Andy 60s Music Lyrics: Lonely Hearts, Lonely Days, Lonely Boy, Solitary Man, Eleanor Rigby, Are You Lonesome?

Discussing Loneliness:

The lyrics that go with many of these songs about loneliness could make the happiest person very depressed. So, let's look at the topic, within limited borders, and some of the pop songs that go with it. I'm no psychiatrist but writing only through the experiences of pop song lyrics.

Loneliness And Lost Love:

This one is, I think, the most common experience of loneliness any person could go through. So, when Singaporeans Fitzgerald and Pascal composed their huge local hit, 'My Lonely Heart' and expressed, ‘Please return my heart so I may cry... Every night I pray... to meet you someday,' lovers connect with the song immediately. But in this particular instance the conclusion says it all, ‘I know it's true, I won't be seeing you.' 

The lovers know that all's lost with no light in the distance. Like Georgia Gibbs, with her 50’s hit, was right when she sobbed, 'Guess it never pays to make your lover blue, Seven lonely days I cried and cried for you.' Lost love indeed.

Loneliness With Hope:

Here the theme takes a turn. 

There could be some hope couldn't there, after a lost love. 

'Maybe tomorrow a new romance, No more sorrow but that's the chance you gotta take,' brought about these lines that most people in break-ups often expressed and where most songs about loneliness derived. Roy Orbison made it huge with, 'Only The Lonely,' and with some clues of a new beginning. So, they might not be, 'gone forever, so far apart.'

Paul Anka is totally devastated as he cries, 'I'm just a lonely boy, Lonely and blue... I'd like to hear somebody say, I'll give you my love, Each night and day.' So it's not a breakup here. He has no partner  to love because what he wants, 'is someone to love.' So there’s hope but with some desperation?

No war here; just an illustrative image to show a soldier boy with a suitable wartime background?

Loneliness As A Soldier:

Two wars [one?] are going on today and many people, including soldiers, have lost their lives. Many of them, who are away from home, experience loneliness on the battlefield.

In a 60s hit, Bobby Vinton lamented, 'I'm so lonely for my own, I'm Mister Lonely, Wish I had somebody to call my own... to call on the phone... Now I'm a soldier, a lonely soldier. I got no letter in the mail. I wish I could go back home.' 

His experience as a soldier boy in the 60s rang true as the Vietnam War loomed in the distance. And our wars? Could we afford some more? Because war goes beyond loneliness...

Loneliness When Old:

'Ah look at all the lonely people, Picks up the rice in the church where the wedding has been, Lives in a dream... Then there's Father McKenzie, writing the words of a sermon that no one would hear.' How observant were Lennon and McCartney when they sang, 'Eleanor Rigby.’ 

'All the lonely people, where do they all come from?'

Most seniors who read this post know what loneliness mean. Health problems; spousal death; non-visiting children; friendlessness, etc. would lead to a nasty list. And like a friend mentioned, "Even Mother Earth rejects you!"

"Are you lonesome tonight?" No, not only tonight... it's, "Are you lonesome always?"

Hey, but what about Michael Jackson's, 'You Are Not Alone.'

General comments are welcome. 

A 1926 song, Elvis recorded it in 1960 after his

army release. 2,000,000 copies sold by 1992.

Recorded in 1962, Vinton wrote it in the late 50s 

during his army days as the Vietnam War escalates.

Bobby Vinton: Mr. Lonely. YouTube Video by: Diana N

Written in 1958 and released in 1959 with Don Costa,

after 'Diana' hit. It was featured in his movie, 'Girls Town'.

'Eleanor Rigby' [lyrics]: The Beatles. YouTube Video from BTA MUSIC.

The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby (Lyrics)

“There goes my baby, There goes my heart, They are gone forever, So far apart, But only the lonely, Know why I cry.”

“Don't know that I will, But until I can find me, The girl who'll stay, And won't play games behind me, I'll be what I am, A solitary man, solitary man”

“Seven lonely days make one lonely week, Seven lonely nights make one lonely me, Ever since the time you told me we were true, Seven lonely days I cry and cry for you.” 

'My Lonely Heart', a local recording; this vinyl piece was a sell-out in the 60's. One of the classics in Singapore's music history.

#An add on: The lyrics hinges on the fact that distancing oneself from the ordinary may lead to a lonely existence. There is also another interpretation, as explained by Cedric Collars, provided under the Comment Page. Do read it. 

Frank Sinatra sings “I will drink the wine." YouTube video by: Amir.

Frank Sinatra I Will Drink the Wine 1971 HD

[This original article, as most others are, is copyrighted.]

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday.

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day 

according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:4 [King James Bible].

As 14 April, 2017 comes to light after a peaceful Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday in Singapore, I was thinking of the lyrics of a song that could be suitable for the rather sombre and quiet period this Good Friday, a day when Jesus died, was buried and rose again on Easter Sunday.

Sung originally as a Christmas Carol, it was made famous by Cat Stevens in 1972 and came from a hymn, first published at the beginning of the 1930's. The lyrics were by children's writer, Eleanor Farjeon using an original melody of a Scottish tune, written in Gaelic by Mary McDonald. 

Neil Diamond: Morning Has Broken: 

YouTube Video by: jasonfreakinbang

The song gives thanks to dawn, a new opening of each day, but unlike other days, the words become more significant as we know what happens eventually. Of course, interpretation varies...

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the word

It was translated into English, with a lilt so lovely that the number went to the top of the hit parade in 1972.  The piano arrangement was done by rock group member from Yes: Rick Wakeman.

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, 

one of the world's most famous late 15th Century painting. 

Judy Collins, Floyd Cramer, Neil Diamond, Art Garfunkel, Nana Mouskouri, Aaron Neville, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, Sister Janet Mead, Roger Whittaker and a host of choirs have recorded covers of this beautiful song. 

Looking at it positively, I find the freshness in the lyrics as we praise for the morning:

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven

Like the first dew fall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass...

When Good Friday morning is broken, I remember it as such, a Good Friday.

Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of a new day.

Have a great Easter everyone.

Any comment?

Image: Google.

You Tube Video by jasonfreakinbang: 

Neil Diamond: Morning Has Broken 

Written and Posted on:

Wednesday, 12 April, 2017.

'Sunday Sun': Neil Diamond: Positive Lyrics: "Kids in the park, Don't take long before I'm laughing along with them, Almost makes me think, Those times can come again, Gets me feelin' good..."

Bach Creates, Diamond Sings Jonathan L. Seagull

SONGS I LOVE:

Neil Leslie Diamond

Born: January 24, 1941 

Age: 77

The album with Skybird, Lonely Looking Sky, Odyssey is sung by Neil Diamond. from JONATHAN LIVINGSTONE SEAGULL. 

The Album: 

In 1973 Neil Diamond composed, wrote and recorded on Columbia the soundtrack to the movie, Jonathan Livingston Seagull (image 2). It is from a book by Richard Bach (image 1) and I honestly cannot remember how many times I played the songs from the album. Commercially, the music was more successful than the movie. It was Diamond's first album after an earlier hit, Hot August Night, released in 1972.

The Album Cover

Album Review:

I would like to quote a review by Shawn M. Haney that I edited. It sums up the album adequately. He commented that in the recording Neil Diamond put himself into the shoes of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, writing and singing music, compelling and rich in texture and melody to fit the portrait perfectly for the movie.

"Be

As a page, that aches for words

Which speaks on a theme that's timeless

While the Sun God will make for your day

Sing

As a song in search of a voice that is silent

And the one God will make for your way..."

Orchestra:

Recorded in 1973 for CBS under the pop/rock style genre, Diamond had much help from those around him to make the album a reality. Tom Catalano must be commended for the production and musical direction, Lee Holdridge for conducting and splendid, string arrangements, Armin Steiner for sound engineering and the hundred-plus musicians who rallied to record the soundtrack for overall performance.

The Singer

Singer/Songs:

Though Diamond only sings on a few tracks, he does it so with much grace, smooth flair and enchantment. "Romantic, fresh and lively, this album fits the piece of the puzzle the motion picture needed so perfectly." Tracks include 1. Prologue 2. Be 3. Flight of the Gull 4. Dear Father 5. Sky Bird 6. Lonely Looking Sky 7. Be* 8. Lonely Looking Sky* 9. Dear Father* 10. Anthem 11. Be 12. Skybird 13. Dear Father 14. Be (*These three songs appear as "The Odyssey".)

Movie Comment :

"I saw the movie when it came out, not a human being in it, as I recall. Fascinating, with the wonderful soundtrack composed and largely performed by Diamond with full rich sound, his arrangement is pure pleasure and his voice thundering during the score. This is music to listen to anytime, to sing with, to love. Own it forever." Submitted by a reviewer (Connecticut, U.S.A.)

Book Comment:

Jonathan the seagull learns to fly beyond his highest expectations when he left his friends and becomes an outcast. As a non-conformist, he enjoys his freedom with other gulls that believe as he does. The theme, to listen to our hearts even when it goes the unaccepted ways, is clear. The book was a best seller in the 70s and remains popular today. The author, Richard Bach, is a descendant of composer Johan Sebastian Bach.

The Book Cover

Quotes/Personal:

1. "Keep working on love."

2. "The gull sees farthest who flies highest."

3. "If our friendship depends on things like space and time, then when we finally overcome space and time, we've destroyed our own brotherhood..."

Best is to read the book. Won't take 20 minutes, unless you're not much into self-improvement books. I am not but I enjoy this one. The book is 40 years old, and last count sold more than 40 million copies. My!

Original article/Image/Album Info from CD: Andy Lim Collection.

Choice of quotations is my own.

Article extracts: http://www.cduniverse.com/

Copyright: Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Images: Google.

Neil Diamond Hot August Night - Greek Theatre

According to Lester Bangs from Music Track, who wrote the review on Hot August Night, the set begins with a gigantic "orchestral flourish fit to put both Elvis and David Bowie to shame" and Diamond is one of the few who can actually outclass Elvis, as in the introduction to the song Morningside: 'This is a dream ... a dream about an old man who dies alone ... and leaves a gift behind...'

Like a hymn in church, the feeling reaches a peak on record two, "what with such celebrations of the common man's innate nobility as Canta Libre and I Am ... I Said", and by the time Brother Love is sung in the grand finale, it becomes hysterical. He is like Eric Burdon and the melodrama is incomparable.

As of 2007 Diamond has 120 million records sales worldwide, including 50 million records in the U.S. With his Billboard chart success, he is the third most successful adult contemporary artist, ranking Barbra Streisand and Elton John. He is also called the Jewish Elvis.
1. From: http://www.musictrack.com/
2. Image from record cover MCA 2-8000-1971: Andy Lim Collection.

Neil Diamond: Rarest Of Gems: 60's Music

It's a personal opinion; NEIL DIAMOND is the greatest pop male singer next to Elvis Presley. But he is a songwriter too and wrote so many hits since 1962 when he first composed, Solitary Man.

Some 38 songs of Neil Diamond are on the top 40 hits. Name them and they are on the list. Cherry, Cherry, Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon, Kentucky Woman, Red, Red Wine, Shilo, the Jonathan Livingstone Seagull album and the classics, Sweet Caroline and Song Sung Blue.

Personal choice is the Hot August Night album, where he performed at the Greek Theatre and produced by Tom Catalano (MCA 2-8000 produced in 1971 in Universal City, California USA.)

Watched him live in concert when he performed in Winnipeg, Canada in 1985. The best seats cost $30.00 and he sang for 2 hours.

"The human voice is the most important instrument at our disposal, yet it is one of the most difficult to understand or define... it is more than just a sound... it is the soul itself. Neil Diamond - 1974." Neil Diamond is still performing today. And he twitters.

Image shows Neil Diamond performing on stage, during the Toyota Concert Series on the Today Show, May 6th, 2005 in New York City.

There are more than 20 official websites about this great man. Check out: 

http://www.neildiamondhomepage.com/

Image from: http://www.vh1.com/

(Original article: Andy Lim).