The Best Songs in the World #37 - The Beach Boys - "God Only Knows"

And just because I have been lazy for so long, today we have to of the best songs in the world. Sorry to insist on the sixties and seventies. I'm still wondering at these marvels. 1966, "Pet Sounds"



I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
I'll make you so sure about it

God only knows what I'd be without you

If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me

God only knows what I'd be without you

God only knows what I'd be without you

If you should ever leave me
Well life would still go on believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me

God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows
God only knows what I'd be without you

The Best Songs In the World #36: Simon & Garfunkel, "The Only Living Boy in New York"

You thought I had forgotten? Ah! Here we are, back in business. With this classic and beautiful tune from Simon & Garfunkel,from their album "Bridge Over Troubled Water. Perhaps you haven't heard this in a long time, it's to remember and be amazed.

Below you have a short documentary on the song, that tells so much about it.

Tom, get your plane right on time.
I know your part'll go fine.
Fly down to Mexico.
Da-n-da-da-n-da-n-da-da and here I am,
The only living boy in New York.

I get the news I need on the weather report.
I can gather all the news I need on the weather report.
Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile.
Da-n-do-da-n-do-da-n-do here I am,
The only living boy in New York.
Half of the time we're gone but we don't know where,
And we don't know where.

Tom, get your plane right on time.
I know that you've been eager to fly now.
Hey let your honesty shine, shine, shine
Da-n-da-da-n-da-n-da-da
Like it shines on me.
The only living boy in New York,
The only living boy in New York.

Father and Son: Leonard and Adam

Tenho andado a comparar mitologias (Do primeiro livro de poesia de Cohen: "let us compare mythologies"), Entre pai e filho e entre os 80 anos do pai e os 40 e tal do filho tenho apostado recentemente no filho. Que às vezes parece o pai.É o momento em que ele começa a reconhecer a sua herança e a entender-se com ela.

Um dia destes, se estiver com pachorra, hei-de discorrer mais sobre este tema.

BEN - BEN, e a magia do sêlo VERTIGO

Os BEN são um fenómeno obscuro, pois editaram apenas um disco no lendário sêlo do vórtice da Vertigo, em 1971. No entanto, e por isso mesmo, aparecem regularmente como um disco de culto. E como um dos discos de valor mais alto daquela editora, podendo valer entre 250 a 500€. Discussões sobre o que é um disco de culto à parte, é um disco que merece o interesse daqueles que:

a) se interessam por discos progressivos obscuros e têm um fraquinho pela Vertigo
b) gostam da cena Canterbury e particularmente dos Soft Machine da segunda metade dos 70
c) gostam de música instrumental com pendor jazz (o que nos reconduz a b)

Não sendo uma vitória imediata, os BEN merecem ser ouvidos e re-ouvidos. A sua música não é fusão, porque não tem os arrebiques de virtuosismo e o som pesado de alguns destes discos, mas ao mesmo tempo passeia-se de forma elegante entre as formas jazz e alguma rítmica rock. Acho que o disco teria beneficiado de melhor som e melhor produção, porque embora a técnica dos músicos se imponha, falta-lhes às vezes um som definido como os Soft Machine tinham.Na mesma etiqueta, os Catapilla têm um som que às vezes é similar, mas muito mais potente (e têm vocais).

Que não são um grupo consensual mostra-o a classificação do staff site AllMusic, 1,5 em 5, enquanto que os utilizadores do site lhe dão 4,5...Acho que é interessante ler a crítica que o site lhe faz (mais abaixo).

Aparecem na remistura de Andy Votel, no labum triplo - Time Machine: A Vertigo Retrospective, que recomendo vivamente.

Sendo o que é, é um bombom apetecível para quem ainda não se fartou de descobrir coisas interessantes nos anos 70.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/ben-mw0000327984

Review by Dave Thompson  [-]

It is one of the unwritten laws of record collecting that some of the most passionately sought LPs are often among the most disappointing albums ever made, the kind of things that you would never even give houseroom to, if they weren't essential to the collection. Among connoisseurs of the British Vertigo label, an avid army who've been known to offer limbs in exchange for certain objects of high-priced desire,Ben's eponymous debut album certainly falls into that sordid category. Cut wholly in the jazz-rock shadow of labelmates Nucleus, Ben offers a shade over 38 minutes worth of aimless noodling, interspersed with flashes of soulless riffing, and crowned by drummer David Sheen's dry, dull (but mercifully underemployed) vocal. Musically, it's clear that Ben know their stuff -- technicians might well sit back and marvel at the band's actual playing abilities. But the nearly side-long suite "The Influence" simply wanders along without ever justifying the presence of the seven sub-movements that divide it up, while side two's opening, "Christmas Execution," never lives up to what is, after all, an extremely intriguing title, even if it does sound a bit Christmassy in places. Reissues on Repertoire in 1991 and Akarma in 2003 have done much to discourage all but the most avid vinyl fetishists from seeking out the original swirl-label version of this album. But, even at a reasonable price, it remains a distinctly disappointing release.

The Eastern Connection II - Marek Grechuta

One more, before it's gone:

The Eastern Connection: Marek Grechuta

Tonight we visit the East: Polish singer - songwriter - musician Marek Grechuta and his 1971 work:

Korowód (Procession).

The Best Songs In The World - #35 - Ryan Adams - "She Wants to Play Hearts"

Fragile and broken hearted... Intense and Personal.  Simple and Strong. Ryan Adams.

I am a broken toy 
For a lonely girl 
Use once and destroy 
And go find some more 
Back home, kids play in the leaves in the park 
She wants to play a game of hearts 

I'm the rag doll boy 
With broken eyes 
She only comes to me 
When it's raining outside 
Back home, kids play in the leaves in the park 
She wants to play a game of hearts 

I fell for you 
I fell for you 
Why? 
I guess I wanted to play too. 

Here's the lonely string 
Playing 'long in my head 

For only just my arms 
Are dancing marionettes 
Back home, kids play in the leaves in the park 
And she wants to play a game of hearts 
She wants to play a game of hearts

Pink Floyd - As primeiras gotas de "The Endless River"

os primeiros sons do que será um álbum sobretudo instrumental

Abstract Truth

Good morning!

From South Africa, 1970 - Abstract Truth

The Best Songs in the World #34 - Jeff Buckley - "Lilac Wine"

Yesterday the Father, today the Son, tomorrow the Good Bank (sorry for the joke that only Portuguese people will understand!).

The lives of Tim and his son Jeff were both tragic. Both left us if the taste of unfinished business, although the father was a different animal... Jeff was, though, equally intense, a gifted singer and a wanderer. His version of Lilac Wine recorded in his only official record will be remembered for many years.

The Best Songs in the World #33 - Tim Buckley - "Morning Glory"

This is magic.

From his 1967 album "Goodbye and Hello"




"Morning - Glory" was written byLarry Buckett / Tim Buckley

I lit my purest candle close to my
Window, hoping it would catch the eye
Of any vagabond who passed it by
And I waited in my fleeting house

Before he came, I felt him drawing near
And as he neared, I felt the ancient fear
That he had come to wound my door and jeer
But I waited in my fleeting house

"Oh, tell me stories", I called to the Hobo
"Stories of old", I smiled at the Hobo
"Stories of cold", I wept to the Hobo
And I waited in my fleeting house

"No" said the Hobo, "No more tales of time
Don't ask me now to wash away the grime
I can't come in, it's just too high a climb"
And hestood before my fleeting house

"Then you be damned", I screamed to the Hobo
"Turn into stone", I wept to the Hobo
"Leave me alone", I knelt to the Hobo
But he walked away from my fleeting house

Novo Prog: Resistor

O Novo Progressivo

Neste caso, no subgénereo crossover - fusão de vários estilos.

Grupo americano de Steve Unruh.

Vale a pena ouvir.

Great Gigs in the Cloud: Episode 3

It's been quite a while now since I've last made any posts... Time is sparse so I'll keep it short!

I believe this is one of those pieces that needs no introduction, nevertheless if you feel the urge to seek for a bit more information on the album itself, you can find some with the usual suspects, namely -> Songs for Drella

For years I've enjoyed this memorable masterpiece, being completely unaware that is was ever recorded live, let alone available on the digital domain.

I hope you enjoy this sublime and visceral conversation, between two monsters of the art rock scene, on Warhol's interpersonal relations and experiences...

This video is presented for review only in the hopes the viewer will be pleased to the extent to promote the viewer to buy the film.
We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and review purposes only.

The Best Songs In the World #32 - Peter Hammill - " The Comet, the course, the tail"

I may be partial to this guy, although I have seen play drunk this year in Gouveia Art Rock. But he grows everytime I listen to him. He is a force of nature, and I pity you if you never listened to his solo work! This one is from In Camera, 1974.

When I started this very personal series of the greatest songs in the world, I never said it would be easy. That's why I like it.



They say we are endowed with Free Will -*
At least that justifies our need for indecision.
But between our insticts and the lust to kill
We bow our heads in submission.
They say that no man is an island
But then they say our castles are our homes;
It's felt the choice is ours, between peace and violence...
Oh, yes, we choose, alone?

While the comet spreads its tail across the sky
It nowhere near defines the course it flies,
Nor does it find its own direction.

Though the path of the comet be sure,
Its constitution is not
So its meaning is possibly more
Than the tracing of a tail
In one brief shot at glory.

Love and peace and individuality,
So order and society are man-made?
War and hate and dark depravity,
Or are we slaves?
Channeling aggressive energies,
The Death Wish and the Will to survive,
Into finding and preserving enemies,
Is that the only way we know that we're alive?

In the slaughterhouse all corpses smell the same,
Whether queens or pawns or innocents at the game;
In the cemetery a uniform cloaks the graves
Except for outward pomp and circumstance.

There is a time set in the calendar
When all reason seems barely enough
To sustain all the shooting stars:
Times are rough.
I'm waiting for something to happen here,
It feels as though it's long overdue...
Maybe a restatement of yesteryear
Or something entirely new.

And the knowledge that we gain in part
Always leads us closer to the very start,
And to the founding questions:
How can I tell that the road signed to hell
Doesn't lead up to heaven?
What can I say when, in some obscure way,
I am my own direction?
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/peter-hammill/the-comet-the-course-the-tail-lyrics/#lvlVB32j0gdsJbdD.99

The Best Songs In the World #31 - Van Der Graaf - "House With No Doors"

Sorry, guys and girls, back to 1970. This one is from the Van Der Graaf's Third Album and considered by many considered one of their finest. Loneliness and Claustrophobia, anyone?

There's a house with no door and I'm living there
At nights it gets so cold and the days are hard to bear inside
There's a house with no roof, so the rain creeps in
Falling through my head as I try to think out time

I don't know you, you say you know me, that may be so
There's so much that I am unsure of
You call my name, but it sounds unreal, I forget how I feel
My body's rejecting the cure

There's a house with no bell, but then nobody calls
I sometimes find it hard to tell if any are alive at all, outside

There's a house with no sound, yes, it's quiet there
There's not much point in words if there's no one to share in time

I've learned my lines, I know them so well, I am ready to tell
Whoever will finally come in

Of the line in my mind that's cold in the night, it doesn't seem right
When there's that little dark figure, running, somebody help me

There's a house with no door, there's no living there
One day it became a wall, well I didn't really care at the time

There's a house with no light, all the windows are sealed
Overtaxed and strained

Now nothing is revealed, but time
I don't know you, you say you know me, that may be so
There's so much that I am unsure of

You call my name, but it sounds unreal, I forget how I feel
My body's rejecting the cure, won't somebody help me

Vinil na Barata

A Livraria Barata, na Avenida de Roma, Lisboa, passou a ter uma pequena secção de vinil novo, com uma amostra necessariamente seleccionada, mas com cuidada. Tem algumas edições do Record Store Day, que normalmente são dificeis de encontrar porque têm muito pouca distribuição em Portugal.

The Best Songs In the World #30 - Terry Callier - "Dancing Girl"

Listen with good company and a good spirit at hand...

Leonard Cohen publica novo álbum aos 80 anos

Setembro, mês de "Popular Problems", de Leonard Cohen que em breve cumpre 80 anos.

Old, the new young?

Ginger Baker - Masters of Reality - Sunrise on the Sufferbus(1993)

Masters of Reality-Sunrise on the Sufferbus(1993)

O grande Ginger Baker, dos Cream, dos Blind Faith, dos trabalhos com Fela Kuti,  músico nos Hawkwind, nos Atomic Rooster, nos Public Image Ltd, trabalhos com Charlie Haden e Bill Frisell, etc,  também fez parte destes Masters of Reality nos 90. Vi há poucos anos em Londres com Pee Wee Ellis e foi um excelente (e intimista) espetáculo. Acaba de lançar um novo álbum com ele,"Why?". Baterista supremo e feitio insuportável...



Sobre os Masters of Reality, este é um texto retirado do inner sleeve. Abaixo está o link.

https://www.oboom.com/572XTYAH

The Best Songs in the World # 29 - Archie Shepp "There is a Balm in Gilead"

A religious song, sung with solemnity by Jeanne Lee, from the album "Blasé", recorded in 1969.

The Best Songs in the World #28 - The Style Council - "The Story of Someone's Shoe"

In the underrated "Confessions a Pop Group", Paul Weller's group Style Council created some remarkable pieces of pop music, including this almost a capella song which is a beautiful tale of parting lovers.

It's either, something in their eyes or something in the drink
But whatever it is, they both stop and think
There's no going back and nothing above
It's lust and loneliness, but never love

She takes a breath as he takes his keys
First name terms is the extent of it
There's no getting out as they're going in
But by tomorrow, they both will begin

To regret and renege on a bond they have struck
A small price to pay and casual luck
Some lose nothing, some lose a lot
Whatever we have is all we have got

He takes her hand and leads to the room
In half light and silence for their clothes to remove
There's doubt in her mind but hope in her heart
That this last one of many, may be the start

So they wriggle and writhe for an hour or two
But time has no place when two are consumed
They moan and they gasp but they don't really speak
As no conversation could fit this scene

And tomorrow as always, always comes
As she slips away, he still dumb
He felt the urge just as she felt the need
Now the need to get out, still carrying his seed

Which trickles down her leg onto her shoe
Onto the pavement, then out of view
Into the gutter, down to a drain
Joining a river, there to remain

There's no going back and there's nothing above
It's lust and loneliness that drives us along
It's lust and loneliness, but it's seldom love

Prog Português - Atrium

Acho que é dever divulgar o que é Português, quanto mais não seja para que saibamos que existe. O Prog português é muito fino, rarefeito e frequentemente colado a imagens já gastas. O que de melhor fizemos é de original nosso - v.g., Banda do Casaco. Estes Atrium não escapam a estereotipos estafados - mas aqui ficam, para divulgação. "Sintra, a place in the world"...

The Best Songs In the World #27 - Sonic Youth - Superstar

The Carpenters and Sonic Youth is one of the most improbalbe combinations you can get, but actually the fact they did this version of the  Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell tune  made popular by The Carpenters  made me pay more attention to the band. The Carpenters, as sugary as they can be, did some of the best covers of the 70's and produced remarkable music (if you don't think so, you might need to get reprogrammed). And Sonic Youth were their fans, that's why they did this version for "I if I Were A Carpenter".

The slow tempo and distorsion just add a more dramatic dimension to the song...

The Best Songs in the World #26 - Paatos - Hypnotique

This is a secret. Not many people know about them, I think. They are Swedish and belong to the nordic progressive scene and this song from their 2002 "Timeloss" album takes its time to grow on you. It is not only the vocals of Petronella Nettermalm, the guitar parts are laid back and mysterious, the mellotron gives the song that ancient sound, and the song has one clymax, breaks for the last verse and ascends towards the second clymax .



I'm a flower - smell me
One thing is certain - that is my destiny
Nourish me - and I will bring you happiness

You are my water - drown me
When we're together, there is harmony
Be with me - and all there'll be is hope and lust

Here I'm standing - naked
Your search for answers will end in agony
"loves me not or loves me do" - a game in vain

(instrumental)

Here I'm standing - withered
Thought I could keep you, made you a part of me
Miserly absorbed your false tears
"Cried for me"

The Best Songs In the World #25 - Jacques Brel - "Mon Enfance"

1967 - Jacques Brel and a story about childhood - his?
I prefer songs that develop - not the ones that keep repeating the same chorus/ verse scheme. Or, at best, songs that develop emotionally - and this is the case with "Mon Enfance". Brel becomes more and more strong as time passes - as if his first childhood memories were fuzzy and distant, but as times passes and he reaches adolescence he becomes more adventurous and his blood runs faster. And it ends with an time elipse - "and then war came / and here we are tarde". As if nothing else mattered in the meantime and all we could remember now was the flame of youth. Superb.

After the french lyrics you can find a portuguese version, transalted by Eduardo Maia (Assírio e Alvim, 1987). It is not a particularly apt translation, but allows non french speakers to understand the lyrics.



Mon enfance passa
De grisailles en silences
De fausses révérences
En manque de batailles
L´hiver j´étais au ventre
De la grande maison
Qui avait jeté l´ancre
Au nord parmi les joncs
L´été à moitié nu
Mais tout à fait modeste
Je devenais indien
Pourtant déjà certain
Que mes oncles repus
M´avaient volé le Far West

Mon enfance passa
Les femmes aux cuisines
Où je rêvais de Chine
Vieillissaient en repas
Les hommes au fromage
S´enveloppaient de tabac
Flamands taiseux et sages
Et ne me savaient pas
Moi qui toutes les nuits
Agenouillé pour rien
Arpégeais mon chagrin
Au pied du trop grand lit
Je voulais prendre un train
Que je n´ai jamais pris

Mon enfance passa
De servante en servante
Je m´étonnais déjà
Qu´elles ne fussent point plantes
Je m´étonnais encore
De ces ronds de famille
Flânant de mort en mort
Et que le deuil habille
Je m´étonnais surtout
D´être de ce troupeau
Qui m´apprenait à pleurer
Que je connaissais trop
J´avais L´œil du berger
Mais le cœur de l´agneau

Mon enfance éclata
Ce fut l´adolescence
Et le mur du silence
Un matin se brisa
Ce fut la première fleur
Et la première fille
La première gentille
Et la première peur
Je volais je le jure
Je jure que je volais
Mon cœur ouvrait les bras
Je n´étais plus barbare

Et la guerre arriva

Et nous voilà ce soir.


A MINHA INFÂNCIA

A minha infância passou
Entre tédios e silêncios
Entre falsas mesuras
E batalhas que não houve
De Inverno no ventre
Daquela grande casa
Que tinha ancorado
A Norte por entre os juncos
De Verão meio nu
Mas modesto por inteiro
Tornava-me indio
Embora ja convico
De que os meus tios cevados
Me tinham roubado o Far West

A minha infância passou
As mulheres nas cozinhas
Onde eu sonhava com a China
Envelheciam em cozinhados
Os homens ao queijo
Envolviam-se em tabaco
Flamengos calados e ponderados
E não me conheciam
Eu que todas as noites
Ajoelhado para nada
Arpejava o meu desgosto
Aos pés da cama imensa
Queria apanhar um comboio
Que nunca apanhei*

A minha infância passou
De criada em criada
Admirava-me já
Não serem elas plantas
Admiravam-me ainda
Essas rodas de família
Flanando de defunto em defunto
E que o luto cobre
Admirava-me sobretudo
Vir eu de tal rebanho
Que me ensinava a chorar
Que eu conhecia demais
O meu olhar era de pastor
Mas o coração de cordeiro

A minha infância estourou
Chegou a adolescência
E o muro do silêncio
Uma manhã ruiu
Foi a primeira flor
E a primeira namorada
A primeira gentil
E o primeiro medo
Eu até voei eu juro
Eu juro que até voei
O meu coração abria os braços
Era o fim da bárbarie

E a guerra chegou

E eis nos agora aqui
* este verso falta na tradução, certamente por lapso

The Best Songs In the World #24 - Roxy Music - "A Song for Europe"

From their 1973 album "Stranded", this declaration of love for Europe with a bitter taste is a must have in every home. The dettached style of Bryan Ferry is perfect for the recitiative style of the first part of the song, but he gains full control in the last part, specially when he beguns reciting and latin and (hallucinated) french...


Songwriters: MACKAY, ANDREW EDWIN / FERRY, BRYAN

Here as I sit
At this empty café
Thinking of you
I remember
All those moments
Lost in wonder
That we'll never
Find again
Though the world
Is my oyster
It's only a shell
Full of memories
And here by the Seine
Notre-Dame casts
A long lonely shadow

Now, only sorrow
No tomorrow
There's no today for us
Nothing is there
For us to share
But yesterday
These cities may change
But there always remains
My obsession
Through silken waters
My gondola glides
And the bridge, it sighs

I remember
All those moments
Lost in wonder
That we'll never
Find again
There's no more time for us
Nothing is there
For us to share
But yesterdays

Ecce momenta
Illa mirabilia
Quae captabit
In aeternum
Memor
Modo dolores
Sunt in dies
Non est reliquum
Vero tantum
Comminicamus
Perdita
Tous ces moments
Perdus dans l`enchantement
Qui ne reviendront
Jamais
Pas d´aujourd´hui pour nous
Pour nous il n´y a rien
A partager
Sauf le passé

Ezhevika Fields

Quando encontro um blog de música dos anos 70 e 80 em que não conheço nada, eu digo: Respect! Portanto, aqui fica ele, para quem tem o gosto do desconhecido.
http://ezhevika.blogspot.pt/

The Best Songs in the World #23 - dEUS - "Instant Street"

The Best thing to come out of Belgium  - and I am considering the beer and Leonidas chocolates - dEUS make awesome music - Their "Ideal Crash" album is a classic and this song that slowly evolves towards the climax is a must.



You're probably right, seen from your side, that I've been lucky
but I've been meaning to crack all week.
Yes I've been involved, it never resolved into anything shocking.
Pains playing yoyo in my body as we speak.

And now I found something to look for, but I can't decide,
'Cause I might find that to stroll behind is better than to score.
Just like I did before.

It wouldn't be true, not towards you, to say that I'm staying.
When on every single impulse, on every other move I react.
'Cause in any old creek, with changing technique, you'll see me playing.
After any old motherfucking blow I'll be back.

We turned away from instant stuff
our cracking codes were breaking up
our words were sucked out it made them clean.
And after lowness say it
and after more let it be known

You're probably right, as for tonight, you're making me nervous.
What is it you want me to be thinking of?
I'll put on a movie, I'll play something groovy as a matter of service
And I'll chuckle when you smile as a matter of love.
'Cause you know it's not my style to be giving up now.
And this pain in my side, I had enough.

This time I go for Instant Street
This life's a soulless excuse for all abuse and parenthesis.
The flyspecked windows and the stinking lobbies
they'll remain all the same, all the same.

This time I go. This time I go...

The Best Songs In the World #22 - Nick Cave And the Bad Seeds "The Mercy Seat"

A demoniac run that depicts the anguish of a convicted waiting for the sentence to be executed - although he is " nearly wholly innocent". Johnny Cahs did a pretty good version.



"The Mercy Seat"

It began when they come took me from my home
And put me in Dead Row,
Of which I am nearly wholly innocent, you know.
And I'll say it again
I.. am.. not.. afraid.. to.. die.

I began to warm and chill
To objects and their fields,
A ragged cup, a twisted mop
The face of Jesus in my soup
Those sinister dinner deals
The meal trolley's wicked wheels
A hooked bone rising from my food
All things either good or ungood.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof.
An eye for an eye
A tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die.

Interpret signs and catalogue
A blackened tooth, a scarlet fog.
The walls are bad. Black. Bottom kind.
They are sick breath at my hind
They are sick breath at my hind
They are sick breath at my hind
They are sick breath gathering at my hind

I hear stories from the chamber
How Christ was born into a manger
And like some ragged stranger
Died upon the cross
And might I say, it seems so fitting in its way
He was a carpenter by trade
Or at least that's what I'm told

Like my good hand
tattooed E.V.I.L. across it's brother's fist
That filthy five! They did nothing to challenge or resist.

In Heaven His throne is made of gold
The ark of his Testament is stowed
A throne from which I'm told
All history does unfold.
Down here it's made of wood and wire
And my body is on fire
And God is never far away.

Into the mercy seat I climb
My head is shaved, my head is wired
And like a moth that tries
To enter the bright eye
So I go shuffling out of life
Just to hide in death awhile
And anyway I never lied.

My kill-hand is called E.V.I.L.
Wears a wedding band that's G.O.O.D.
'Tis a long-suffering shackle
Collaring all that devil blood.

And the mercy seat is a-burning
And I think my head is flowing
And in a way I'm hoping
To be done with all this weighing up of truth.
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And I've got nothing left to lose
And I'm not afraid to die.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway, there was no proof
And nor a motive why.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof.
A life for a life
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway there was no proof
And I'm not afraid to die.

Now the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is smoking
And in a way I'm hoping
To be done with all these looks of disbelief.
A eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof.
A eye for a eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
But I'm not afraid to lie.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
But I'm afraid I told a lie.

The Best Songs in the World #21 - Björk - "Venus as a Boy"

Björk has written many, many good songs. This one, from her first solo album "Debut" (1993), keeps the freshness and is still unlike any other song you heard.

The Best Songs in the World 20 - The Manhattan Transfer - "A Foreign Affair"

This is a Tom Waits song from the album of the same name, from 1976. The song is an elegy to travel and the vocal group make an immaculate work around the manificent lyrics.

The Best Songs In the World 19 - Abbey Lincoln - "Throw it Away"

From one of her last albums and with the acoustic guitar of Pat Metheny per (excelent) company, this version of  her own "Throw it Away" is a wonderful song.
.

I think about the life I live
A figure made of clay
And think about the things I lost
The things I gave away

And when I'm in a certain mood
I search the house and look
One night I found these magic words
In a magic book

Throw it away
Throw it away
Give your love, live your life
Each and every day

And keep your hand wide open
Let the sun shine through
'Cause you can never lose a thing
If it belongs to you

There's a hand to rock the cradle
And a hand to help us stand
With a gentle kind of motion
As it moves across the land

And the hand's unclenched and open
Gifts of life and love it brings
So keep your hand wide open
If you're needing anything

Throw it away
Throw it away
Give your love, live your life
Each and every day

And keep your hand wide open
Let the sun shine through
'Cause you can never lose a thing
If it belongs to you

Throw it away
Throw it away
Give your love, live your life
Each and every day

And keep your hand wide open
Let the sun shine through
'Cause you can never lose a thing
If it belongs to you

'Cause you can never lose a thing
If it belongs to you
You can never ever lose a thing
If it belongs to you

You can never ever lose a thing
If it belongs to you
You can never ever lose a thing
If it belongs to you

The Best Songs in the World #18 , Sufjan Stevens - "All Delighted People"

This motherfucker is one of the best writers alive and this song may as well be his peak so far. Actually, the song extend for the whole EP with the same name, that has the same duration of a regular LP (for those of you that still remember what it is...)


The way he merges verses from Simon &Garfunkel's "The Sounds of Silence" in the song is very interesting.

The Best Songs In the World #17- Yo La Tengo - "Ohm"

The motorika rythm of this opening song from their 2013 album "Fade" is the perfect engine for this Yo La Tengo flagship song. And the video is very nice.

The Best Songs in The World #16 - Sparks - "Perfume"

Half crazy, half genius, the Sparks duo has created some of the more refreshing and exhilarating songs of rock'n'roll. This is one of the best, with lyrics that say it all...An unstoppable hit!

                                                                        "Perfume"

Genevieve wears Dior
Margaret wears Tresor
Mary Jo wears Lauren
But you don't wear no perfume

Deborah wears Clinique
Marianne wears Mystique
Judith wears Shalimar
But you don't wear no perfume

That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you

Anna wears CK1
Jeanie wears Opium
Trisha wears No.5
But you don't wear no perfume

Susan wears St. Laurent
Janie wears L'Air du Temps
Kirstin wears Davidoff
But you don't wear no perfume

That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you

The olefactory sense is the sense
That most strongly evokes memories of the past
Well screw the past

That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you

That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you

Genevieve wears Hermes
Annabelle wears Arpege
Betty Lee wears Guerlain
But you don't wear no perfume

Katie wears Giorgio
Lily wears Moschino
Jenna wears Kenneth Cole
But you don't wear no perfume

That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you

Carol wears Cacharel
Lana wears Tommy Girl
Cynthia wears J'Adore
But you don't wear no perfume

Jennifer wears Celine
Laura wears Armani
Deborah wears Polo Sport
But you don't wear no perfume

Gina wears Vera Wang
Sheila wears Helmut Lang
Dinah wears Oxygene
But you don't wear no perfume

Jody wears Gaultier
Peggy wears Jean Patou
Stella wears Lagerfeld
But you don't wear no perfume

That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you

That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you

That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you

That's why, that's why, that's why, that's why
That's why, that's why, that's why, that's why

The Best Songs in the World #15 - Procol Harum - "A Salty Dog"

Has this one fallen between the wrinkles of time? If that's the case, it's time to hear again this marine symphonic poem from 1969 album "A Salty Dog"



'All hands on deck, we've run afloat!'
I heard the captain cry
'Explore the ship, replace the cook:
let no one leave alive!'
Across the straits, around the Horn:
how far can sailors fly?
A twisted path, our tortured course,
and no one left alive
We sailed for parts unknown to man,
where ships come home to die
No lofty peak, nor fortress bold,
could match our captain's eye
Upon the seventh seasick day
we made our port of call
A sand so white, and sea so blue,
no mortal place at all

We fired the gun, and burnt the mast,
and rowed from ship to shore
The captain cried, we sailors wept:
our tears were tears of joy
Now many moons and many Junes
have passed since we made land
A salty dog, this seaman's log:
 your witness my own hand

The Best Songs In the World #14 - Bill Calahan - "Jim Cain"

Bill Callahan is so simple and so strong... This song from 2009's "I Wish We Were An Eagle" feels like a fireplace at home, or a good Douro aged wine...

I started out in search of ordinary things
How much of a tree bends in the wind
I started telling the story without knowing the end

I used to be darker, then I got lighter, then I got dark again
Something to be seen was passing over and over me
Well it seemed like the routine case at first
With the death of the shadow came a lightness of verse
But the darkest of nights, in truth, still dazzles
And I woke myself until I'm frazzled

I ended up in search of ordinary things
Like how can a wave possibly be?
I started running, and the concrete turned to sand
I started running, and things didn't pan out as planned

In case things go poorly and I not return
Remember the good things I've done
In case things go poorly and I not return
Remember the good things I've done
Done me in

The Best Songs In the World #13- Bob Dylan - "You're a Big Girl Now"

This is a very strange situation. Original Bob Dylan original songs are not on Youtube. The aggressive Sony policy towards rights protection just eliminated all original songs. I've searched through dozens of versions and live takes to realize this is the plain truth.

To me, this is the ultimate Bob Dylan song, from his best album, "Blood on the Tracks", 1974. Of course it is difficult to single out a track in Dylan's vast canon, and everyone has its favourite. Who cares? I vote for this one.

My Morning Jacket's, from a recent cover version album, captures the feeling and emulates almost the voice of the original. It's a pretty cover, but look for the original and it's very unique loose and melancholic feeling. It is a gem in an album that has quite a few.




Our conversation was short and sweet

It nearly swept me off-a my feet
And I’m back in the rain, oh, oh
And you are on dry land
You made it there somehow
You’re a big girl now

Bird on the horizon, sittin’ on a fence
He’s singin’ his song for me at his own expense
And I’m just like that bird, oh, oh
Singin’ just for you
I hope that you can hear
Hear me singin’ through these tears

Time is a jet plane, it moves too fast
Oh, but what a shame if all we’ve shared can’t last
I can change, I swear, oh, oh
See what you can do
I can make it through
You can make it too

Love is so simple, to quote a phrase
You’ve known it all the time, I’m learnin’ it these days
Oh, I know where I can find you, oh, oh
In somebody’s room
It’s a price I have to pay
You’re a big girl all the way

A change in the weather is known to be extreme
But what’s the sense of changing horses in midstream?
I’m going out of my mind, oh, oh
With a pain that stops and starts
Like a corkscrew to my heart
Ever since we’ve been apart

Copyright © 1974 by Ram's Horn Music; renewed 2002 by Ram’s Horn Music

Read more: http://www.bobdylan.com/us/songs/youre-big-girl-now#ixzz376LRoUhy

The Best Songs in The World #12 Midlake - Roscoe

Other songs from this 2006 (8 years already!) classic album "The trials of Van Occupanther" could be here, namely the other three following ones: "Bandits", "Head Home", "Van Occupanther". But this is the album opener, in style and substance.

The Best Songs in The World #11 - Lou Reed - "Perfect Day"

Round and round, like a Perfect Day. But it ends with: "you're going to rip just what you sown"...

A suggestion from Sergio R.

The Best Songs in The World #10 - Owen Pallett - "Lewis Takes off his shirt"

From Mr. Ex-Final Fantasy and from his 2010 "Heartland". Who said Canada is boring?