As we fill up the Final Four, we have 2 more spaces and 2 more brackets remaining.
Winfield Scott Bracket.
“The Good Life” performed by Nancy Wilson. A hit for Tony Bennett, we prefer her performance. Here are the lyrics. This is what the grownups were listening to in 1964 when the Beatles were entertaining the kids.
Oh the good life, full of fun seems to be the ideal.
Yes, the good life lets you hide all the sadness you feel.
You won’t really fall in love—for you can’t take the chance.
So be honest with yourself, don’t try to fake romance.
It’s the good life to be free and explore the unknown—
Like the heartaches when you learn you must face them alone.
Please remember I still want you—and in case you wonder why
Well, just wake up, kiss the good life goodbye.
“Too Late To Turn Back Now” is a whole different barrel of apples. Composed by Eddie Cornileus and performed by the family group, The Cornileus Brothers and Sister Rose, the song was released in 1972 at the height of the Soul era. Unlike the 8 line poem of “The Good Life,” we get a stream of words.
My mama done told me, she said, “Son, please beware
There’s a thing called love, and it’s ah everywhere”
And she told me: “it can break your heart
And put you in misery.”
Since I met this little woman I feel it’s happened to me
And I’m tellin’ you
It’s too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I’m falling in love
It’s too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I’m falling in love
I find myself phoning her at least ten times a day
You know, It’s so unusual for me to carry on this way
I tell you, I can’t sleep at night, a wanting to hold her tight
I tried so hard t’ convince myself that this feelin’ just can’t be right
And I’m tellin’ you
It’s too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I’m falling in love
It’s too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I’m falling in love
It’s too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I’m falling in love
It’s too late (baby) to turn back now (I tell ya)
I believe, I believe, I believe I’m falling in love
I wouldn’t mind it if I knew she really loved me too
But I’d hate to think that I’m in love alone
And nothing that I can do,
It’s too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I’m falling in love
It’s too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I’m falling in love
It’s too late to turn back now
I believe, I believe, I believe I’m falling in love
It’s too late to turn back now (I tell ya)
I believe, I believe, I believe I’m falling in love
(song fades)
And that is Eddie’s song. We can probably find an 8 line poem in here if we look for it. This sounds like something the German Romantic poet Heinrich Heine may have written:
My mother told me, she said, “Son, please beware
There’s a thing called love, and it’s just everywhere.”
And she told me, “it can fill you with misery!”
Since I met this woman I feel it’s happened to me.
I wouldn’t mind it, if I knew she loved me too
But I hate to think that I’m in love alone
And there’s nothing I can do.
I believe! I believe! I believe! I’m falling in love.
If these were the words, a singer of Nancy Wilson’s skill would have to sing the song slowly, with a skillful arrangement, to make them come to life.
But it would lose something, too.
The performance, as we hear it performed by the Cornileus Broathers, a swaying, slightly up-tempo number, uses the anapestic rhythm (one-two-THREE), a quicker version of the iambic (one-TWO) to plunge forward quickly in the spirit of the song’s theme (it’s too late to turn back now). The rhythm can be seen here: it’s too LATE/ to-turn-back NOW/ i be-LIEVE/ i be-LIEVE/ i be-LIEVE/ I’m FAL-/ ling in LOVE.
“The Good Life” has one crucial advantage. It has an ending. You stand there thinking after you hear it. “Too Late To Turn Back Now” fades out as you wait for the next dance number.
Nancy Wilson wins—to polite applause.
“You Set The Scene” is the final track on Love’s 1967 record, “Forever Changes,” an album which was competing with “The Doors” for promotional funds at Elektra records. The Doors broke through. Love did not, but fans of “Forever Changes” over the years have made it an underground cult favorite. There is something odd and uncannily good about “Forever Changes.” Arthur Lee’s words to “You Set The Scene:”
Where are you walking, I’ve seen you walking
Have you been there before?
Walk down your doorsteps, you’ll take some more steps
What did you take them for?
There’s a private in my boat and he wears
Pins instead of medals on his coat
There’s a chicken in my nest and she won’t
Lay until I’ve given her my best
At her request she asks for nothing
You get nothing in return
If you want she brings you water
If you don’t then you will burn
You go through changes, it may seem strange
Is this what you’re put here for?
You think you’re happy and you are happy
That’s what you’re happy for
There’s a man who can’t decide if he should
Fight for what his father thinks is right
There are people wearing frowns who’ll screw you up
But they would rather screw you down
At my request I ask for nothing
You get nothing in return.
If you’re nice she’ll bring me water
If you’re not then I will burn
This is the time and life that I am living
And I’ll face each day with a smile
For the time that I’ve been given’s such a little while
And the things that I must do consist of more than style
There are places that I am going
This is the only thing that I am sure of
And that’s all that lives is gonna die
And there’ll always be some people here to wonder why
And for every happy hello, there will be goodbye
There’ll be time for you to put yourself on
Everything I’ve seen needs rearranging
And for anyone who thinks it’s strange
Then you should be the first to want to make this change
And for everyone who thinks that life is just a game
Do you like the part you’re playing
I see your picture
It’s in the same old frame
We meet again
You look so lovely
You with the same old smile
Stay for a while
I need you so, oh, oh, oh, oh
And if you take it easy
I’m still teethin’
I want to love you, but
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
This is the time and life that I am living
And I’ll face each day with a smile
For the time that I’ve been given’s such a little while
And the things that I must do consist of more than style
There’ll be time for you to start all over
This is the time and this is the time and
It is time, time, time, time, time, time, time, time, time, time
Thank you, Arthur. Quite a song. From the same time and place as the Doors and it’s super hip. What can we say? It’s precise and yet not.
This nugget could be the deepest thing ever said:
“You think you’re happy and you are happy
That’s what you’re happy for”
“Invisible Man” by the Breeders—lyrics by Kim Deal—can they reach the Elite Eight?
He’s the invisible man
Count the bubbles in your hand
The summer sites
And the southern skies
That’s all that’s left behind
The skies, and a sweet caress
He’s the invisible man
Catch him if you can
You’re no where in site (just imagine that)
Nothing excites you (baby that’s a fact)
Open your eyes
Look and you will find
That’s all that’s left behind… the skies
And a sweet caress
The skies, the sights
And a sweet caress
He’s the invisible man
Catch him if you can
That’s all that’s left behind… the skies
And a sweet caress
The skies, the sights
And a sweet caress
He’s the invisible man
Catch him if you can
The song has a hook which leaps and glides—one of the best in all of music. The song, however, is a little muddy, production-wise.
Love defeats the Breeders!
Who is going to the Final Four? Love or Nancy Wilson?
The perfection of “The Good Life” edges out the genius of “You Set The Scene.”
Congratulations Nancy Wilson. A French song with American lyrics has made it to the Final Four!
#marchmadnesssongs