I’ve written about Stephin Merritt’s songs before; the lyrics that bear comparison to Cole Porter, the tunes that probably don’t. Now Norm has discovered 69 Love Songs and calls one of the songs beautiful and extraordinary. So many of them are.
As I’m off to Washington soon here are the lyrics of Washington DC from the same album (listen to an excerpt):
W a-s-h i-n-g t-o-n, baby, D.C.! W a-s-h i-n-g t-o-n, baby, D.C.! Washington, D.C. It's paradise to me It's not because it is the grand old seat Of precious freedom and democracy No, no, no It's not the greenery turning gold in fall The scenery circling the Mall It's just that's where my baby lives That's all. Washington D.C.! It's the greatest place to be It's not the cherries everywhere in bloom It's not the way they put folks on the moon No, no, no It's not the spectacles and pagaentry The thousand things you've got to see It's just that's where my baby waits for me W a-s-h i-n-g t-o-n, baby D.C.! W a-s-h i-n-g t-o-n, baby D.C.! Washington, D.C.! It fits me to a T It's not the people doing something real It's not the way the springtime makes you feel No, no, no It ain't no famous name on a golden plaque That keeps me that makes me ride that railroad track It's my baby's kiss that keeps me coming back It's my baby's kiss that keeps me coming back
