February 1: The owl would never have been so gentle…“Wayland The Rabbit” written by Jimmy Seals and sung by Seals & Crofts. LYRICS SPOTIFY
February 2: I’m so lucky to be loving you… “Time After Time” written in 1946 (lyrics by Sammy Cahn and music by Jule Styne) and sung by Chet Baker (Ruthie’s favorite). LYRICS SONG HISTORY SPOTIFY
February 3: It’s the way I play… “Bad Company” by the band Bad Company. The song was written by singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke. Happy Birthday, Dougie; you were always the very best company despite this being one of your favorite songs…. 🙂 LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 4: The old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom… “Follow The Drinking Gourd” performed by Taj Mahal, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir. Here’s a LYRIC VIDEO, too, from SING AN AMERICAN STORY. LYRICS & GUITAR CHORDS SONG HISTORY SPOTIFY
February 5: It’s all your spotless, sincere heart… “A Little Happiness” from the movie “Our Times” sung by Hebe Tien. LYRICS SPOTIFY
February 6: Quite rightly… “Mellow Yellow” written and performed by Donovan Leitch. Happy Birthday, Toltzie and hello to new subscriber, Sarah Mueller Gieringer…. remember this?? LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 7: You know I can’t answer the phone… “The Weakness In Me” by Joan Armatrading. Happy Birthday, Amy Shocker! LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 8: What a glorious feeling… “Singing In The Rain” by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown and performed by Gene Kelly in the fabulously wonderful movie of the same name. What?! You haven’t seen it? Stop, drop and roll to the nearest movie-viewing device and WATCH. THIS. MOVIE! (Here’s one of my favorite scenes!) LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 9: Exit light… “Enter Sandman” performed by Metallica (the song was written by drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield.) Thanks to Tim Moran from Professional Physical Therapy & TJM Fitness & Wellness for the suggestion! (And thanks to you, Noah, Patrick and Joe for helping me deal with my bone spur and plantar fascitis!) LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 10: It’s all I know… “Sing For Myself” written by Will Cabaniss and Ire Olagbami and performed by Voices In Your Head. Thank you, Julie Lyon Borden, for sharing this beautiful song with me and happy birthday to Judy Zimmerman Doherty. LYRICS SPOTIFY
February 11: We made the kind of noises that a beetle likes to hear… “Alexander Beetle” based on a poem called “Forgiven” by A. A. Milne put to music and performed by Melanie. Happy birthday to my brother Alex and my friends Anne Hadden & Nancy Clarke. LYRICS SPOTIFY
February 12: Everything you need in the water… “Wade In The Water” sung by Mary Mary. LYRICS & SONG HISTORY SPOTIFY
February 13: Your apple don’t fall too far from ’em… “Family is Family” performed by Kacey Musgraves who wrote the song with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. Thanks to my little beautiful apple, Rose, for the suggestion. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 14: A mess of happiness… “I Love You (A Bushel & A Peck)” written by Frank Loesser, originally in “Guys & Dolls” in 1950 and sung here by Perry Como & Betty Hutton. (Oh, and here is an extra little Valentine gift for you.) SONG HISTORY LYRICS & GUITAR CHORDS SPOTIFY
February 15: Don’t you hear me? “Cupid” written and performed by Sam Cooke. Thanks to Alex for the suggestion. Check out the arrow sounds right before “straight to my lover’s heart” made by singers Kenneth Simms (leaving the bow) and Bobbie Simms (hitting the target). LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 16: You’re the only one who really knew me at all… “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins. Thanks to Lisa for the suggestion. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 17: It’s perfect and it’s free… “A Random of Act of Kindness” by Glen Colton. It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day. SPOTIFY
February 18: The sunshine’s gonna fade and we can’t stop it… “Song For Another Time” by Old Dominion. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 19: They’ve gone about as far as they can go… “Everything’s Up to Date In) Kansas City” by Rodgers & Hammerstein from “Oklahoma!“. LYRICS SPOTIFY
February 20: There’s something going on around here… “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” by Joe Jackson. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 21: I’d rather hear the truth… “Baby, Don’t You Break My Heart Slow” written by Vonda Shepard and James Newton Howard and performed here by Vonda with Emily Saliers of The Indigo Girls. My good friend Melissa Balaban introduced me to Vonda’s music even before Vonda was the featured musician on Ally McBeal back in the late 1990’s; then my wonderful friend Jeanie Bacharach was the casting director on Ally McBeal for 45 episodes. Love how these worlds collide… xo LYRICS SPOTIFY
February 22: Way down south in Birmingham… “Tuxedo Junction” by Glenn Miller and sung here by The Andrews Sisters. HB, Ned Hardy! LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 23: Walk me through this one, don’t leave me alone… “Calling All Angels” written by Jane Siberry and sung by Jane Siberry and k.d. lang. Happy Birthday to Madeline Seidman; I hope you like this one. LYRICS SPOTIFY
February 24: As sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines… “Georgia On My Mind” written by Hoagy Carmichael & Stuart Gorrell in 1930 and sung by Ray Charles. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 25: My love like a voice… “Kick Drum Heart” by Timothy Seth Avett, Scott Avett & Bob Crawford and performed by The Avett Brothers. Happy Birthday to Lindsey Ogilvy! LYRICS & GUITAR CHORDS SPOTIFY
February 26: Snowtime ain’t no time to stay outdoors… “Shine on Harvest Moon” by Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth. I think my grandfather Sidney Alexander Sherman was born on this day in 1908 and I enjoy imagining his parents listening to this while he was a baby. The animation is part of a cartoon called “Farm Foolery” from 1949. And here’s a bonus version with Laurel & Hardy singing it in 1939. LYRICS & GUITAR CHORDS SPOTIFY
February 27: Let freedom ring… “America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)” sung here by the brave, resilient, persistent and beautifully talented Marian Anderson, my hero, whose birthday is today. Plus, if you want to sing along, here’s a lyric video with singers who were in 5th grade at GFS in 2001-02; where are you now? LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
February 28: You have hands of raining water… “GYPSY” by Suzanne Vega. LYRICS & GUITAR CHORDS SPOTIFY