Persian Teardrop Lyrics

I had someone post a comment on my Persian Teardrop post looking for the lyrics to the song. What could potentially make it tricky for someone to find those lyrics is that it's actually a mash-up of two songs (something that it took me a while to figure out and even longer to accept), and one of the songs is in Persian. But here are the lyrics to "Teardrop" by Massive Attack (with Elizabeth Fraser) and "Persian Love Song" by Dead Can Dance, along with the English translation of the latter.

Massive Attack's "Teardrop":

Love, love is a verb
Love is a doing word
Fearless on my breath
Gentle impulsions
Shakes me makes me lighter
Fearless on my breath

Teardrop on the fire
Fearless on my breath

Nine, night of matter
Black flowers blossom
Fearless on my breath
Black flowers blossom
Fearless on my breath

Teardrop on the fire
Fearless on my...

Water is my eye
Most faithful mirror
Fearless on my breath
Teardrop on the fire of a confession
Fearless on my breath
Most faithful mirror
Fearless on my breath

Teardrop on the fire
Fearless on my breath

You're stumbling in the dark
You're stumbling in the dark

Dead Can Dance's "Persian Love Song":

Migan asbet rafighe rooze jange
Mo migooyom azoo behtar tofange
Svaare bi tofang ghodrat nadaare
Svaar vaghti tofang daare svaare

Tofange daste noghream raa forookhtam
Baraaye del ghabaaye terme dookhtam
Ferestaadom baraayom pas ferestaad
Tofange daste noghream daad-o-bidaad

English translation of "Persian Love Song":

They say your charger is your pal on the day of battle
I say even better is the gun
A cavalryman without a gun is without vigour
A cavalryman is one when he has got a gun

I sold my silver-stock gun
Sewed a Termeh* frock for my love
She returned it to me when I sent her the frock
Oh alas my silver-stock gun...
The very last phrase "daad-o-bidaad" is impossible to translate, it expresses deep regret for something lost

*Termeh is a Persian textile

"All I Ever Wanted" Lyrics

I've had some people searching for the lyrics to the new Canadian Idol single. Since the folks at CTV haven't bothered to post them on the website, I decided to transcribe them from Brian's video. They may not be 100% accurate, but I think I'm pretty close:

All I Ever Wanted

Slow down, make it last
I'm having the time of my life
Take a photograph
I don't want to leave this behind

What seemed so out of reach
We're holding here right in our hands
Let's give up everything
Let's jump in and never look back
Let's jump in and never look back

This is all I ever wanted
But life got in my way
You're all I ever wanted
I didn't see how it could change
That something was missing until today

Read the rest of the lyrics...

The city comes alive
As soon as you walk through the door
Another sleepless night
But I don't want to sleep anymore
I don't want to sleep anymore

This is all I ever wanted
But life got in my way
You're all I ever wanted
I didn't see how it could change
That something was missing until today

Climbing so high
Just don't look down
We can see everything from here
For once in my life
Feet off the ground
Don't want to come back down

Take a photograph
I'm having the time of my life

This is all I ever wanted
But life got in my way
You're all I ever wanted
I didn't see how it could change

This is all I ever wanted
Nothing could get in the way
You're all I ever wanted
I didn't know what I was missing until today.

Canadian Idol Top 22: Results, week 1

For those of you who missed tonight's results show...

The bottom four boyz: Derek, Clifton, Justyn and Andrew
The bottom four grrls: Mila, Naomi, Maud and Christine

I'm not particularly surprised about the men, even though I wanted to see more of Derek to see if he would have improved because I saw potential there. But based on his actual performance, yeah... that list seems about right.

The women, however, were a shock. Well, one of them at least. Mila?! Really? Why? I don't understand what happened when there were several girls who were obviously weak and she wasn't. But moving right along...

Read more...

Before I get to the final results, I want to quickly mention a couple new songs that I discovered. New to me, I mean.

The first was sung by Montana Martin Iles: "The Bird and the Worm" by The Used (on "Lies for the Liars"). I added that one to My Music Box last night (check out the sidebar). I definitely want to hear more by this band and might end up doing a full post about The Used once I've discovered them more fully. And here's a link for the lyrics.

The second was sung by Carly Rae Jepsen: "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae (on "Corinne Bailey Rae"). I've now uploaded that song to My Music Box, too, for your listening pleasure. And here's a link for those lyrics.

And now for the final results...

The two boyz that went home: Derek Hoffman & Justyn Wesley
The two grrls that went home: Maud Coussa-Jandl & Christine Hanlon

My favourites have lived to sing another day!

The Perils of Online Song Lyrics

This news video makes some interesting points about song lyrics sites in general and Yahoo Music specifically. Unlike many song lyrics sites, there is no danger of spyware with Yahoo Music; unfortunately Yahoo Music doesn't let you copy the lyrics. Watch the video for an intelligent discussion about the issues involved:

80s Lyrics Quiz

I found this thanks to Bebo's Retro Site: A lyrics quiz with lines from 222 1980s pop songs. The challenge: Name the song and artist/group. I decided to post the first 20 lines that I actually knew (minus the answers of course). To take the full quiz, head over to In The 80s.

1. Suckin on chili dogs outside the Tastee-Freez
2. Can you hear them? They talk about us, telling lies, well that's no surprise
3. Don't go around breaking young girls' hearts
4. You take me by the heart when you take me by the hand
5. Are you happy, are you satisfied, how long can you stand the heat
6. Knew he must've been about seventeen
7. I am the maker of rules, dealing with fools
8. Step on a crack, break your momma's back
9. Everyone you meet, they're jamming in the streets
10. Every time I see you falling, I get down on my knees and pray
11. I said to my reflection 'Let's get out of this place'
12. Didn't know how lost I was until I found you
13. I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
14. Write it on a pound note, pound note
15. We are strong, no one can tell us we're wrong
16. Out on the road today, I saw a deadhead sticker on a Cadillac
17. I know her love is true but it's so damn easy makin' love to you
18. Oh mother dear we're not the fortunate ones
19. No April rain, no flowers' bloom, no wedding Saturday within the month of June
20. There's a skeleton chokin' on a crust of bread

I'll come back in a few days and post the answers in the comments for anyone who's curious.

Melissa McClelland

My cousin recently went to see Jesse Cookin concert and apparently the opening act was Melissa McClelland. I first saw Melissa at the Ironwood in Calgary, a wonderfully intimate venue, and she enchanted me. Her powerful voice in that cute little package, the contradiction of her sweet melodies and her edgy lyrics... I bought Stranded in Suburbia right then and there. I haven't heard Thumbelina's One Night Stand, her new CD, yet but I just discovered that you can listen to the songs over on her website so I'm looking forward to the chance to check out the new material. In the meantime, I've uploaded "Good as Gold" to My Music Box and I'm going to move my old Melissa McClelland post over to this blog...

Originally posted 11.02.2004 on Limes with Orange

I've been getting a whole bunch of hits on my blog from people looking for lyrics to Melissa McClelland songs. I checked her website and found out that "Pretty Blue" has just hit the airwaves, so I'm thinking that may have something to do with it. Or the fact that she's been nominated for Female Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Video of the Year (for "Jaded") by the Hamilton Music Awards. And since her website doesn't provide lyrics and her CD, Stranded in Suburbia, is apparently too new to be included on most lyrics sites, I figured I would include lyrics to a few of her songs here. (You can listen to all of the songs in their entirety on the jukebox at the Orange Record Label site.)

Good As Gold (listen to sample)
[my favourite song on the CD and the inspiration to the working title of my novel: "Howling At The Moon"]

Who keeps track of things like that
Well, I do
You better keep me happy
Or I'll be howling at the moon

Read more...

It's all fun and games
Till I'm feeling blue
I discovered a continent in you
But now I've settled

So I'm hitting every party
Gonna find myself some fun
We'll take uppers in the morning
Light our cigarettes off the sun
When night falls we'll go cruising
And drink until we're numb
And I'll make you
Make you want me
Want me until I'm done

Here's your last attempt
At keeping me at bay
You're gonna chain me
To every word I say

Oh, my resolve is weak
I always crack
And I've been reading too much Nin
And you Kerouak

When you wake me in the morning
I'll be motionless and cold
You will bring to me some water
Yeah, you'll do what you're told
When I see you looking somber
I'll say babe you're as good as gold
But I can't see you again tonight
I've got a reputation to uphold

Then he whispered in my ear
'You're a sly bitch, you are'
So I drank away my headache
And I stumbled out of his car
Through the fogged up glass of the window
He made a clearing with his hand
And with his eyes he told me
'One day you'll understand'
~

Little Birds (listen to sample)
[my next favourite song on the CD]

Morning came with such a jolt
That I forgot my soul at home
This pick-me-up, stale coffee cup
Is filling up my insides though
And here I sit on subway stains
With blue pin stripe corporate charades
Outside I'm sure it's magical
But today I've got to get paid

Little birds over the south pacific sea
Falling from the sky in perfect symmetry
Well, there goes
each and every one of my dreams
Shattered images of who I'll never be

What is summer without sunshine
Who likes dancing in a straight line
When all these colours fade into mine
Tell me, am I black and blue?

It's comforting to know the day begins
(and it will surely end)
Tucked between these filthy sheets
Where nightmares start
Where sweet dreams end
Caught in a kaleidoscope
Of timely orchestrated screams
Filling space with barren thought
Motionless antipathy

Little birds over the south pacific sea
Falling from the sky in perfect symmetry
Well, there goes
each and every one of my dreams
Shattered images of who I'll never be

It's like fucking without kissing
Or never knowing what you're missing
And you're finally confessing
That you'll never stand a chance

Little birds over the south pacific sea
Falling from the sky in perfect symmetry
Well, there goes
each and every one of my dreams
Shattered images of who I'll never be

Seeing Venice through a TV
Or thinking beautiful means pretty
When all these colors blend completely
Tell me can you even see me?
~

Encinitas Rainstorm (listen to sample)
[and my next favourite]

Oh, you make my spring
And winter's such a mean old thing
When it's cold
And I freeze
While the birds and the bees
Chase the golden sun in the breeze

But now the birds are flying home
They've got stories from down in Mexico
Oh, I envy their wings
Cause I've flown in my dreams
And I've seen such beautiful things
From up above
But I have to admit without your love
I'd rather be where the sun don't shine
And it rains for days at a time

Cause he's my Encinitas Rainstorm
Ooh and he gets so fresh
When he sees me staring out my window
Longing to be undressed
And soaking wet
My hair's a mess
I'm out of breath

Thunder clapping
Raindrops splashing down
Oh, I'm so curious
And I'm so full of lust
And we're washin' away all this dust
We've collected
Cause honey I'm resurrected
And you wouldn't believe how it's flooded away
All of the grey

I'm falling... I'm astounded...
I'm dreamin'...
I'm drownin'
In all of your love
~

Jaded (listen to sample)
[I believe this was the first big hit but the second single off the CD, "White Lies (Stranded in Suburbia)" being the first single... if anyone is looking for the lyrics to that one, let me know]

These things I say
Come spinning out of my mouth
Like they've lost their way
And there's no doubt about it
You heard me.
I shouted.
I think you'd preferred it
That whenever you come clean
I say nothing at all.

So what
You'd left
Before I had a single chance to second-guess
These bittersweet diversions
And late night excursions
Secret perversions
Well, maybe I'm naive
Cause I can't believe this.

And now you fill my heart with doubt
You've turned me inside out
But I'm not jaded
And still with all this overkill
And bitterness instilled
My heart's left unfulfilled
But I'm not jaded

My life
Complete
With minor twists and turns
And just a small defeat
You know you really got me
You burned me
You shocked me
You threw me
You lost me
Well maybe I'm naive
But I'm catching on fast

And how could I have been so proud
You've turned me inside out
But I'm not jaded
And still with all this overkill
And bitterness instilled
My heart's left unfulfilled
But I'm not jaded

You came around
Your hands did all the talking
As you sat me down
For a bittersweet reminder
You heard me
I shouted
I'd never allow it
Cause maybe I'm naive
But I'm not fucking stupid
~

Pretty Blue (listen to sample)
[most recent single off the CD]

Pretty blue
On my way
Smoke a hundred cigarettes
Charm the gas station boy
Buy you a pack of Nicorette
I'm your missionary
Your guru
I'm your God
I've been saving you all along

Park the car
Rehearse my lines
Say the right things at the right times
Love you so
Miss you not
Gonna wait in the parking lot
Take a moment and gaze up
through the sunroof
And reach up through the say
To the stars
From the confines of this car
And I'm gone
Like a thief escaping in the dark
But I'm stumbling blindly
And I'm trapped in the night
Goodbye my pretty blue sky

Stole away
Almost night
Through plexiglass we fight
Count the stars
What a mess
This universe
This life
And I glide through the open window
So I can touch the sky
The stars
From the confines of this car
And I'm gone
Like a thief escaping in the dark
But I'm stumbling blindly
And I'm trapped in the night
Goodbye my pretty blue sky

The sky is falling
Scattered stars
Like pieces of my youth
These are my scars tearing
I've got to heal myself
Not you

Home sweet home
A week to go
Gonna get some sleep now
~

And a few additional Melissa links for anyone who's interested:
Soul Shine Magazine: Melissa McClelland — Do the Strand
SceneandHeard.ca: Stranded in Suburbia review
The GATE'S CD Reviews: Stranded in Suburbia
Ladybird Sideshow online — Melissa McClelland bio (Ladybird Sideshow is Melissa's side project with Erin Smith, Janine Stoll and Lisa Winn)

Ugly Side

Originally posted 1.25.2007 on Limes with Orange

I noticed that someone landed on my blog searching for the meaning of the Blue October song "Ugly Side." You can listen to sample from "Argue with a Tree", their live album — this is my favourite version — or stream the full version from "History for Sale" below.

Although on the one hand I think the general meaning is self-evident, I decided to write about it because the specific lyrics might seem a little odd to some people.

Ugly Side lyrics:

I must have sneezed
On knees I freeze
I mean I just choked up
Somehow I slept
I dream, I mean
I dreamt of nothing

Able to breathe
A sweet relief
Now that you're here with me
A northern degree
Dove into me
Now I'm recovering

[Chorus]
I only want you to see
My favorite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side

Read more...

Hook up a C.B.
Wave a way
For conversation flow
I'm shoved in your cave,
to wage this rage
Don't let me go

A kick and a scream
is all that seems
To mean a lot thus far
I won't let you on
my stage, my page
You can't know
Yet you have to know

[Chorus]

So calm... and now it's dark
I look for you to light my heart
I'm in between the moon and where you are
I know... I can't be far

The most general interpretation is simply how hard it is to share your those parts of yourself that you don't like with someone that you actually want to share your whole self with. More specifically, I believe it relates to Justin Furstenfeld's history with drugs, his recovery and his ardent desire not to have to share that part of his past and himself with someone he's starting a new relationship with.

As for specific phrases that may or not make grammatical sense… I say don't analyze that stuff too deeply. It's poetry. It elicits an emotional reaction of confusion and melancholy and fear and love. In "Writing Down the Bones", Natalie Goldberg writes:

"The aim is to burn through to first thoughts... to the place where you are writing what your mind actually sees and feels, not what it thinks it should see and feel. It's a great opportunity to capture the oddities of your mind. Explore the rugged edge of thought."

I believe these lyrics are definitely the stuff of "first thoughts." Not to say that I don't have my ideas about what Justin means in certain phrases, but I'm more concerned with what he's feeling and how he makes me feel. So my advice is not to try to deconstruct the song, just feel it.