Listening to Every Courtney Barnett Song and Finding Something to Love - Part 1
I remember listening to my first Courtney Barnett Song. It was ‘Avant Gardener’. I have loved her music ever since. I dig the music which has a solid lyrics. Courtney’s lyrics is breathtaking. So existential. So ordinary, and the same time, so special. She describes prosaic events and everyday surroundings, and right there suddenly something stunning shines through, something like truth, something like magic, and I’m left amazed. I have wanted to listen to all her songs for a long time, all her ruminations about life expressed through her songs. So this is my way of doing it. If I like something from the song, I shall highlight it here — something to remember it by. Thank you Spotify for bringing all her songs at one place.
1. Rae Street
(looking down at the street from a window )
I’m just waiting for the day to become night.
…….
You, seem so stable
but you are just hangin’ on.
Let go that expectation
Change the station
And find out what you want.
2. Sunfair Sundown
(message to a friend)
sometimes it’s hard,
getting lost, you say is a fine art
Put the map down and
follow the stars
Shall we leave? Are you sure?
3. Here’s The Thing
(thinking about a lover)
And it’s these small thrills
that get me through the day until the next one
And I’m not afraid of heights
May be I’m just scared of falling
4. Before You Gotta Go
(more words for a lover)
If something were to happen my dear
I wouldn’t want the last words you hear
to be unkind
5. Turning Green
(friendly advice and guitar)
Why don’t you let go of those ideas?
They are never gonna serve you in the end
6. Take It Day By Day
(more friendly advice)
Baby, life is like a rollercoaster,
And there is nothing wrong with getting older
………..
Are you good? Are you eating?
7. If I Don’t Hear From You Tonight
(more love)
Babe, I need reminding
I got feelings too
And I tried my best to hide them
but I don’t wanna hide
anything from you
8. Write A List of Things To Look Forward To
(noise of the world)
Sit beside me, watch the world burn
9. Splendour
(missing a lover)
Some day, so soon, I’ll be seeing you
10. Oh The Night
(revelation and soft longing)
Won’t you meet me somewhere in the middle
Sorry that I’ve been slow
you know it takes a little time
for me to show,
how I really feel
11. I’ll Be Your Mirror
(I’ll give you positive affirmations :) )
12. Don’t Do It
(whatever, do it or don’t)
13. Keep On
(the causes why you will not be happy)
And it’s what you know
it’s not where you go
………….
14. Everybody Here Hates You
(a lot of self loathing and self help)
I’m bleeding, you’re leaving
I feel strange
you been distant
you seem different than yesterday
15. Hopefulessness
(lessons in healing)
Take your broken heart
Turn it into art
Can’t take it with you
…………..
You know it’s okay to have a bad day
16. City Looks Pretty
(life in the fast lane)
The city takes a pity on your injured soul
and heavenly prose ain’t enough good
to fill that hole
17. Charity
(something wrong with you)
medication just makes your more upset
18. Need A Little Time
(time out)
I need a little time out
from me, me, me, me
and you, ooh, ooh, you
19. Nameless, Faceless
(how pathetic and miserable you are, you social media troll)
He said, she said
nameless, faceless
20. I’m Not Your Mother, I’m Not Your Bitch
(I’m angry)
I get more defensive
when I know I’m wrong
21. Crippling Self Doubt and a General Lack of Confidence
(self doubt, obviously)
And indecision rots
like a bag of last week’s meat
…………
I don’t know, I don’t know anything
22. Help Your Self
(a song of self help)
23. Walking on Eggshells
(a little recrimination, and probably, revelation)
All of what I got, I give it all way
Walkin’ on eggshells gets tiring
24. Sunday Roast
(expression of raw affection)
I spend a lot of time
doing a whole lot of nothing
……..
some kindness goes around
some kind of backfires
25. How to Boil an Egg
(existential problems)
nothing lasts for never,
so be still my bleeding heart
………..
Oh, you have a great abundance
of axes there to grind
Remember some people have real problems
next time you whine
………
hang the washing on the line
I listened to the songs and felt the empathy and the heart behind them. It was a joy to commit time to listening to just music and not doing anything else. I shall cover the remaining songs in the next post which, hopefully, should be soon.