My Fav Western songs Part I

1)Brothers in arms- Dire Straits

Album- Brothers in Arms

Time play: 06:56

I had only heard the song but it did not make much of an impact till, I saw the video and everything fell in place. This song has very effective lyrics with an outstanding rendition by Mark Knofler. The best part of the song is the idea of conveying the message of a soldier during a war. The scene is so well set in the mind through not just the lyrics but also with the tone and the instrumentation. Every stanza has a powerful line and a statement to make. The last two stanza’s are just the best set of poetry I have come across.

“There's so many different worlds

So many different suns

And we have just one world

But we live in different ones

Now the sun's gone to hell

And the moon's riding high

Let me bid you farewell

Every man has to die

But it's written in the starlight

And every line on your palm

We're fools to make war

On our brothers in arms”

The last 4 lines are just the most nicely worded ‘in your face lines’ against war. The following Solo is a very typical of the era. But I feel it is more to do with the sufferings and the lasting effects of a war how they go on even after the war.

2) The End- The Doors

Album- The Doors

Time play: 11:43

I first heard this song while watching the movie ‘Apocalypse Now’. This song comes as an introduction to the movie basically setting the tone for a very engrossing movie. Was part of the first ‘The doors’ album and while Light my Fire was the more popular one, this song really shows the greatness of Morisson. Personally the songs first stanza

“This is the end, Beautiful friend

This is the end, My only friend, the end

Of our elaborate plans, the end

Of everything that stands, the end

No safety or surprise, the end

I'll never look into your eyes...again”

I am not too sure whether it is for a girl or just a friend, but these are the most powerful lyrics to start a song with. Morrison has that anger in his voice add to it the background strumming that flows into the drums. The song in my first few listening seemed to lack much structure but as I started to hear it more I could see it having a gradual build to a crescendo and then reach a climax which has sexual connotations as well. There seem to be three crescendos in the song with all having similar beat patterns. The singer in this song seems to portray the persons troubled mind and how it starts to grow violent but keeping the 3 developing crescendos short he also makes the listener understand the dilemma in the persons mind.

3) Bridge over troubled water- Simon and Garfunkel

Album- Bridge over troubled water

Time play: 4:55

This song is just majestic. It follows a typical old school music a slow build to a crescendo and then the climax filled with base drums and piano and most importantly the vocals. This song is surely a test for any singer. Garfunkel shows all his variation through the 3 verses of the song. Starting from the very lowest note with a nice piano being played behind and as he is consoling the listener who is feeling left out and alone he maintains the understanding tone and then when he says ‘like a bridge over troubled water’, he sounds so comforting. By the time he reaches the 3^rd verse where is asking the lost listener to take a stand he raises his voice not in frustration but to get the adrenalin rushing through the listener. The 3^rd verse is interesting with Paul Simon joining in and the backing drums adding to the climax almost making you feel like a bridge is soldiering over rough and troubled water. Just the picture that is generated in one’s mind with not just the lyrics but primarily by the vocal strength of the singer is what makes this song one of the best composition.