I know that I not alone in this. Sometimes I will be simply trucking along in this rutted furrow that I am ploughing for myself when a song from long ago will pop into my head uninvited. It may stay for a few days, resurfacing every so often. And there's not a damned thing I can do about it. It's just there like somebody else's choice on a juke box.
Currently, I keep hearing a song by The Who. It was written in 1967 by the band's lead guitarist and main songwriter - Pete Townshend. I was never a great fan of The Who but I did see them twice in their heyday - including their headlining gig at Hull City Hall in February 1970. I loved them that night.
They were a tight four piece band - Townshend, Keith Moon on drums, John Entwistle on bass and singer - Roger Daltrey - who by the way is now eighty four years old. Yep - they could really rock and recorded many distinct and characterful songs like "Who Are You?", "Pinball Wizard", "Substitute" and the iconic "My Generation".
But the song that has been buzzing in my head like a bluebottle in a glass jar is "Pictures of Lily". It is an odd kind of song. The Lily in question may be Lillie Langtrey - the once famous British actress and socialite and the song may or may not have had something to do with teenage masturbation for that is one oft-repeated theory about it. Of course masturbation was never something that interested me... honest!
I used to feel so bad
I got so sick of having sleepless nights
I went and told my dad
He said, "Son, now here's some little somethings"
And stuck them on my wall
And now my nights ain't quite so lonely
In fact, I, I don't feel bad at all
I don't feel bad at all
Pictures of Lily made my life so wonderful
Pictures of Lily helped me sleep at night
Pictures of Lily solved my childhood problems
Pictures of Lily helped me feel alright
Pictures of Lily
Lily, oh, Lily
Lily, oh, Lily
Pictures of Lily
And then one day, things weren't quite so fine
I fell in love with Lily
I asked my dad where Lily I could find
He said, "Son, now don't be silly
She's been dead since 1929"
Oh, how I cried that night
If only I'd been born in Lily's time
It would have been alright
Pictures of Lily made my life so wonderful
Pictures of Lily helped me sleep at night
For me and Lily are together in my dreams
And I ask you, "Hey, mister, have you ever seen
Pictures of Lily?"
I always have a song in my head. I can think of a lot better Who songs for an earworm. Anything from Tommy would suit me.
ReplyDeleteSo are you saying that your earworms are better than mine Kelly? I never got to choose.
DeleteI had an earworm for several days and this morning it is so far gone I don't even remember what it was, apart from extremely annoying. I've never been a Who fan.
ReplyDeleteHave you been a How fan or perhaps a What fan?
DeleteWhere, Why and Why Not?
DeleteOh yeah, they are a great band. I have all of their albums.
DeleteYes, I think that masturbation theory is quite plausible.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that you are an expert on that subject Andrew.
DeleteAs I belong to a choir, I have earworms in my ears all the time and sometimes during the night as well
ReplyDeleteYou might be able to have them extracted at your local Boots pharmacy.
DeleteSo Im not alone with these crazy out of nowhere bits of music banging about the cranium! Phew! Both on the edge of madness I suppose.🤪 Its Dire Straits Walk of Life here at present.😱
ReplyDeleteNo you are not alone Tigger's Mum! Your shadow follows you everywhere like a faithful dog.
DeleteFunny that both you and Steve Reed have been posting about the earworm phenomenom at the same time. When I get that, it‘s usually just a short part of a song, playing in my head on an endless loop until something distracts me enough to shut it up.
ReplyDeleteThe earworms will probably disappear when OK rams that ring on your finger. Better lick it first.
DeleteThere is often a song in my head, or my heart. Often from 50 years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe Michigan State Song?
DeleteI get ear worms from time to time . They are a nuisance.
ReplyDelete"When the Red Red robin comes bob bob bobbing along..." or songs by the band - Simply Red?
DeleteI've just caught up on a week's worth of your blog posts. Phew! Your Easter little visitors had fun, and it's always good to spend time with adult family members. Spring is departing for a couple of days . . .
ReplyDeleteI am gratified that you bothered to catch up Janice. Thank you.
DeleteYeah, you and I were on the same wavelength this morning! (Although I don't think "Jump" is about masturbation...I don't think...)
ReplyDeleteI don't know this song at all but the lyrics are consistent with Lillie Langtry's death date, so it seems likely that she's the inspiration.
I understand that "jump" can be a sexual term.
DeleteI just read Steve's post on Shadows & Light and he's talking about songs popping into his head. I told him I wake up with a song in my head every day and sometimes I have no idea where it came from. This morning it was, and still is, Mein Lieber Herr from Cabaret.
ReplyDeleteIs Carlos a good singer then?
DeleteI quite like The Who and really like Townsend’s solo albums.
ReplyDeleteI never saw them but I did hear them. I lived close enough to Wembley Stadium to hear them when they played there.
When they played at Wembley Stadium you could hear them in Watford! Maybe that is why Roger Daltrey is now profoundly deaf.
DeleteFor me the earworms are cheesy 80s pop songs or 70s glam rock. Occasionally I'll get a metal classic from Motorhead or Iron Maiden. Usually I just have to settle for Rick Astley or Duran Duran.
ReplyDeleteOh you poor man! I hope you do not get "Fernando" by ABBA!
DeleteBefore there was organized music what was in early man's ear?
ReplyDeleteEarwax!
Delete