The Music Court

          Let’s have a little fun. We have been doing these lyrics for a long time (26 times to be exact) and the same old lyric conversation can get a little monotonous. Well we like to think it is mucho amazing everytime but that is besides the point. By the way did you like how I just incorporated espanol in that last sentence. I bet you can put two and two together and figure out that this mystery post will have something to do with the spanish language. We shall play a game with these lyrics. I am going to post some lyrics in spanish from a song. Can you guess the song that they appear in. Here is the kicker. The lyrics are in Spanish in the song which is sung by an English punk band. Ringing any bells. Here are the lyrics.

Esta undecision me molesta
Si no me quieres, librame
Diga me que tengo ser
Saves que robas me querda?
Me tienes que desir
Me debo ir o quedarme?

Any Clue. Impress us in the comment section. I will post the answer later.

The answers must be in proper question format

              Yesterday’s lyric of the day by my trusty partner in crime Josh Baum made a good point. There is not much to say about these lyrics but the fact that they flow with the song very well. This is quite important. The lyric can be a fantastic story but if it does not flow with the song then the song will continue to be skipped over by listeners. So, with that in mind, today I bring for your lyric fancy a song by the fantastic songwriter Sam Beam who understands the importance of well-placed words in song

            “Boy With a Coin,” released on The Shepherd’s Dog and as a single in 2007, is a perfect example of a song whose lyric flows perfectly with the beat. In this case, an upbeat acoustic guitar riff with clapping and amazing repetition. Yet, when one looks deeper into the lyric it is not just a random array of words that flow well, but, an interesting lyric that can spark much discussion. Let us take a look at the excellent last verse.

          “Boy with a coin he crammed in his jeans
           then making a wish, and tossed in the sea
           then walked to a town that all of us burned
           when God left the ground to circle the world”

                    – “Boy With a Coin,” by Iron & Wine off of The Shepherd’s Dog

        I believe Sam Beam is using the coin as a symbol throughout this song, but specifically in this segment. The coin is representing the youthfulness of the child who tosses it into “the sea” while “making a wish.” An optimistic child would believe in this wishfulness. Yet, as he walks back to town he sees that its “burned” which symbolizes an unfortunate loss of innocence for the child. He attempts to hold onto this nonexistent reality of wishes but is forever destined to enter a world which is harsh and sad. What do you guys think?

This single cover goes right along with the concept of the song. The snake represents the ultimate loss of innocence and Beam who frequently plays with religious concepts displays the ultimate temptation in the Garden of Eden in this cover. Just like the boy with a coin, the snake and the apple. The wishful state mixed with the ultimate reality of life outside of eden.

When you try your best, but you don’t succeed, When you get what you want, but not what you need, When you feel so tired, but you can’t sleep, Stuck in reverse, And the tears come streaming down your face, When you lose something you can’t replace, When you love someone, but it goes to waste, Could it be worse? Lights will guide you home, And ignite your bones, And I will try to fix you, And high up above or down below, When you’re too in love to let it go, But if you never try you’ll never know, Just what you’re worth, Lights will guide you home, And ignite your bones, And I will try to fix you, Tears stream down your face, When you lose something you cannot replace, Tears stream down your face
And I… Tears stream down on your face, I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face, And I… Lights will guide you home, And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

Coldplay’s second single off of their 2005 album X & Y follows a very somber tune with a melodic chorus but has an uplifting message, and that is when you are at your lowest point this entity or person that is singing will try to “fix you”.  I don’t have much to write about these lyrics but I just like how they sound every time I listen to them and if you haven’t heard this song or haven’t listened to it in a while turn it on right now and enjoy.

                     I apologize for the tardiness of this post and for all those keeping track this post should technically have been posted yesterday. Yesterday though was quite a busy day filled with working hard for the money (I did not prostitute myself so do not worry).  So, in honor of the busy day due to working hard let us talk some hard work with the great folk pioneer Woody Guthrie. Guthrie did have it a wee bit harder. At fourteen he was left with his siblings in Oklahoma as his father worked to re-pay real estate debts in Texas and his mother sat dying of Huntington’s disease in an Oklahoma Hospital for the insane. Guthrie worked numerous odd jobs around his town until he realized his musical ability and began playing songs for coins or sandwiches. If anyone knows how to talk hard work it is Mr. Woody Guthrie. Enjoy the lyrics below:

While we are on the subject of hard work, I just wanted to tell you that I am a man who likes hard work.
I was born working and I worked my way up by hard work.
I aint ever got no where, but I got there byhard work.
Work of the hardest kind.
I been down and I been out
I been disgusted I been busted and I couldnt be trusted.
I worked my way up and I worked my way down

No matter what kind of music you listen to, if you grew up through the new Millennium you would have heard at least one Brand New song, most likely their 2001 hit single “Jude Law and a Semester Abroad” about a pissed off boy telling his girlfriend who’s away at England to remember that he is still around across the Atlantic.  Brand New is an ever changing band and that is apparent by the huge change their sound had between their debut 2001 album “Your Favorite Weapon” and their 2003 follow up album “Deja Entendu” (Already Heard).  The sound transitioned from basic pop punk to a more emotional and experimental sound not only with the instruments but also with lead singer Jesse Lacey’s lyrics.  One of my favorite songs off of “Deja Entendu” is “The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot”.

If it makes you less sad, I will die by your hand, I hope you find out what you want, I already know what I am, And if it makes you less sad, We’ll start talking again, And you can tell me how vile, I already know that I am, I’ll grow old, And start acting my age
I’ll be a brand new day, In a life that you hate, A crown of gold, A heart that’s harder than stone, And it hurts a whole lot, But it’s missed when it’s gone, Call me a safe bet
I’m betting I’m not, I’m glad you that can forgive, Only hoping as time goes, You can forget, If it makes you less sad, I’ll move out of the state, You can keep to yourself
I’ll keep out of your way, And if it makes you less sad, I’ll take your pictures all down
Every picture you paint, I will paint myself out, It’s as cold as a tomb, And it’s dark in your room, When I sneak to your bed, To pour salt in your wounds, So call it quits, Or get a grip, Say you wanted a solution, You just wanted to be missed, Call me a safe bet
I’m betting I’m not, I’m glad that you can forgive, I’m only hoping as time goes, You can forget, So you can forget, You can forget, You are calm and reposed, Let your beauty unfold, Pale white like the skin, Stretched over your bones, Spring keeps you ever close, You are second hand smoke, You are so fragile and thin, Standing trial for your sins, Holding onto yourself the best you can, You are the smell before the rain, You are the blood in my veins, Call me a safe bet, I’m betting I’m not, I’m glad that you can forgive, I’m only hoping as time goes, You can forget