July 1: All these years I’ve been learning… “Tomorrow is My Turn” sung by Nina Simone. This is a 1962 song by Charles Aznavour with lyrics by Yves Stéphane. Happy Birthday and thanks for the song suggestion to my wonderful sister-in-law Catherine Lewis. xo LYRICS SPOTIFY
July 2: Forever there’ll be a heaven in your kiss… “Take Me, I’m Yours” by Squeeze. Happy Birthday to Tyra Fullam & Amy Granoff! LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 3: I think we’re supposed to be… “Groceries” by Australian musician Mallrat featuring Australian rapper Allday. Thanks to Lisa for the suggestion! Happy Birthday to Elizabeth Repa Shea. xo LYRICS SPOTIFY
July 4: “Freedom” by Richie Havens; it’s what it’s all about, right? No lyric video today, but this clip from the original Woodstock is a good substitute. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 5: We are billions of beautiful hearts… “What About Us?” sung by Pink and co-written by Pink with Snow Patrol guitarist Johnny McDaid and the track’s producer, Steve Mac. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 6: Rhythm is the key… “Groove Is In The Heart” by Deee-lite. Watch the official video for even more fun and, while you’re dancing, wish a HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY to Sarah Warner Lister!! LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 7: Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking when I hear the silly things that you say… “Alison” by Elvis Costello. Happy Birthday to Alison Werner Cooper! LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 8: I’ll see you in my dreams… “Goodnight, Irene” a traditional folk song sung here by Keith Richards, but originally made popular by Lead Belly. Today would have been my father-in-law Richard Propp’s 85th birthday. We loved singing along with him and hearing his harmonica solos, especially on this song. LYRICS & SONGFACTS Listen to Elizabeth Mitchell’s version on SPOTIFY
July 9: We want everyone… “No One Is To Blame” by Howard Jones. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 10: A tethered mind freed from the lies …. “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 11: Call me no matter where you are… “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” written by Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson and sung here by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Tyrrell. Happy Birthday, Leslie French Seidman! LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 12: You deserve the best… “Don’t Be Sorry” by Nick Depuy. SPOTIFY
July 13: Haven’t you always wanted a monkey? “If I Had A Million Dollars” by Barenaked Ladies. LYRICS & SONGFACTS CHORDS SPOTIFY
July 14: Up in the air they like to fly… “Dog & Butterfly” written by Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson & Sue Ennis and performed by Heart. I’ll never forget birthday girl MJ McNamee’s Swinging ‘Gates audition with this song (so beautiful!). And Happy Birthday to my wonderful cousin, Lori Raineri, who, I know, will appreciate any song about a happy dog. 🙂 LYRICS SPOTIFY
July 15: Always looking for your next climb… “One Of These Days” by Bedouine. Happy Birthday to my dear friend & colleague, Kerri Kohlun. xo LYRICS & CHORDS SONG HISTORY SPOTIFY
July 16: I’d never make it through without you around… “Hey Julie” by Fountains of Wayne and written by band members Chris Collingwood & Adam Schlesinger. Happy Birthday (and thanks for the great suggestion) to Julie Lyon Borden & Morgan Morse. LYRICS & CHORDS SPOTIFY
July 17: Fill my heart with song… “Fly Me To The Moon”. Originally entitled “In Other Words”, this song was written in 1954 by Bart Howard and is sung here by Frank Sinatra in honor of one of my favorite babysitters, Jackie Rodgers‘, birthday. Her new book is called Goblin Moon. Check it out. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 18: Preserve your memories… “Old Friends / Bookends” by Paul Simon and sung here by Simon & Garfunkel. Happy Birthday to Amy Freedman Jurkowitz and Lauren Addario, two dear old friends. xoxo LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 19: Take it right on down to the gator…“Jumpin’ Jive” by Cab Calloway, Frank Froeba and Jack Palmer and performed by Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers. LYRICS SONG HISTORY SPOTIFY
July 20: What a birthday surprise… “It’s My Party” – a number one hit performed by Lesley Gore and produced by Quincy Jones. The songwriting credits went to John Gluck, Wally Gold and Herb Weiner, staff writers at the Aaron Schroeder Music firm in 1962, but (according to Wikipedia) the lyrics were actually written by Seymour Gottlieb, a freelance songwriter. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 21: Swirling clouds in violet haze… “Vincent” by Don McLean. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 22: He moved a million hearts in mono… “Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners. Thanks to my sister Caroline and my niece Sophia for the song suggestion! LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 23: Underneath the hot sun…“Shotgun” by George Ezra (written by George Ezra & Joel Pott) LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 24: You are the morning sun… “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” recorded by Charlie Rich and written by Billy Sherrill, Norro Wilson, and Rory Bourke. Happy Birthday to Katherine Bruan, Christine Theiss & Aleda Santos Warren. LYRICS & CHORDS SPOTIFY
July 25: Life don’t clickety-clack down a straight-line track… “Ain’t Life A Brook” by Ferron. Happy Birthday to Lisa Addario; thank you for introducing me to this, one of my very favorite songs, back in the 1980s. (Sorry, no lyric video today.) LYRICS & CHORDS SPOTIFY
July 26: Make the rules up as I go… “Strong Enough” by Sheryl Crow. Newport Folk Festival day one! Thinking about my mother-in-law Vera Propp, whose birthday was today, and celebrating the birthday of Molly Barreca. xo LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 27: I keep turning back one page… “I Know What It’s Like” by Jeff Tweedy. Newport Folk Festival day two! Happy Birthday to my cousin Craig Sherman and with love for my grandmother Rose Klayman who I miss very much. xo LYRICS & CHORDS SPOTIFY
July 28: Don’t leave out the good part… “Good Kisser” by Lake Street Dive. Newport Folk Festival day three! LYRICS SPOTIFY
and He let go a laugh… “Mr. Bojangles” by Jerry Jeff Walker and performed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. LYRICS & CHORDS SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 29: Please don’t leave me alone… “Back Door Home” by Amy Kateri. Happy Birthday to Amy Laurino! SPOTIFY
July 30: So many happy songs were waiting to be sung… “Yesterday When I Was Young” written by Charles Aznavour and sung here by Roy Clark. (Thanks, Uncle Donny, for reminding me about Roy Clark!) LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
July 31: Your love is an abyss for my heart to eclipse… “Feel It Still” by Portugal. The Man. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY