Talkin’ Music with Jack, A little Music Trivia

Just A Little Music Trivia

It’s a Tough One

By Jack Coll

This Talkin Music comes in the form of a test.  I listed some lyrics below wondering how many music fans recognize the lyrics and can name the title of the song, and the artist. A few of the lyrics are really simple and should be recognized immediately.  Some of the lyrics are a little tougher and might take you a minute, but if you sing it, you’ll get it.  And of course I don’t think everyone will get every one right but maybe a few of you just might.  I’ll give little hints along the way, most of the lyrics are from the 1960’s and 70’s, check it out, see how you do.

1.(This song title has a color in it, this British rock group hit it big during the “summer of love’ in 1967, think organ)

“She said, “There is no reason,

And the truth is plain to see,”

But I wandered through my playing cards

And would not let her be.

One of sixteen vestal virgins

Who were leaving for the coast,

And although my eyes were open

They might just as well been closed.

2.(This song was the sixth number one song for these ladies, back in the fall of 1965)

 You’ve given me a true love

And every day I thank you, love

For feeling that’s so new

So inviting so exciting

3.(One of my favorite four man groups while growing up, the actual song title is never mentioned in the song.

The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966, think Broadway)

 I can see, there ain’t no room for me

You’re only holding up your heart in sympathy

If there’s another man, then girl I understand

Go on and take his hand and don’t you worry bout’ me

I’ll be blue and I’ll be crying too

But girl you know I only want what’s best for you

What good is all my pride, if our true love has died

Go on and be his bride and don’t you worry bout’ me

4.(This hit from 1965, rose to number 4 on the Billboard Charts, but this four man folk band is far from rock & roll. This song was featured in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction but won a Grammy Award back in 1966)

 I keep hearin you’re concerned about my happiness

But all that thought you’re givin’ me is conscience I guess

If I were walkin’ in your shoes I wouldn’t worry none

While you and your friends’re worrin’ bout me I’m havin’ lots of fun.

5.(This artist had a lot of personality back in the day when he had a number 2 hit with “Personality” followed by a number 3 hit “I’m Gonna Get Married.” But the lyrics listed below come from a number one hit from 1959, a song we have all sung along with thousands of times. C’mon, you know it!

(The ????? is the title of the song)

I was standing on the corner

When I heard my bulldog bark

He was barkin’ at the two men

Who were gamblin’ in the dark

It was ????? and Billy

Two men who gambled late

????? threw seven

Billy swore that he threw eight

6. (In 1982 this three man group had a bit of a resurgence and this song peaked at #9 on the Billboard Charts.)

 Look around me, I can see my life before me

Running rings around the way it used to be

I am older now, I have more than what I wanted

But I wish that I had started long before I did

And there’s so much time to make up

Everywhere you turn

Time we have wasted on the way

So much water moving underneath the bridge

Let the water come and carry us away.

7.(This was the first of four number one records recorded by this guy, sometimes with a group and sometimes solo, married to actress Alana Hamilton and later married supermodel Rachel Hunter, hit the Top Ten 16 times during his career.)

I suppose I could collect my books and go on back to school

Or steal my daddy’s cue and make a living out of playing pool

Or find myself a rock and roll band, that needs a helping hand.

8.(On August 7, 2005, this song was used to wake up the Astronauts of Space Shuttle Discovery on the final day of STS-114 in reference to Commander Eileen Collins)

 These people round here

Wear beaten down eyes skunk

I smoke dried faces

They’re so resigned to what their fate is

But not us, (No not ever)

But not us (not ever)

We are far too young and clever

Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

And you’ll hum this tune forever.

9.(This is one of many songs where the title is never mentioned in the song, kinda like “My Back Pages,” by Bob Dylan, the title is never mentioned. (We’ll have  a few of them just to throw you off)  This song has been mentioned in many films, notably “Easy Rider.”)

 Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog,

He said “I’ll fix your rack, if you take Jack, my dog,”

I said, “Wait a minute Chester, you know I’m a peaceful man,”

He said, “That’s okay, boy, won’t you feed him when you can.”

10.(It was written country, but became rock and roll, and in 1969, it shot to number one on the Billboard Hot 100)

 From the coal mines of Kentucky to the California sun

Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

Standin’ right beside me through everythin’ I done

And every night she kept me from the cold

Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away

She was lookin’ for the home I hope she’ll find

Well I’d trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

Holdin’ Bobby’s body close to mine.

11.(This song is another one where the title is not mentioned in the song, although most people refer to it from one of the lines in the song. It’s a song written about Woodstock, the absolute desolation of teenagers at Woodstock where everyone was smacked out on acid and 20 people had brain damage.  The contradiction was that it became a celebration, “Teenage Wasteland, Yes! We’re all wasted!”)

 Out here in the fields

I fight for my meals

I get my back into my living.

I don’t need to fight

To prove I’m right

I don’t need to be forgiven

Don’t Cry

Don’t raise your eye

It’s only teenage wasteland.

12.(Here’s yet another song where the title doesn’t appear in the song, but what a great story. The title stems from a street name where the group lived in the Virgin Islands and the song went to number 5, in the spring of 1967, and lasted on the charts for a total of seven weeks.)

 John and Mitchie were getting’ kind of itchy

Just to leave the folk music behind;

Zal and Denny workin’ for a penny

Tryin’ to get a fish on the line.

In a coffee house Sebastian sat,

 And after every number they’d pass the hat.

McGuinn and McGuire just a-getting’ higher in L.A.,

You know where that’s at.

13.(This is a gem from 1957 and has appeared in a number of popular movies including “American Graffiti.” Not that it will help you but it was written by Maurice Williams of Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs who had a monster hit with “Stay.”  Let’s see if we can make this one easy, remember song title and artist!

 My Darlin’, I need you

To call my own, and never do wrong

To hold in mine, your little hand

I’ll know too soon that all is so grand

Please, hold my hand

14.(This hit was written by one of the great husband and wife song writing teams from the Brill Building days up in New York City during the tin-pan alley days of the early 1960’s. It’s just one of those pleasant sing-along songs.)

 Your local rock group down the street

Is trying hard to learn this song

To serenade the weekend squire

Just came out to mow his lawn

Answers to be posted tomorrow…. 10/30/2014