Top 9 Songs of Spring
With the arrival of Spring, we will look at some of the great rock songs that explicitly mention or implicitly conjure images of Springtime. We countdown this subjective list from #9 to #1.
9. “Even in the Quietest Moments” by Supertramp
The title song of an album with the same name, this 1977 Supertramp album shows a piano out in the snow on its cover. However, with that backdrop, the distant sound of birds accenting the intro swell of this acoustic ballad accented by woodwinds, sets the perfect Spring mood as the world slowly swells awake from the “quietest moments”.
Album Review of Even In the Quietest Moments by Supertramp
Buy Even In the Quietest Moments by Supertramp
8. “I Melt With You” by Modern English
In much the same vein as the previous song, this 1982 hit from the aptly titled album After the Snow gives off a vibe of vitality and romance. The new wave/pop hit from the early days of MTV may be a perfect allegory for the spring thaw.
Buy After the Snow by Modern English
7. “Waiting For the Sun” by The Doors
“Can you feel it now that Spring has come? That it’s time to live in the scattered sun…”
With this song lacks in peaceful vibe, it more than makes up for in poetry and adventure. That’s not to say that it has no cool vibe – it does – as the musician’s of the band offer musical prowess under Jim Morrison’s dynamic poetry. Robbie Kreiger has a gentle, bluesy guitar while Ray Manzarek and John Densmore offer sharp and biting rhythms.
Album Review of Morrison Hotel by The Doors
Buy Morrison Hotel by The Doors
6. “Grantchester Meadows” by Pink Floyd
“Icy wind of night be gone, this is not your domain…”
Roger Waters’ poetic ballad from the 1969 experimental album Ummagumma is far from Pink Floyd’s most popular song. But its vivid portrayal of a pastoral scene, along with sound effects from birds and bees, make it a perfect selection for this season’s vibe.
Feature on Pink Floyd in 1969
Buy Ummagumma by Pink Floyd
5. “Seasons In the Sun” by Terry Jacks
“Goodbye Michelle, it’s hard to die when all the birds are singing in the sky, now that the Spring is in the air with the flowers everywhere, I wish that we could both be there…”
“Seasons in the Sun” is an English-language adaptation of the 1961 song “Le Moribond” by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel with lyrics later re-interpreted in 1963 by American singer-poet Rod McKuen. The most melancholy song in our countdown is the 1974 smash from one-hit wonder Terry Jacks, which portrays the point of view of a dying man reflecting on the people and moments of his life.
Buy Seasons In the Sun by Terry Jacks
4. “Daydream” by The Lovin’ Spoonful
“It’s one of those days for takin’ a walk outside, I’m blowin’ the day to take a walk in the sun and fall on my face on somebody’s new-mowed lawn…”
There is no doubt this is an unabashed feel-good, happy-go-lucky song. Just look at the pure joy in John Sebastian’s face as he performs the song he wrote with his ex-band, The Lovin’ Spoonful.
Buy Daydream by The Lovin’ Spoonful
3. “The Boys Are Back In Town” by Thin Lizzy
“That jukebox in the corner blasting out my favorite song, the nights are getting warmer it won’t be long, won’t be long ’til summer comes, now that the boys are here again…”
Obviously, birds aren’t the only species that migrate during the Spring. This chord-driven, hard rock jam by Thin Lizzy celebrates the coming of good times, long days, and wild nights.
2. “The Rain Song” by Led Zeppelin
“It is the Springtime of my loving, the second season I am to know, you are the sunlight in my growing, so little warmth I felt before…”
OK, this is actually more of a “four seasons” song and, at that, “the seasons of emotion”. But the musical vibe of this track is undeniably “Spring” – John Paul Jones’ mellotron, John Bonham’s subtle and tactful drumming and, most especially, Jimmy Page’s duo acoustic/electric strumming of unique, open-tuning guitar chords.
Album Review of Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin
Buy Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin
1. “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
“Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting. Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been clear, here comes the sun…”
This was a rather easy and obvious choice as our top Springtime song. A beautiful acoustic tune by George Harrison, steeped in Indian philosophy, the song feels like it could have just as easily been a descendent of a Druid celebration at Stonehenge. One of several absolute gems from the Beatles’ final studio album.
Album Review of Abbey Road by The Beatles
Buy Abbey Road by The Beatles
Well, there you have it. Please add your comments below to tell us what you like or don’t like about our list. Enjoy the Spring!
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