| Author | Message | ||
     David Kowalski (David) |
Maybe we need another main Discussion area for this but let's start here... Before I discovered Groovelily (let's see would that be BG?), it was relatively rare for me to care much about lyrics in pop songs. Now I'm finding myself so touched by so many Lily-lyrics that I actually find myself thinking about the words independantly of the music. I'll say some more about individual songs in seperate posts but I thought this might get the ball rolling | ||
| David Kowalski (David) |
I Don't Wanna Fall in Love I love the fact that this song has a 3-line chorus! As many times as I've listened to it (and that's a LOT), I still always smile at the way I'm tempted to hear the first line of each verse as the fourth line of the chorus. It's also wonderful the way that premature end of the chorus gives a sense of "Oh, did I say that out loud?"/random-thoughts-in-my-head. On the poetic level (as opposed to simple content) lyrics which are too metrically regular often bore me. I love the fact that I can listen to these lyrics not just for their content but also for their quirky structure. Thanks, Brendan, for respecting the fact that their are actually some intelligent listeners out here! | ||
| David Kowalski (David) |
Little Nemesis I'm gonna make one more post and then give someone else a chance <g> I'm not sure how much of this song is Brendan and how much is Val but it's another case where I like the structure of the lyrics as much of their content. I'm not even sure how intentional it is, but the way the lyrics are set allows me to hear lots of different punctuation. For example, in the opening lines, I can hear "basically" as either the end of the first sentence or the beginning of the second (i.e., "I've always been a pretty good girl, basically" or "Basically, what you see is what you get."). Then of course, there's the way the next line sort of turns around on itself ("What you see is what you get" kind of strains sentence structure to go into "and you got to me" but at a word-play level it's a wonder twist-of-phrase.) I also love the bridge, and the way those really slow lyrics sort of evolve into an ever-changing sentence ("You are free"->"You are free to be"->and then you wonder if there's a comma or not (is it "You are free to be my enemy" or "You are free to be, my enemy")?). GREAT STUFF! Don't know if any of you have read any of the 19th century British poet Gerard Manley Hopkins but he does a lot of this kind of word-play (along with extreme metric irregularity) as well. It's one of the things I really love about the Groovelily lyrics in general (of course Val's interpretation, her gorgeous voice and the beautiful tunes don't hurt either!) OK, Gene, I love the wonderfully sensitive percussion underpinnings as well :-) I do have to add, though, even though this is one of my favorite Groovelily songs and I love the word-play of the lyrics, I'm not sure I really get the meaning of the content...to what extent is it a metaphor for (or even an allegory of) something and to what extent is it really just about a playground fight? I tend to hear a lot of Groovelily songs as pretty autobiographical...especially around the intertwined subjects of Val struggling for a successful career as a musician and Brendan hurting when she's off on the road by herself. Am I just being an over-analytical former Princetonian? :-) Ok, 'nuff said for now... | ||
| Gene Lewin (Gene) |
David ... great comments! I'll let the authors write in with their thoughts on many of your points above. Just wanted to pipe in that I totally agree with you ... it's awfully nice to be in a band where I still hear new meaning in the lyrics even after having played the stuff hundreds of times (ok ... no drummer jokes). And thanks for your comments about the drumming ... I'm adding "sensitive percussion underpinnings" to my resume.  -Gene | ||
| David Kowalski (David) |
And after re-reading my note, I realize that I've essentially said that Brendan is my favorite pop-song lyricist since Gerard Manley Hopkins ?!?!? I'm not sure how Father Hopkins would take that but hope you appreciate it, Brendan! J | ||
| Brendan Milburn (Brendan) |
Dear David, I just read my first Gerard Manley Hopkins poem-- "The Windhover"--and I'm honored to be mentioned in the same breath. (blush) Thank you for taking the time to dig beneath the surface of "Little Light" and find the ideas and stories underneath. You are the MAN. "Little Nemesis" is, in fact, an allegorical story, but you'd have to ask Val what it's about. I can tell you this: the song is more interesting than the situation that inspired it. Thank you, David!!! | ||
| David Kowalski (David) |
Hey, my pleasure, Brendan...I can hardly begin to tell you how deeply some of the songs on this album touch me ("Shannon," too...please tell me that that'll be on the next album). I'll say more in another post later but with the way some of these songs hit me, I'm thinking of suggesting that you create an "uncontrollable sobbing" set for your concerts! Except for the credits on the songs, I'm never sure how much of each song is you and how much is Val but however you divide the credit, the results touch, move and inspire me in ways that I can hardly believe. It almost seems trite to say it so simply but I'm really glad I discovered you guys! On a GMH note, if you want to see just how wonderfully out-of-control his poems can get, check out The Leaden Echo and The Golden Echo (one of my personal favorites). | ||
| David Kowalski (David) |
Coming Home So here's a conversation I started having with Brendan between sets at the Bottom Line gig tonight: At the last couple of gigs I've attended, I've noticed that Val sings an extra phrase at the end of Coming Home (Brendan tells me that this is actually how the song was originally written and it was the producer's idea to omit the final "I am coming home"...ending instead on "I am crossing land and sea and space...") I'm struck by how dramatically different the song becomes based on the inclusion of that extra phrase. As recorded, the song is almost painfully poignant in it's longing. I usually can't listen to anything else for several minutes after that track ends on the CD. It's as if the song ends with "I want to be on my way back home but I fear that I may never make it there (or I'll make it there too late)." I find that lack of resolution very powerfully moving as it layers in so nicely with the recurrent Groovelily theme of "I will pursue my dreams even when it hurts to do so." To be honest, the first couple of times I heard the live version with the extra phrase, I didn't much care for it. Tonight, for some reason, it DID make sense to me (although, as I said, it becomes a very different song). By completing the phrase, I get a sense of "I HAVE come home...all is now right with the world." I'm not sure it works as well for me this way...even if it is more resolved (musically as well as emotionally). So, I'm curious, Val...what's it like for you singing it each way? Is it as strikingly different for you performing it as it is for me listening to it? | ||
| Valerie Vigoda (Val) |
Hi David - thanks for your thoughtful comments, as always. About the ending of "Coming Home": yes, it does feel very different without the ending phrase. I think it works well that way on the record, leaving the listener searching off into the distance...but in live performance, it feels right with the ending included. The song was originally written with the feeling that, at least temporarily, the singer really is in fact coming home. Also, that way people know when to clap. | ||
| Christine |
if you like touching lyrics, you should try listening to Shakira. She has really good stuff. Not the cd in english, but the one called "Donde estan los ladrones" is really good. She kindof reminds me of GrooveLily. Of course, it might be a little harder if you don't speak spanish. Christine | ||
| Dan Freedman (Cartoon_dan) New member Username: Cartoon_dan Post Number: 1 Registered: 8-2002 |
Looks like there hasn't been much activity in the "Lyrics" discussion topic for awhile, so it's time for a new post. It's mainly a question out to Brendan and/or Val on a particular lyric in "Weight of the World". In the first line of the second verse, did you ever consider the wording "I'm undersea, so deep I can't fathom it"? I think it's an incredible talent to be able to put words together in such a "tight" way to express and evoke emotion, and GrooveLily does it soooo well! - Dan | ||
| David Kowalski (David) Member Username: David Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2001 |
Wow...I was just thinking today that it seems like Val, Brendan and I are the only ones whoever read this particular section...glad to see activity from someone else! And, on an unrelated note, Dan, thrilled to hear that you and Jackie are now Petal Pushers! Up the Revolution! David | ||
| Brendan Milburn (Brendan) Moderator Username: Brendan Post Number: 7 Registered: 8-2001 |
"So deep I can't fathom it." Yikes, wish we'd thought of that. My second thought is: perhaps that's a swadge too much wordplay--or at least, perhaps that's a swadge too much wordplay on the song that we intended to be the single from our album that we intended to be our major pop breakthrough. Either way, nice work, Dan! Maybe you should be writing lyrics for a rock band! | ||
| Dan Freedman (Cartoon_dan) New member Username: Cartoon_dan Post Number: 2 Registered: 8-2002 |
Brendan, My guess was that you would have chosen the straight-forward lyric. I agree there is such a thing as being too clever. And thanks for the compliment, though I think that writing for a rock band may be a "swadge" too much. For now I'll just stick to working the merchandise table and thinking of ways to make the process & "business" end of your performances easier so you guys can focus on making music! - Dan | ||
| Anonymous |
You are brilliant. BRILLIANT. I was dragged to one of your concerts (my mom and dad went to college with Gene) and came out changed. My favorite song (like favorite song--not just that Groovelily sings) is "No Room in Your Bag". I can listen to it like 999 times in a row and not be bored. Brendan--you could write broadway lyrics. Gene--three cheers for "Diva Girl"!! Val--my inspiration. Thank you thank you THANK YOU! | ||
| adam wolf (Adamwolf) Senior Member Username: Adamwolf Post Number: 143 Registered: 7-2002 |
oy.... "my mom and dad went to college with Gene" Anyone else feel old? | ||
| Ellie MacNeil (Ellie) Senior Member Username: Ellie Post Number: 36 Registered: 7-2002 |
Always, Adam, always... And this certainly did NOT help!!! | ||
| Gene Lewin (Gene) Moderator Username: Gene Post Number: 71 Registered: 2-2001 |
I have to say that this message from my college friends' son or daughter is just fabulous ... and it doesn't make me feel old at all ... rather, I'm happy to have been around long enough to have friends who are cool enough to bring their kid to one of our shows, and whose kid is cool enough to enjoy the music so much! I'm honored ... thanks for the great note! -Gene | ||
| Marcia Scurfield (Artmarcia) Senior Member Username: Artmarcia Post Number: 353 Registered: 2-2004 |
And this "Anonymous" poster has excellent taste! No Room in Your Bag was the song which, when I first heard it on the radio, made me sit up, take notice and say, "WHO is that band?" I'm probably old enough to be GENE's mother--but I don't feel old! Let's face it--GrooveLily appeals to a very wide age range. | ||
| (Flo) (Dave_florio) Senior Member Username: Dave_florio Post Number: 72 Registered: 7-2002 |
Trust me Marcia, Liz Taylor ain't old enough to be Gene's mom. You're actually about 20 years younger than Gene. Hey, y'all (southern for "GrooveLily fans") shouldn't let Gene fool ya - he's much older than he looks, even though I haven't seen him in a coon's age (southern colloquialism). . . . . . . . Okay, I'm just joking. But I miss you, G-man. It's the loneliness speaking, alright? Hope to see you soon. Flo | ||
| David Kowalski (David) Senior Member Username: David Post Number: 181 Registered: 12-2001 |
Gee, Flo...sounds like them's fightin' words! If Little G can get out of his rocker, I'll bet he's gonna open a can of whoop-*ss on you! (northern interpretation of a favorite southern expression)  Way too long since I've seen you, man! Hope all is well! --David | ||
| Gene Lewin (Gene) Moderator Username: Gene Post Number: 72 Registered: 2-2001 |
Miss you too Flo! But I'd like to say, for the record, that I am only 22. Of course, I am also delusional. -Gene | ||
| Ellie MacNeil (Ellie) Senior Member Username: Ellie Post Number: 37 Registered: 7-2002 |
**Of course, I am also delusional. ** But you're a cutie, so you can get away with it, Gene!!! A Nonny Miss | ||
| (Flo) (Dave_florio) Senior Member Username: Dave_florio Post Number: 74 Registered: 7-2002 |
I think it's Ellie who's 22. Methinks Jack robbed the cradle! I miss you, Gene. Ya big cutie. | ||
| Ellie MacNeil (Ellie) Senior Member Username: Ellie Post Number: 38 Registered: 7-2002 |
Gee, I knew there was a reason I liked you so much, Flo!!!! LOL <blushing> |
