up my time

I talk to the wind
My words are all carried away
I talk to the wind
The wind does not hear
The wind cannot hear

Said the straight man to the late man
Where have you been
I’ve been here and I’ve been there and
I’ve been in between