"God Give Me Strength"- Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach

Since I'm in a melancholy mood tonight I decided to put this on the show.

Although it's a love it/hate it kind of song, particularly from fans of both Costello and Bacharach because of the seemingly bad pairing, I really think this song (and album they made shortly afterwords)brings out the best in both.

Costello clearly loves putting his lyrics and singing over Bacharach's beautiful but out-of-kilter time signature, and I think
despite his vocal range not really being right for the song, his passionate sing more than makes up for it. And this is one of Bacharach's most memorable melodies, at least in the past 30 years.

Perfect for a cold, rainy, melancholy night..



Now I have nothing, so God give me strength
'Cause I'm weak in her wake
And if I'm strong I might still break
And I don't have anything to share
That I won't throw away into the air

That song is sung out
This bell is rung out
She was the light that I'd bless
She took my last chance at happiness
So God give me strength, God give me strength

I can't hold onto her, God give me strength
When the phone doesn't ring
And I'm lost in imagining
Everything that kind of love is worth
As I tumble back down to the earth

That song is sung out
This bell is rung out
She was the light that I'd bless
She took my last chance at happiness
So God give me strength,

God if she'd grant me her indulgence and decline
I might as well wipe her from my memory
Fracture the spell as she becomes my enemy
Maybe I was washed out like a lip-print on his shirt
See, I'm only human, I want him to hurt
I want her
I want her to hurt


Since I lost the power to pretend
That there could ever be a happy ending

That song is sung out
This bell is rung out
She was the light that I'd bless
She took my last chance at happiness
So God give me strength, God give me strength.....

"Anthem"
by Leonard Cohen

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government --
signs for all to see.

I can't run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.

Ring the bells that still can ring ...

You can add up the parts
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.

I've got this; let me find it and put this on, too..

It's one of my favorites. It's a weird pairing, true, but it works--and Bacharach's music is just timeless.

Great choice--I need to get that out and listen to it again.

In person he is unbelievable. Really. And I love his funky voice, particularly in this song. He is one of our most brilliant prolific song-writers. I'm gushing. My son named his dog after him (I took him to see Elvis on his 13th birthday), and is quick to correct anyone who thinks it's Presley.