Last year I made a reference to a new CD release by Annie Lennox which in some repects evoked similar responses in myself as did 10 New Songs. It is not on the whole a cheery album of songs but possibly the most powerful work she has produced.
For those who may be interested here are the lyrics of two songs from "Bare".
Pavement Cracks Annie Lennox
The city streets are wet again with rain
But I'm walking just the same
Skies turn to the usual grey
When you turn to face the day. Whoa oh
And love don't show up in the pavement cracks
All my watercolours fade to black
All my dreams have fallen flat.
(Love don't show in the pavement cracks there will be no turning back.)
Time and space will pass us by
When we don't see eye to eye
I would have done anything
For happiness to bring...
But it don't show up in the pavement cracks
I can't even cover up my tracks
I'm goin' nowhere and I'm light years back
Ooh I wish you well.
How come
Every day
I'm still waiting for the change?
How come
I still say
Give me strength to live.
(Love don't show in the pavement cracks there will be no turning back)
Where is my comfort zone?
A simple place to call my own
'Cause everything I wanna be
comes crashing down on me
And it don't show up in the pavement cracks
I can't even recognise my tracks
You and I can't turn the whole thing back
Ooh I wish you well.
(Love don't show in the pavement cracks uh huh
there will be no turning back uh huh).
The Hurting Time Annie Lennox
To everything there is a purpose...
To every blade of grass
And every leaf on every tree
Every living thing will surely
Come to pass
And what will be will be...
That's when the hurting time begins.
And all the things you never said
Or didn't have the strength to say
And everything you ever did
That time won't wash away
Fears that you've been living with
Have gone and left their trace
Tears that you've been living with
Come running down your face
---Running down your face
When the hurting time begins...
So tell me what the day brings
Has it lost its thrill?
Are you still searching
Hoping for that
Space to fill...
Everything you turn to
Is like a mirror on the shelf
And the only one you're blaming
Is yourself.
A million little deaths you've died
The times that you've been crucified
The more you've and lost and tried
And still could not be satisfied
When will you be satisfied?
When will you be satisfied?
Not till the hurting time begins.
Regards, Witty Owl.
Bare Annie Lennox
Hi Witty ~
I have something by Annie that someone gave me years back. I couldn't tell you what its title is, or if he even put a title on the copy he made. I think he just wrote "Annie Lennox." The first one is so dismally honest, bare truth, isn't it. I would like to hear it sung. The second one strikes me less intensely, but with the music, could strike me as much ~ even more--you know how the music can bring so many layers of meaning.
Thanks for sharing them.
~ Lizzy
I have something by Annie that someone gave me years back. I couldn't tell you what its title is, or if he even put a title on the copy he made. I think he just wrote "Annie Lennox." The first one is so dismally honest, bare truth, isn't it. I would like to hear it sung. The second one strikes me less intensely, but with the music, could strike me as much ~ even more--you know how the music can bring so many layers of meaning.
Thanks for sharing them.
~ Lizzy
Liz, yes the music does bring so much more meaning to the lyrics. The song collection is a middle age/mature woman examining her own life with ruthless honesty; which is why she titled it "Bare".
I expect that those people who find Leonard's songs depressing would find the same with this CD but like Leonard's work, it is rich with personal revelation and meaning.
Cheers, Witty Owl.
I expect that those people who find Leonard's songs depressing would find the same with this CD but like Leonard's work, it is rich with personal revelation and meaning.
Cheers, Witty Owl.