Today’s Booking Through Thursday question is: What songs – specifically or in general – have words that you love? Why? Do the tunes that go with the fantastic lyrics live up to them?

This is an easy one, as anyone who knows me will attest to. I love music (who doesn’t?) but it is my love for music and books that draws me to more literary musicians. (I love music that isn’t literary also, but we’re not talking about those today.)

Point in case: The Lucksmiths (Listen to some!):

You have the songs that literally tell a story…
· “Fiction” – Written down here, gentle reader / It seems too good to be true / But there’s a girl in Kansas City / With my favorite tattoo / Oh why would I lie to you?. Listen!
· “The Perfect Crime” – The sun is on the hilltop / Casting shadows on things below / The afternoon has left the valley cold / I raise my eyebrows and grip the dashboard / You take the bends like you built the road / This is the road you travel / Every time you come home

…the songs that talk about books/reading…
· “Danielle Steel” – Spends hours in front of the bookcase / A beast with two paperbacks in bed / She’s read them all from go to woe / And arranged them from A to Z / And you can judge a book by it’s cover
· “English Murder Mystery” – I love her but she loves Agatha Christie / And she’s so wrapped up in the English Murder Mystery

…and those that just have lines which knock me off my feet.
· “A Downside to the Upstairs” – It was a fine idea in autumn / On the palest afternoons / Parallelograms of sunshine fell across the room. Listen!
· “The Cassingle Revival” – Remember when I said you were too young / To start a story with “Remember when…?” / Well that was then, and this is appalling / But in the dappled sunshine / Underneath the clothesline / I spent this afternoon nostalgic for this morning

I also really love bands such as Belle and Sebastian (Listen to some!):

· “My Wandering Days Are Over” – It’s got to be fate that’s doing it / A spooky witch in a sexy dress has been bugging me / With the story of the way it should be / With the story of Sebastian and Belle the singer. Listen!
· “Storytelling” – Picture a scene in your mind / Look at all the people and take note of the setting behind / Listen, watch, and wait / A plot beings to take shape / There’s a story / And then characters will come to you / Relating events as they choose to / But all their words and actions come entirely from you
· “If She Wants Me” – If I could do just one near perfect thing I’d be happy / They’d write it on my grave, or when they scattered my ashes / On second thoughts I’d rather hang about and be there with my best friend / If she wants me. Listen!
· “Wrapped Up in Books” – We’ve got a fantasy affair / We didn’t get wet, we didn’t dare / Our aspirations, are wrapped up in books / Our inclinations are hidden in looks. Listen!

and The Divine Comedy (Listen to some!):

· “My Imaginary Friend” – Would you like to meet my little friend? / Don’t try to shake his hand he’s just pretend. Listen!
· “Perfect Lovesong” – Give me your love / And I’ll give you the perfect lovesong / With a divine Beatles bassline / And a big old Beach Boys sound. Listen!
· “Songs of Love” – Pale, pubescent beasts, roam through the streets / And coffee-shops, their prey gather in herds / Of stiff knee-length skirts, and white ankle-socks / But while they search for a mate, my type hibernate / In bedrooms above, composing their songs of love. Listen!
· “The Booklovers” – Happy the man, and happy he alone who in all honesty can call today his own; / He who has life and strength enough to say ‘Yesterday’s dead & gone – I want to live today’