Now I am a sucker for a good story song, but lately I have come to appreciate the stories of jilted lovers. I do choose my words carefully in saying jilted lovers. There are plenty of done-somebody-wrong songs (thanks B.J. Thomas) as well as Alanis Morissette/Carly Simon you-ticked-me-off cause-You're-So-Vain type songs.
The jilted lover song is one that tells the story of a rejected, good-hearted person who, for whatever reason (usually no fault of their own) is cast off. There is often a bittersweet quality to these songs whereas other love-gone-wrong songs are just bitter. The main character is often a sympathetic figure with an exposed humanity that we feel too.
Paul Simon is good at writing these types of songs, and when I heard the Fruit Bats sing Singing Joy to the World, I sensed the songwriting aura of Paul. Perhaps I will start a short series on songs dedicated to the jilted lover. You'll find the lyrics to Singing Joy to the World below along with the song on Youtube. The key line in the song for me is she never loved him back; it wasn't even close.
He got lonely every time the cantina lights came up on the Indian
Casino Queen
Cause he'd loved her from the time she'd been the waitress at the
Mexican place where he'd left his keys
She'd been there smiling at the lost and found
Then he took her to see Three Dog Night
They were playing at the fair grounds
Holding hands singing "Joy to the World"
She was way too young but he did not care
He was all right with cashing in
a few fine moments before his broken heart kicked in
He died a little bit each time the night came in
And the stars fell over Michigan
'Cause he'd loved her at the bar when he saw her dancing to
"I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"
Then he'd come over to his usual spot
Soon they were making out at 3AM in the empty parking lot
They lay together under the burnt out stars
She never loved him back
It wasn't even close
But he was fine to just pretend
That it was never gonna end
And it was worth it just to know
A little warmth before the snow
I've never heard—or even heard OF—the Fruit Bats. But that song was pretty great, though sad. I like the comparison to Paul Simon you drew.
ReplyDeleteI am loving this blog of yours. Wish I'd found it sooner. I've subscribed in Google reader and will now be able to catch your updates in a more timely fashion. Yay!
Wasn't Paul Simon a master at writing love songs that were gritty and steeped in real-worldness? I guess they could be depressing to some. He wrote lines like this:
ReplyDeleteI know a woman, became a wife
These are the very words she uses to describe her life:
She said a good day ain't got no rain.
She said a bad day is when I lie in the bed
And I think of things that might have been.
And bam! Hit song~!