SONGS ABOUT MARRIAGE: An anonyreader[Oh wow. If I got started on Elvis Costello--or on country music in general--I don't think I'd stop. Am big fan of both EC and GJ. --Eve]
Um, I'm not sending the entire lyric as could probably be found on a website because I have this concern (possible scruple) about copyright, but Elvis Costello covered "
Good Year for the Roses" which was apparently previously recorded by George Jones. This is just from my memory: "After three, four years of marriage, it's the first time that you haven't made the bed. I guess the reason we're not talking, there's not much we've left to say we haven't said (?) While a million thoughts go raging/ringing? through my mind I found I haven't said a word, from the bedroom a familiar sound -- our baby's crying goes unheard." The funny thing to me is that the earlier lyrics don't sound like they're from a song about marriage: "I can hardly bear the sight of lipstick on the cigarettes there in your ashtray, lying cold the way you left them, but at least your lips caressed them as they died," and the same about an unfinished cup of coffee: "but at least you thought you wanted it, that's so much more than I can say for me." Perhaps I've missed something but the song as a whole seems to be about one couple at one point in time, and I guess that reflects an ambiguous view of marriage -- the first lyrics I quoted which are definitely
about marriage could sound more like the usual "yeah, people get bored of each other, marriage is a drag" business. But it sounds like there's still longing along with the lack of communication, not mere "loveless" boredom...
posted by Eve at
5:50 PM | link
Post a Comment
<< Home