Those were the days of our lives

Words by FREDDY MERCURY/QUEEN
Music by QUEEN
From the 1991 album INNUENDO

Freddy Mercury, famously "gay as a daffodil", seems to reflect in this song, recorded in his dying days, about the possibility of living life vicariously "through your kids". Regrets about straying from his long-term relationship with Mary Austin?

Sometimes I get the feelin'
I was back in the old days - long ago
When we were kids. when we were young.
Things seemed so perfect - you know,
The days were endless, we were crazy we were young.
The sun was always shinin' - we just lived for fun,
Sometimes it seems like lately - I just don't know
The rest of my life's been just a show,

Those were the days of our lives,
The bad things in life were so few,
Those days are all gone now but one thing is true,
When I look and I find I still love you.

You can't turn back the clock you can't turn back the tide -
Ain't that a shame!
I'd like to go back one time on a roller coaster ride,
When life was just a game,
No use in sitting and thinkin' on what you did,
When you can lay back and enjoy it through your kids.
Sometimes it seems like lately - I just don't know,
Better sit back and go with the flow.

Cos these are the days of our lives,
They've flown in the swiftness of time,
These days are all gone now but some things remain,
When I look and I find no change.

Those were the days of our lives - yeah,
The bad things in life were so few.
Those days are all gone now but one thing's still true,
When I look and I find,
I still love you.

I still love you.

we are the world

WORDS and MUSIC by
MICHAEL JACKSON and LIONEL RICHIE
Released as a single in 1985

This song was released in the run-up to the 1985 Band-Aid concert by USA [United Singers of America] for Africa. As good as the intentions of the organisers were, the money raised by this and the Band-Aid concert was largely diverted into the hands of the warlords who had exacerbated the famine in the Ethiopian region of Tigray in the first place (see post below)

There comes a time
When we head a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on
Pretneding day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of
God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need

We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand

We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one

We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

do they know it's Christmas?

WORDS and MUSIC by
BOB GELDOF and MIDGE URE
Released as a single in 1984
and twice subsequently

The ultimate song of unfulfilled promise: as part of the Band-Aid process in 1985, almost a billion pounds ($1.4bn) made its way to Africa. Much of this money cme not from the single and and concert but from governments, who would deal only at governmental level. Thus much of the money went to Ethioian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, who had much exacerbated the crisis in Tigray by making war on the region - but this was never reported in Michael Buerk's seminal dispatch nor by Bob Geldof, who were anxious not to give the public reasons not to donate.

It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time

But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there
Are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all

(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all

Feed the world, feed the world, feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

I'll find my way home

Words by JON ANDERSON
Music by EVANGELOS PAPATHANASSIOU (VANGELIS)
From the album
THE FRIENDS OF MR CAIRO (SECOND EDITION)
And as a single (1981)

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You ask me where to begin
Am I so lost in my sin
You ask me where did I fall
I'll say I can't tell you when
But if my spirit is lost
How will I find what is near
Don't question I'm not alone
Somehow I'll find my way home

My sun shall rise in the east
So shall my heart be at peace
And if you're asking me when
I'll say it starts at the end
You know your will to be free
Is matched with love secretly
And talk will alter your prayer
Somehow you'll find you are there

Your friend is close by your side
And speaks in far ancient tongue
A season's wish will come true
All seasons begin with you
One world we all come from
One world we melt into one
Just hold my hand and we're there
Somehow we're going somewhere
Somehow we're going somewhere

You ask me where to begin
Am I so lost in my sin
You ask me where did I fall
I'll say I can't tell you when
But if my spirit is strong
I know it can't be long
No questions I'm not alone
Somehow I'll find my way home

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Loch Lomond

TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH
Released by RUNRIG
In the album THE HIGHLAND CONNECTION (1979)
And as a single (1983/2007)

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By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love spent many happy days
On the banks of Loch Lomond

Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen
On the steep sides of Ben Lomond
Where in purple hue the Highland hills we view
And the moon glints out in the gloaming

You'll take the high road and I'll take the low road And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

Where wild flowers spring and the wee birdies sing
On the steep sides of Ben Lomond
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring
Though resigned we may be while we’re greetin

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Galveston

Words and music by JIMMY WEBB

Released by GLEN CAMPBELL
As a single and in the album of the same name (1969).

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Jimmy Webb stated he was thinking of the Spanish-American War when he wrote this song, but Glen Campbell performed the promotional video in battle fatigues, intending it to be about Vietnam, as Galveston was the embarcation point for many soldiers going to that war.

Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea winds blowin'
I still see her dark eyes glowin'
She was 21 when I left Galveston

Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea waves crashing
While I watch the cannons flashing
I clean my gun and dream of Galveston

I still see her standing by the water
Standing there lookin' out to sea
And is she waiting there for me?
On the beach where we used to run

Galveston, oh Galveston, I am so afraid of dying
Before I dry the tears she's crying
Before I watch your sea birds flying in the sun
At Galveston, at Galveston

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London Pride

Words and Music by NOËL COWARD
Released as a single in 1941

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Noël Coward wrote this song in 1941, comparing the hardiness to Londoners during the Blitz to that of the plant of the same name.

London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.

Woa, Liza,
See the coster barrows,
Vegetable marrows
And the fruit piled high.
Woa, Liza,
Little London sparrows,
Covent Garden Market where the costers cry.

Cockney feet
Mark the beat of history.
Every street
Pins a memory down.
Nothing ever can quite replace
The grace of London Town.

There's a little city flower every spring unfailing
Growing in the crevices by some London railing,
Though it has a Latin name, in town and country-side
We in England call it London Pride.

London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.

Hey, lady,
When the day is dawning
See the policeman yawning
On his lonely beat.
Gay lady,
Mayfair in the morning,
Hear your footsteps echo in the empty street.

Early rain
And the pavement's glistening.
All Park Lane
In a shimmering gown.
Nothing ever could break or harm
The charm of London Town.

In our city darkened now, street and square and crescent,
We can feel our living past in our shadowed present,
Ghosts beside our starlit Thames
Who lived and loved and died
Keep throughout the ages London Pride.

London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.

Grey city
Stubbornly implanted,
Taken so for granted
For a thousand years.
Stay, city,
Smokily enchanted,
Cradle of our memories and hopes and fears.

Every Blitz
Your resistance
Toughening,
From the Ritz
To the Anchor and Crown,
Nothing ever could override
The pride of London Town.

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