Poetry& Lyrics of Rock's blog

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now _ The Smiths

I seem to remember reading that Morrissey wrote this from overheard converstion while waiting in the Supermarket que. The title is taken from Sandie Shaw's former hit Heaven Knows I'm Missing Him Now. Again a bit Zen like in that starts with a positive and ends with the opposite -two sides of the same coin.

HEAVEN KNOWS I'M MISERABLE NOW - The Smiths

The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now - Video

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now

I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now

In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die ?

Two lovers entwined pass me by
And heaven knows I'm miserable now

I was looking for a job, and then I found a job 

Sandie Shaw & The Smiths - Hand in Glove

And heaven knows I'm miserable now

In my life
Oh, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die ?

What she asked of me at the end of the day
Caligula would have blushed

"You've been in the house too long" she said
And I (naturally) fled

In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye ?

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now

"You've been in the house too long" she said
And I (naturally) fled

In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die ?

NIGHTPORTER BY JAPAN...

NIGHTPORTER BY JAPAN

David Sylvian

Could I ever explain this feeling of love?
It just lingers on
The fear in my heart that keeps telling me
Which way to turn

We'll wander again
Our clothes they are wet
We shy from the rain
Longing to touch all the places we know we can hide
The width of a room that can hold so much pleasure inside

Here am I alone again
A quiet town where life gives in

Japan - Nightporter

Here am I just wondering
Nightporters go
Nightporters slip away

I'll watch for a sign
And if I should ever again cross your mind
I'll sit my room and wait until nightlife begins
And catching my breath, we'll both brave the weather again

Here am I alone again
The quiet town where life gives in
Here am I just wondering
Nightporters go
Nightporters slip away

Love this both for the music and the lyric - it creates such a simple but effective mood with the piano - gentle synths and Sylvian's voice. It could be in the tradition of Heartbreak Hotel with it's loneliness and images of Nightporters and that line "A quiet town where life gives in" - brilliant.

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Ramona - Bob Dylan

This is still one of my favourite lyrics - some much wisdom in the lyric - so zen like. So many excellent lines - "There's no one to beat you, no one to defeat you, cept the thoughts of yourself feeling bad" Even Dylan doesn't come up with lyrics like this anymore. No need for comment or interpretation - just read the lyric and let it permeate. If there could only be half a dozen songs in the world, that would have to be one. It's totally brilliant! I'd swop the poetry of the world for  that lyric!

"To Ramona" Bob Dylan - To Ramona III -1965 Chronicles: Volume One Bob Dylan Ramona, come closer Shut softly your watery eyes The pangs of your sadness Will pass as your senses will rise The flowers of the city Though breathlike, get deathlike at times And there's no use in tryin' To deal with the dyin' Though I cannot explain that in lines. Your cracked country lips I still wish to kiss As to be by the strength of you skin Your magnetic movements Still capture the minutes I'm in But it grieves my heart, love To see you tryin' to be a part of A world that just don't exist It's all just a dream, babe The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia Michael Gray A vacuum, a scheme, babe That sucks you into feelin' like this. I can see that your head Has been twisted and fed With worthless foam from the mouth I can tell you are torn Between stayin' and returnin' Back to the South You've been fooled into thinking That the finishin' end is at hand Yet there's no one to beat you No one to defeat you 'Cept the thoughts of yourself feeling bad I've heard you say many times That you're better 'n no one And no one is better 'n you If you really believe that You know you have Nothing to win and nothing to lose From fixtures and forces and friends Hand Me My Travelin' Shoes - In Search of Blind Willie McTell Michael Gray Your sorrow does stem That hype you and type you Making you feel That you gotta be just like them. I'd forever talk to you But soon my words They would turn into a meaningless ring For deep in my heart I know there is no help I can bring Everything passes Everything changes Just do what you think you should do And someday, maybe Who knows, baby I'll come and be cryin' to you. Bob Dylan - To Ramona - 2000 Dublin Song and Dance Man III: The Art of Bob Dylan Michael Gray