| James Taylor – Copperline Lyrics | 7 years ago |
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There is a twist in this song. We are prepared to think that the songwriter in the last stanza is visiting his run down home town. An insightful earlier entry on this thread (scooby3339) even assumes that the visit metaphor closes the song. But there is another set of lines after that. These actual closing lines show the songwriter has never left, he is still living in Morgan Creek, he never moved away. The reason he never moved away relates to the central theme. The title, copperline refers to the copper still, which is how you make moonshine. The centrality of moonshine in the song narrative is noted in an earlier post (see zaphod69 for a great description). There are more memories in this song that solely the alcohol. (See scooby3339 for a good case regarding the many charming memories). And those delightful parts carry the song and make it a fave. |
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| Todd Rundgren – I Saw The Light Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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This song captures the profound moment, being transfixed in love. The setting for the moment is dreamy, late, private and mysterious. In the first stanza, images of soulful feelings (L1, L3-L5) alternate with feelings of vague uncertainty (L2, L6). Then the magic moment happens: “you gazed up at me.” In that moment he sees the gift of love, the light, and he is transformed. The second stanza explains what happened in the moment. Even though he had love inklings (little bell), he had tried to keep his defenses up (a fling, tried to run, saying he couldn’t love). The earlier tension between soulful feelings and insecurity resolve in that profound love moment. The third stanza returns to the moment. As he sees the love in the eyes of his beloved, he simultaneously experiences his love, his light. He is transfixed, and the moment changes everything, he is devoted. Rundgren, who is a brilliant, productive, and meticulous artist downplayed this simple, elegant song, saying it was cliché filled and quickly written. He probably takes most pride in the more hard fought products of his storied career, which has explored musical forms from energetic rock to jazz fusion, created innovations in audio production engineering, and built collaborations with rockers, pop-artists, and even symphonies. I get that. But, Mr. Rundgren, don’t be too hard on this song, because a brilliant, hardworking musician can sometimes only need an inspired "moment" to create, transfix, and illuminate the light in our eyes. |
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| The Beatles – I Will Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| This beautiful love song captures so many levels of love. Using present tense in the first stanza, we hear the gift of the eternal love (1st line- who knows how long) and enduring love (2nd line still). Then, in seeming contradiction, there is a hint of unrequited love (3rd line - I wait), which resolves triumphantly in committed love (4th line - I will). Using subjunctive mood, the second stanza introduces the possibility that the beloved has already appeared unbeknownst. The third stanza again resolves the ambiguity of the second with a stirring committed, complete love. The last stanza clarifies that the love is not yet known, but confidently asks the beloved to reveal the self (sing your song loud), knowing that the person will be lovable (things you do endear me). This yearning stanza resolves with the commitment that transforms and elevates the promise of commitment from the traditional “I do” to the eternal “I will.” If you are moved by John Lennon’s beautiful words, listen too to Alison Kraus’s interpretation. | |
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