Erykah Badu: Window Seat

Remarks:

Ms Badu walks through Dallas where President Kennedy was shot.

Lyrics:

so, presently I’m standing
here right now
you’re so demanding
tell me what you want from me
concluding
concentrating on my music, lover and my babies
makes me wanna ask the lady for a ticket outta town…

so can I get a window seat
don’t want nobody next to me
I just want a ticket outta town
a look around
and a safe touch down
can I get a window seat
don’t want nobody next to me
I just want a chance to fly
a chance to cry
and a long bye bye..

but I need you to want me
I need you to miss me
I need your attention, yes
I need you next me
I need someone to clap for me
I need your direction
somebody say come back
come back baby come back
I want you to need me
come back come back baby come back
come back come back baby come back
come back come back baby come back

so, in my mind I’m tusslin’
back and forth ‘tween here and hustlin’
I don’t wanna time travel no mo
I wanna be here
I’m thinking
on this porch I’m rockin’
back and forth light lightning hopkins
if anybody speak to scotty
tell him beam me up..

so can I get a window seat
don’t want nobody next to me
I just want a ticket outta town
a look around
and a safe touch down
can I get a window seat
don’t want nobody next to me
I just want a chance to fly
a chance to cry
and a long bye bye..

but I need you to miss me
I need somebody come get me
I need your attention
I need your energy
I need someone to clap me
I need your direction

somebody say come back
come back baby come back
come back come back baby come back
come back come back baby come back
come back come back baby come back

but can I get a window seat
don’t want nobody next to me
I just want a ticket outta town
a look around
and a safe touch down…

I just wanna chance to fly
a chance to cry
and a long bye bye…

They play it safe, are quick to assassinate what they do not understand. They move in packs ingesting more and more fear with every act of hate on one another. They feel most comfortable in groups, less guilt to swallow. They are us. This is what we have become. Afraid to respect the individual. A single person within a circumstance can move one to change. To love ourself. To evolve.

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Janelle Monae: Tightrope

Remarks:

I have never been a big Janelle Monae fan, but I like this song.

Lyrics:

Whoaaa
Another day
I take your pain away

Some people talk about ya
Like they know all about ya
When you get down they doubt ya
And when you dip it on the scene
Yeah they talkin’ bout it
Cause they can’t dip on the scene
Whatcha talk about it
T-t-t-talkin’ bout it
When you get elevated,
They love it or they hate it
You dance up on them haters
Keep getting funky on the scene
Why they jumpin’ round ya
They trying to take all your dreams
But you can’t allow it

Cause baby whether you’re high or low
Whether you’re high or low
You gotta tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
T-t-t-tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)

Baby, baby, baby

Whether you’re high or low
(High or low)
Baby whether you’re high or low
(High or low)
You got to tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
Now let me see you do the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
And I’m still tippin’ on it

See I’m not walkin’ on it
Or tryin to run around it
This ain’t no acrobatics
You either follow or you lead, yeah

I’m talkin’ bout you,
I’ll keep on blaming the machine, yeah
I’m talkin’ bout it,
T-t-t-talkin’ bout it
I can’t complain about it
I gotta keep my balance

And just keep dancin on it
We gettin funky on the scene

Yeah you know about it,
Like a star on the screen
Watch me tip all on it

Then baby whether I’m high or low
(High or low)
Baby whether you’re high or low
(High or low)
You gotta tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
Yeah, tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)

Baby, baby, baby

Whether you’re high or low
(High or low)
Baby whether you’re high or low
(High or low)
Tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
Baby let me see you tight rope
(Tip, tip on it)
And I’m still tippin’ on it

Big Boi
You gotta keep your balance
Or you fall into the gap
It’s a challenge but I manage
Cause I’m cautious with the strap
No damage to your cameras damn I thought that
Can I passy
Why you don’t want no friction
Like the back of a matchbook
That I pass as I will forward you
And your MacBook
Clothes shows will shut you down
Before we go-go backwards
Act up, and whether we high or low
We gonna get back-up
Like the dow jones and nasdaq
Sorta like a thong in an ass crack,
Come on

I tip on alligators and little rattle snakers
But I’m another flavor
Something like a terminator
Ain’t no equivocating
I fight for what I believe
Why you talkin’ bout it
S-s-she’s talkin’ bout it
Some callin me a sinner
Some callin me a winner
I’m callin you to dinner
And you know exactly what I mean,

Yeah I’m talkin bout you
You can rock or you can leave
Watch me tip without you

N-N-Now whether I’m high or low
(High or low)
Whether I’m high or low
(High or low)
I’m gonna tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
MMMMMM
(Tip, tip on it)

Baby, baby, baby
Whether I’m high or low
Goblogtainment
(High or low)
High or low
(High or low)
I got to tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
Now baby tip on the tightrope

You can’t get too high
(You can’t get too high)
I said you can’t get too low
(We can’t get too low)
Cause you get too high
(You can’t get too high)
No you’ll surely be low
(No, you’ll surely be low)
1, 2, 3, Ho!

Yeah, yeah
Now shut up, yeah
Yeah, Now put some voodoo on it
Ladies and Gentlemen the funky is on section in the tribalist
Yeah, OH
We call that classy brass

Ohhhhhhh
OH!

Do you mind?
If I play the ukulele
Just like a little lady
Do you mind?
If I play the ukulele
Just like a little lady
As I play the ukulele
If I play my ukulele
Just like a little lady

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Pras Michel: Haven’t Found

Remarks:

Pras’s take on the old U2 song with Sharli McQueen singing.

Lyrics:

[Sharli McQueen]
What I wanna do
Uhh, uhh, one two one two c’mon
One two one two c’mon
Yo, c’mon, yo
Movin around the world and daydream of days that money brings
Chasin material assumin that it’s happiness inside
You think that you could buy a better life, no matter the price
But you stillllll, haven’t found, what you’re lookin forrrrrrrr
And you stillllll, haven’t found, what you’re lookin forrrrrrrr
Haven’t found what you’re lookin for

[Pras Michel]
Yo it’s official now, I’m your, freedom fighter
If you feelin what I’m feelin people, put up your lighters yeah
Get in my cypher yeah, get in the grind
And I won’t stop rockin through the world seen the shine
Because I been many places, seen many faces
Shook many hands and mixed with many races
From nowhere to Bombay, did it my way
Got my style from the ghetto, took it straight to Broadway
Spit these bars cause in the hood I’m the instrument
Been around the world I stepped on seven continents (that’s right y’all)
20 millions later, I settled the score
They got money for war but can’t feed the poor

[Sharli McQueen]
And you stillllll, haven’t found, what you’re lookin forrrrrrrr
And you stillllll, haven’t found, what you’re lookin forrrrrrrr
One two one two one two c’mon
I’m stayin love you, but you don’t notice me (c’mon)
Diamonds and fancy cars, female celebrities all the time
You give away the things you say was mine, chasin the shine
But you stillllll, haven’t found, what you’re lookin forrrrrrrr
And you stillllll, haven’t found, what you’re lookin forrrrrrrr
Yo, haven’t found what you’re lookin for

[Pras Michel]
We gotta, make a move, by any means necessary
From January and January to January
Look out my window it’s a robbery
People still put they ones in the lottery
Big fish always try to eat the small fish
They do anything just to get their last wish
War in the East, there’s war in the West
War down South I stay war ‘pon the rest
As it’s been said, let it be done
And there’s nothing new underneath the sun
So we preserve what’s destined to come
And share our thoughts and blessings with our daughters and sons

[Sharli McQueen]
And you stillllll, haven’t found, what you’re lookin forrrrrrrr
And you stillllll, haven’t found, what you’re lookin forrrrrrrr
Haven’t found what you’re lookin for

[Pras]
Guerilla baby!

[Sharli McQueen]
Haven’t found, oh no no no

[Pras]
Ah, yeah, alright
What, what, guerillas

Read Full Post »

Keke Wyatt: If Only You Knew

Remarks:

Keke Wyatt’s cover of the old Patti LaBelle song.

Lyrics:

I must have rehearsed my lines a thousand times,
Until I had them memorized.
But when I get up the nerve to tell you,
the words that never seem to come out right. ohh

[Chorus:]
If only you knew how much I do,
do love you, oh.
If only you knew,
how much I do, do need you.

I dream of moments we share, but your not there,
I’m living in a fantasy.
but you don’t even suspect,
could probably care less,
about the changes I been going through.

If only you knew how much I do,
do love you, oh.
If only you knew,
how much I do, do need you.
play on

No, you don’t even suspect,
Could probably care less,
about the changes I been going through.

If only you knew how much I do,
do love you, oh.
If only you knew,
how much I do, do need you.

Oh, if, if
Oh, You don’t know how much u don’t know
I said you don’t know,
how much I need you sugar,
only you knew,
how much I do,
I love you baby, only if u knew how much i do,
i love u baby, i need u baby

Read Full Post »

Erykah Badu: The Healer

Remarks:

Not sure what this song is about, but I still love it.

Lyrics:

Humdi Lila Allah Jehova Yahweh Deos Ma’ad
Jah Rastafara Fire Dance Sex Music, Hip-Hop
it’s bigger than religion Hip-Hop
it’s bigger than my nigga Hip-Hop
it’s bigger than the government
This one is for Dilla, Hip-Hop

We ain’t dead said the children
don’t believe it we just made ourselves invisible
Underwater stovetop, blue flame, scientists come out with your scales up
get baptized in the ocean of the Hungry
My niggas turn in to gods
walls come tumbling…..

Humdi Lila Allah Jehova Yahweh Deos Ma’ad
Jah Rastafara Fire Dance Sex Music, Hip-Hop
it’s bigger than religion Hip-Hop
it’s bigger than my nigga Hip-Hop
it’s bigger than the government
This one is The Healer, Hip-Hop

told you we aint dead yet
we’ve been living through your internet
you don’t have to believe everything
you think we’ve been programmed, wake up
we miss you.
they call you Indigo, we call you Africa.
go get baptized in the ocean
say re-boot, re-flush, re-start
fresh page, new day, OG, New Key

Read Full Post »

GQ: I Do Love You

Remarks:

This song went to #5 on the American R&B charts in 1979. It is a cover of an older doo-wop song – the backing singers even sing “shoo-be-do doo-wop” in the song! Through the magic of YouTube I know that Barbara Mason (“Yes, I’m Ready”, 1965) did this song.

Lyrics:

I do love you, ooooh
But it’s alright, alright, aaah

(I do love you)
(I love you, I love you)
I love you so right now
(Ooh-ho-ho-ooh)
My my baby, hey, yeah
Little darlin’ I said
(I do love you)
(I love you, I love you, ooh-ho-ho-ooh)
I love you so right now
Never, never gonna let
Gonna let, gonna let you go, na-na-na
Pretty little baby
(I do love you)
(I love you, I love you, ooh-ho-ho-ooh)
I say, I want you to try to understand
That I, I want to be your lovin’ man, babe
(I do love you)
(I love you, I love you, ooh-ho-ho-ooh)

My baby, I love you so
And I don’t want you to go, no, no
Why don’t you listen to me, ya
I’m beggin’ you on bended knees

(I do love you)
(I love you, I love you, ooh-ho-ho-ooh)
My girl, I prayed that your love
It would come to me
Someday
(I do love you)
(I love you, I love you, ooh-ho-ho-ooh)
Because I love you so, babe
You’re about to drive me mad
(I do love you)
(I love you, I love you, ooh-ho-ho-ooh)
I love you so right now
Pretty baby, pretty baby
(I do love you)
(I love you, I love you, ooh-ho-ho-ooh)
I love you so right now
Oh, baby, I love you so
And I don’t want you to go
No, no, no, no, no, no
Why don’t you listen to me
I’m beggin’ you on bended knees
(I do love you)
(I love you, I love you, ooh-ho-ho-ooh)

Read Full Post »

Monica: Everything to Me

Remarks:

Deep down I wanted to post “Silly” by Deniece Williams – but I did that twice already! So instead here is Monica’s take-off on the song (not a cover, though). It is currently #9 on the American R&B charts.

Lyrics:

Boy if you ever left my
My Side
It be like taking the
Sun from the sky
I’d probably die without
You in my life cause I need you to shine shine your light

Your Everything to me ehh
The air that I breath ohh
You shine so I see whhoo
Your everything to me

I cant repay you
For all that you’ve done
Always come first and second
To none the love
You give me is equal to ten
My peace my joy
Are my my strength ohhha

You’re everything to me
The air that I breathe ohh
I shine so I see
You’re everything to me

Ohh
Ohh
Ohh
Ohhhhhhhhoh

See hea
I need you uh
I need you uh
I need you
Woha ahh
Ahyyyyyyyyyyy
Ohhoh

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Solange: I Decided

Remarks:

This is easily my favourite video of this song. I am in love with the shorter backing singer.

Lyrics:

ohhhh
spoken:I cant hear myself
ooo
spoken:can you please turn me up a little bit more

I was a little different
I didn’t do what the fast girls do
study my rhythm
you can speed me up when you want to, oooh

They were to cool to run my race
You kept the pace with a smile on ya face
Go head baby(go head baby)
Then I knew he was you(then i knew he was you)

But first you took me around
Introduced me to your family and friends
And told them how that once we met that
We would never lose
Oh boy

I decided that you are the him for me
Oh boy
Because…..
I decided that you are the him for me
Oh my boy

How’s it feel to win it
Where ain’t no mountains that you can’t move
Your mind is like a prism
For god’s light to shine through

They were to cool to run my race (Yeah)
You kept the pace with a smile on ya face
Go head baby (go head baby)
Then I knew it was true (Then I knew it was you)

But first you took me around
Introduced me to your family and friends
And told them how that once we met that
We would never lose (never lose never lose)
Oh boy

I decided that you are the him for me
Oh boy
Because…….
I decided (I decided) that you are the him for me (u are the one for me baby)
Oh my boy (OHH Boy)

You were running me running me down (down)
Telling me telling me wait (wait)
Running me down and telling me you were never gonna let go
Is the way you got me (ohh thats the way u got me when u got me baby ohh now u got me baby)

You were running me running me down (running)
Telling me telling me wait (tellin me tellin me wait)
Running me down and telling you were never gonna let go
Is the way you got me

Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
Baby, Dont break my heart
Whoa..Let me take it from you (let me take it from you)
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby (baby)
Cause were one and the closer I get
To you the more fearful I become
Whoa….That would break me in two Honey (that would break me in two honey)

Because…..
I decided that you are the him for me
Oh my boy

(Yes)You were running me running me down (running me running me down)
Telling me telling me wait
Running me down and telling you were never gonna let go yeah yeah that’s the way u you got me baby
that’ the way you got me baby

You were running me running me down
Telling me telling me wait
Running me down and telling you were never gonna let go
Is the way you got me

See also:

• Solange Knowles
• Solange: F*ck The Industry
• Solange: Sandcastle Disco

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Robert Johnson: Love in Vain

Remarks:

As some may have noticed, I am not a big blues fan, but I love this song.  The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton did covers, but I like this version way better. Sorry, but this song is not believable coming from them.

Lyrics:

And I followed her to the station
with a suitcase in my hand
And I followed her to the station
with a suitcase in my hand
Well, it’s hard to tell, it’s hard to tell
when all your love’s in vain
All my love’s in vain

When the train rolled up to the station
I looked her in the eye
When the train rolled up to the station
and I looked her in the eye
Well, I was lonesome, I felt so lonesome
and I could not help but cry
All my love’s in vain

When the train, it left the station
with two lights on behind
When the train, it left the station
with two lights on behind
Well, the blue light was my blues
and the red light was my mind
All my love’s in vain

Ou hou ou ou ou
hoo, Willie Mae
Oh oh oh oh oh hey
hoo, Willie Mae
Ou ou ou ou ou ou hee vee oh woe All my love’s in vain

Read Full Post »

Robin Thicke: Can U Believe

Remarks:

I loved the guitar solo in this song – until, that is, I looked up the video in YouTube (above) and, listening to the song over again, found out that the guitar solo in my memory was so much better than the one in the song! In fact, the song does not even have a proper guitar solo! Maybe there is some other version (or song?) I am thinking of.

Lyrics:

Nothing can make you high
Or put fire in your eyes
Or give you a chance to fly
When you need the wings
When all that youve got is doubt
And nothing can stop you from feeling down
But oh I know, I know exactly how you feel

But can you believe now
When youre on your knees now
Begging and pleading now
Can you believe
When all that youve got is doubt
And no one to pull you out
When your heart is slowin down
Can you believe

See the person I love the most
Is so far away tonight
And no other medicine or promise is
Gonna heal me up right
But I got to believe
That her and me
Will be together
Cause thats all I got
And Oh, I know
When youre down at the bottom
Can you believe

Can you believe when all hope seems gone
When your mother and father cant keep you safe from harm
Can you forgive in your heart
Can you ask for forgiveness
When nobody else believes can you believe
Can you believe in yourself

If nobodys watchin
You will never know
If somebodys watchin
You will never know
If nobodys watchin
You will never know
If somebodys watchin
You will never know
If nobodys watchin
You will never know
If somebodys watchin
You will never know

Read Full Post »

Jill Scott: I Keep

Remarks:

A Jill Scott song I like that comenter Jeri posted last week.

Lyrics:

Some of them wanna break you down, steal your crown
Use and abuse you.
Some of them smile in your face, cause they heard it some place,
You got more then their used to
Some of them want to steal your love, ooh
Cuz they’re jealous of …how you’re living and giving.

I keep
Moving forward, pressing onward, striving further
I keep
Keep on laughing, keep on living, keep on loving yeah
I keep
Keep on dreaming keep on achieving, keep on believing
I keep
I keep smiling when I come thru …and I cry when I need too.

Some of them, oh they stab you in your back, cuz it’s love they lack.
Some of them won’t even try …to see the good inside.
But I ….

I keep
Moving forward, pressing onward, striving further
I keep
Keep on laughing, keep on living, keep on loving yeah
I keep
Keep on dreaming keep on achieving, keep on believing

Hey. Oh oh oh
I keep on , keep on living, keep on learning , keep on smiling ooh ooh yeah
Keep on laughing, keep on living, keep on loving yeah
I keep
Keep on dreaming, keep on believing, keep on achieving.
I keep smiling when I come thru, and I cry when I need to
(Adlib below)
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yea yea yeah
I keep on , keep on keeping on.
Yea. I keep ,keep on keep keepin on keep keeping on

Read Full Post »

Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry: 7 Seconds

Remarks:

This song is next to unknown in America – where it was recorded! – but it reached #3 in Britain in 1994. I have wanted to post it for a long time but it was not embeddable.

Lyrics:

Yousou N’Dour in Wolof:

Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale

Neneh Cherry in English:

Roughneck and rudeness,
We should be using, on the ones who practice wicked charms
For the sword and the stone
Bad to the bone
Battle’s not over
Even when it’s won
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin it’s living in
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
I’ll be waiting
I’ll be waiting

Youssou N’Dour in French:

J’assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J’aimerais qu’on oublie leur couleur pour qu’ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de races qui font qu’ils desesperent
Je veux les deux mains ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu’ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer

Neneh Cherry in English:

7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
I’ll be waiting
I’ll be waiting
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin it´s living in
And there’s a million voices
And there’s a million voices
To tell you what you should be thinking
So you better sober up for just a second
We´re 7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
We´re 7 seconds away
For just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting

Read Full Post »

Sade: Soldier of Love

Remarks:

Sade’s first new song in eight years. It sounded strange when I first heard it, but it has grown on me.  Hardly one of her best, but I like it. It is already up to #15 on the American R&B chart – way better than “Is It a Crime”, which I featured in this space two weeks ago.

Lyrics:

I’ve lost the use of my heart
But I’m still alive
Still looking for the life
The endless pool on the other side
It’s a wild wild west
I’m doing my best

I’m at the borderline of my faith,
I’m at the hinterland of my devotion
In the frontline of this battle of mine
But I’m still alive

I’m a soldier of love.
Every day and night
I’m soldier of love
All the days of my life

I’ve been torn up inside (oh!)
I’ve been left behind (oh!)
So I ride
I have the will to survive

In the wild wild west,
Trying my hardest
Doing my best
To stay alive

I am love’s soldier!

I wait for the sound
(oooh oohhh)

I know that love will come (that love will come)
Turn it all around

I’m a soldier of love (soldier of love)
Every day and night
Sade Soldier Of Love lyrics found on
I’m a soldier of love
All the days of my life

I am lost
But I don’t doubt (oh!)
So I ride
I have the will to survive

In the wild wild west,
Trying my hardest
Doing my best
To stay alive

I am love’s soldier!

I wait for the sound

I know that love will come
I know that love will come
Turn it all around

I’m a soldier of love
I’m a soldier

Still waiting for love to come
Turn it all around
Still waiting for love to come
Turn it all around
Still waiting for love to come
Turn it all around
Still waiting for love to come
Turn it all around

I’m a soldier of love
I’m a soldier

Still waiting for love to come
Turn it all around
Still waiting for love to come
Turn it all around
Still waiting for love to come
Turn it all around

Still waiting for love to come

See also:

• Sade: Feel No Pain
• Sade: Is it a Crime

Read Full Post »

Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here

Remarks:

I love the words to this song.

Lyrics:

So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
Blue skys from pain.
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

And did they get you to trade
Your heros for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We’re just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

Read Full Post »

Sade: Is it a Crime

Remarks:

Classic Sade. Always good. This song charted in 1986 at only #49 in Britain and  #55 on the American R&B charts. It did not even make the American pop charts.

Lyrics:

This may come, This may come as some surprise
but I miss you
I can see through all of your lies
but still I miss you
he takes her love, but it doesn’t feel like mine
he tastes her kiss, her kisses are not wine, they’re not mine

he takes, but surely she can’t give what I’m feeling now
she takes, but surely she doesn’t know how

Is it a crime
Is it a crime
that I still want you
and I want you to want me too

My love is wider, wider than Victoria Lake
My love is taller, taller than the empire state

It dives and it jumps and it ripples like the deepest ocean
I can’t give you more than that, surely you want me back

Is it a crime
Is it a crime
that I still want you
and I want you to want me too

My love is wider than Victoria Lake
Taller than the empire state

It dives and it jumps
I can’t give you more than that, surely you want me back

Is it a crime
Is it a crime
that I still want you
and that I want you to want me too

It dives and it jumps and it ripples like the deepest ocean
I can’t give you more than that, surely you want it back.

Tell me, is it a crime?

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