the cavalry with tea and sympathy...

Earworms of the Week

“Come on Eileen” – Dexys Midnight Runners

New Dexy’s album coming soon, apparently. The very thought of that immediately started playing this song in my head. Obviously. I was never really a big fan, but you’d have to have been living on Mars not to know this song, wouldn’t you?

“Floating Vibes” – Surfer Blood

I have no idea how I came to own an album by Surfer Blood, but I have to tell you that I quite like it. An extremely apt name for the song, too. Well, it's floating-ish.  If you think electric guitars riffing can ever exactly float. 

“These Boots Are Made For Walking” – Nancy Sinatra

Things I know about Nancy Sinatra apart from the obvious one: she used to live next door to Morrissey in Los Angeles through the 1990s. Lucky girl, eh? Um, that’s more or less it. It’s not just me though, is it? Singing “Something Stupid” with your own father is a bit weird, right? Anyway, this one is a classic. Come on boots…start walking!

“Blackbird” - The Beatles

Lennon gets all of the cool fans, but as far as the Beatles are concerned, I’ve always had a huge soft spot Macca. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that this is my favourite song on the White Album (“Why Don’t We Do It In The Road”), but it’s a fantastic little number that I don’t think Lennon would ever have been able to write. It’s simple, but it’s a classic of gentle optimism. Thumbs aloft!

“Take these broken wings and learn to fly”.

“Why Do All Good Things Come To An End?” – Nelly Furtado

I haven’t been able to shake this one out of my head for about 5 years now. It’s naggingly downbeat, which – of course – throws it right up my street. I do like mildly depressing music, that’s for sure.

“Gigantic” – The Pixies

The only song that Kim Deal ever sung with the Pixies, and an absolute belter from a classic album (“Surfer Rosa”). If only I could work out what she’s singing about. A big, big love, indeed.

“Bats in the Attic” – King Creosote & Jon Hopkins

It’s been several weeks now since I saw these guys live, and the album has only gone up in my estimation since. Even though the album was Mercury nominated last year, I somehow still missed it entirely. Well, I’m making up for that oversight now. It’s a beautiful combination of the subtle instrumentation and Kenny Anderson’s lilting, clear singing voice. I thought they were very good live, but it’s magical on record.

“Can you Tell” – Ra Ra Riot

As included by Mandy on the shuffleathon she sent me an age ago. For me, this is one of those records that jumped out at me the very first time I heard it and still shines just as brightly today. It’s practically perfect and I love it. Thank you so much, Mandy…. If the shuffleathon was worth anything at all, then I reckon this song made it all worthwhile for me

“Everybody Hurts” – R.E.M.
“Puncture Repair” – Elbow

Well, you all know this one, but it's been very much on my mind all week:

When your day is long and the night
The night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go
Everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes

Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on

Everybody hurts
Take comfort in your friends.

Such a beautiful record. I love REM and this song is so full of heartfelt empathy for a universally felt pain.

Well, everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes
So, hold on, hold on

I’m starting to see “Puncture Repair” as a sort of companion piece to “Everybody Hurts”, with Guy Garvey offering up another hymn to love and the healing power of friends.

I leaned on you today
I regularly hurt but never say
I nearly wore the window through
Where was air sea rescue?

The cavalry with tea and sympathy
You were there
Puncture repair

I leaned on you today
I regularly hurt but never say
You patched me up and sent me on my way
I leaned on you today

Hold on, hold on.  You're not alone.

To switch songs entirely, all things must pass. It’s not always going to be this grey. All things must pass, all things must pass away.

So there you go. A downbeat, but hopeful way to end the week.  Have a good weekend.