Song of the Day

Song: Voices Carry

Artist: Til Tuesday

Album: Voices Carry

Year: 1985

Source: Radio Paradise.

Makes Me Think of & etc.: I did a project in Moscow in 1993, during my post-AF career in the IT biz. In case you’ve forgotten, 1993 was a mere two years after the demise of the USSR. I was exposed to a unique Russian saying while I was there: “in former happy days.” I know this is a fragment of a sentence, but it was always appended to a statement such as “Our nation was much stronger, in former happy days.” Or, “One wouldn’t be allowed to say such a thing, in former happy days.” Or even “Life was simpler, in former happy days.” This euphemism was obviously a reference to the old Commie regime, but I found it interesting that it was used in both a negative and a positive context. Change isn’t always good, for some folks, and I saw some genuine nostalgia for the old regime, especially amongst the higher-ups.

So, what does all this have to do with “Voices Carry?” The song forever reminds me of former happy days here. It’s a haunting song.

Lyrics:

I'm in the dark, I'd like to read his mind
but I'm frightened of the things I might find
Oh, there must be something he's thinking of
to tear him away
when I tell him that I'm falling in love
why does he say

Hush hush
keep it down now
voices carry

I try so hard not to get upset
because I know all the trouble I'll get
oh, he tells me tears are something to hide
and something to fear
and I try so hard to keep it inside
so no one can hear

Hush hush
keep it down now
voices carry

He wants me
but only part of the time
He wants me
if he can keep me in line

Hush hush
keep it down now
voices carry

hush hush, darling, she might overhear
oh, no-voices carry
he said shut up he said shut up
oh God can't you keep it down
voices carry
I wish he would let me talk

Near-run things: Santana - Jingo, Allman Brothers - Trouble No More, and Queen Latifah - Hello Stranger. Queen Latifah was very nearly it; her remake of "Hello Stranger" is remarkably true to the original. As a matter of fact, I thought it was the original until the second verse. It's good to see artists give a nod to their roots. Very good.