Hippie Sounds

Zappa’s Love Song Theory

by Jennifer on July 15th, 2007

“The amount of damage that’s been done by love songs is incalculable”

~ Frank Zappa

Zappa’s not wrong. The Summer of Love anniversary got me thinking — and I realized that I don’t often break 60s and 70s music into “love” songs per say. I tend to think about music as “happy” vs. “sad” vs. “angry”– although that might be considered one and the same with love. Still, why not break it down. It’s not as if this era lacked great love songs.

First a love definition. (I found this on a strange little site.)

“beginning. a locking of minds. exploration. trial. error. success. disappointment. regeneration. tentativeness.
experience. conversation. sweaty hands. smiles. understanding. transfer of knowledge. inspiration. creating memories.
lying on the floor listening to music together. questioning. trust. respect. education. desire. disconnection. emotion.
exhilaration. activity. initiation. fun. the base of my existence. ending up. listening. reliving memories. talking.
love songs. dreaming. reaching. everything. waiting. grasping. making history. missing. frustration. trying again.
hoping. needing. tears. intensity. friction. letting go.

perfection.”

That’s not a bad definition. Add music into the equation and you’re good to go. When you first meet someone the music swirling around your new relationship can really make a difference — maybe you even fall in love because of the right music and the right person at the right time. There’s the downside that with a bitter break-up you might end up cursing the day you ever heard that tune. But, later… WAY later you might hear that song on the radio and smile. Or hit a wall. Music pulls out the best and worst of our emotions.

Here’s some from this era that have tugged mine.

Happy love songs

In My Life by the Beatles: This one of those songs that actually does remind me of someone I used to know. But in a nice way.

Please Come to Boston by Dave Loggins: Every time I hear this song I think I should be running off to Montana with someone.

Sara by Bob Dylan: My second favorite Desire tune; it sort of makes you wish your name was Sara.

Heroin by Velvet Underground: Odd choice I know, I promise I don’t love heroin and I’m leaving it at that.

If I Were A Carpenter by Bobby Darin: Corny, and Darin didn’t even write it. But I still stand behind it as a great love song of the era.

Love songs to break up with

Operator by Jim Croce; this has to be one of the all time great anti-love / still sort of in love with the girl love songs. Great line; “She’s living in L.A., with my best old ex-friend Ray” classic.

Dirty Work by Steely Dan: This song, from, in my opinion one of the best Steely Dan albums ever, Can’t Buy A Thrill is the sad song bomb. It’s one of those songs I absolutely never get tired of hearing. But you have to listen to it on album, without the crackles it’s just not the same.

Along the lines of songs I could listen to all day…

You Don’t Have to Cry by CS&N: I almost stuck this in the “huh” category. It has elements of both a happy and sad love song. I think it’s hard to put in this category because sad or not it always makes me happy to hear.

I’m Hurting Inside and Dewdrop by the king (not that king, my king) Bob Marley. What can’t you say about these songs?

Maggie May by Rod Stewart; “Maggie I wished I’d never seen your face.” Come on like Stewart or hate him you know this song makes the list.

Conversations and The Arrangement by Joni Mitchell: I’m holding back here, she’s got a million great forlorn love songs. Most people I know would say Case of You or maybe Blue, but I like these two.

Stars by Dan Fogelberg: First an apology to my sis if she’s reading this (we have deep-rooted Fogelberg issues). But for gods sake the man’s a walking love song and this one represents.

Huh?

Long Distance Winner by Buckingham & Nicks: I love this song, but does the girl ever catch him, is this a love-hate relationship. Confusing.

Road by Nick Drake: Makes my belly feel butterflyish (all four lines of it) but is it a tried and true love song? No clue.

Angie by the Stones: I LOVE this song, but can’t figure out if I should walk away thinking everything will turn out well or not?

Rubin & Cherise by The Dead: Does Cherise settle or do we believe Rubin and his pledge of love???

Man, I know I left so many good ones out.

Your favorites? Discuss…

Share This

Related Stories

Slackers Are Bad News
Bring out your dead! Resurrecting the Lyric Game
Lyric game: You know me so well…
Name that song! Lyric game
Take these broken wings

POSTED IN: 60s Music, 70s Music, Love