Do you ever find yourself preferring the less popular songs from a particular album? This is a common occurrence for me, leaving me to wonder why so many of my favorite songs never make it onto the airwaves. I tend to attribute it to the fact I focus more on song lyrics than melody, whereas many people enjoy the sound and rhythm of a song without caring much about its words. Upbeat tempos and catchy tunes sell better than other types of music.
Remember KT Tunstall, the Grammy-nominated Scottish singer who burst onto the music scene in 2004 with her hit Black Horse and the Cherry Tree? She had a couple of commercial hits, but then faded from the pop spotlight. In addition to those pop songs, she’s written other interesting songs that many people don’t know.
I’ve chosen one today because the lyrics are rather poetic (in my opinion, anyway) and open to interpretation. Throw Me A Rope is about being separated from the one you love. What I particularly enjoy is its ambiguity: is the song about a long-distance relationship, or about life after a break-up? Take a quick read:
I want you between me and the feeling I get when I miss you
But everything here is telling me I should be fine
So why is it so above as below
That I’m missing you every time
I got used to you whispering things to me into the evening
We follow the sun and his colors left this world
It seems to me that I’m definitely
Hearing the best that I’ve heard
So throw me a rope
To hold me in place
Show me a clock
For counting my days down
Cause everything’s easier when you’re beside me
Come back and find me
Cause I feel alone
And whenever you go
It’s like holding my breath under water
I have to admit that I kind of like it when I do
Oh but I’ve got to be
Unconditionally
Unafraid of my days without you
[Refrain]
Whenever I’m falling
You’re always behind me
Come back and find me
Everything’s easier when you’re beside me
Come back and find me
Cause I feel alone
Not only are the words pretty, but the melody is soothingly so. Take a listen to her live acoustic performance:
What do you think…song for the brokenhearted or for those separated only by distance?
xo-Jamie
*YouTube video by Emimusic
