Those are perhaps the most poignant words in any song written about love I’ve heard so far… St Vincent and The National’s cover of Crooked Fingers’ Sleep All Summer always leaves me missing people I haven’t even fallen in love with, trying to sing along despite the big lump in my throat.
Not exactly the type of red-blooded love I should be indulging in on Valentine’s Day… But no less valid for being a bit morbid.
As Valentine’s weekends go, it’s been a good one. A whole mix of love: romantic, erotic, platonic, fraternal, parental… With a full complement of chocolate, colour-coded flowers, good food, couples in love drowning in each other’s eyes, witty waiters and street vendors hawking roses… Even Ninja and Yo-landi from hip-hoppers Die Antwoord ventured out into Parkhurst’s loved-up streets for some candlelight and vibes, scaring the locals. Zefsiders need love, too… And all around, mawkish music blaring from the restaurant speakers… You know, the type you definitely DON’T want as a soundtrack to your wild encounter with a stranger in an elevator…
Those closest to me know that music is my Babel fish when it comes to communicating and making sense of life and its foibles. So ending off the day with a list of ten of my favourite songs about love will pretty much put the cherry on top of the perfect schmaltzy weekend… For me, at least!
Sleep All Summer – St Vincent & The National
It’s a sad, honest meditation on how love, despite being a many-splendored thing, isn’t exactly a band-aid for fixing people and keeping things together. “…I would change for you but babe that doesn’t mean that I will be a better man…”
A Sorta Fairytale – Tori Amos
Another bittersweet one, that basically sums up random meaningful encounters to me. “…but I didn’t know that we could break a silver lining…”
Chariots Rise – Lizzie West
Now this one’s more traditionally loved up… But still in a slightly twisted way, I suppose given the context when I heard it the first time: the love scene in the awesome The Secretary. “I took the notes of past excursions/ And I read them through once more/ Only to find them all diversions/ From the one true love in store”
Like A Friend – Pulp
Nothing sucks like being infatuated with someone that is blithely unaware of your feelings… Or knows, but doesn’t care. And you’ll eat up all their shit… “Girl, it’s lucky for you that we’re friends!”
Untouchable Face – Ani DiFranco
And then there are the love affairs gone wrong, gone astray, got away. It doesn’t necessarily mean your feelings have changed. “So fuck you, and your untouchable face fuck you, for existing in the first place…”
#1 Crush – Garbage
Obsessive love: who cares if it only ends in tears? “You will believe in me/ And I can never be ignored”
I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You – Colin Hay
I’ve always thought that this is the perfect song to play at a lover’s funeral. I don’t think I could put missing somebody any simpler or more honest. “Don’t want you thinking I’m unhappy… What is closer to the truth… if I live to be a hundred and two, I just don’t think I’ll ever get over you…”
Head Over Feet – Alanis Morissette
A love song of the more traditional sort… And luckily, with minimal cheese. “You held the door and your breath for me”
Feelin’ Love – Paula Cole
Not horny yet? You will be… “And you would open the door and tie… me up to the bed…”
We Are The People – Empire Of The Sun
“I can’t do well if I think you’re gonna leave me but I know I try… Are you gonna leave me know?” Can’t say much more than that.
Tags: #1 Crush, A Sorta Fairytale, Alanis Morissette, Ani DeFranco, Babel fish, Chariots Rise, Colin Hay, Crooked Fingers, Die Antwoord, Donnay Torr, dustbunniesproject, Empire Of The Sun, Feelin' Love, Garbage, Head Over Feet, I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You, Like A Friend, Lizzie West, love songs, Music, Paula Cole, Pulp, Sleep All Summer, St Vincent, The National, The Secretary, Tori Amos, Untouchable Face, Valentine's Day, We Are The People