I wrote this song in October 2016.
I’d enjoyed being in a band in my late twenties and had been thinking about writing and performing songs again for fun. So I bought a beautiful new Fender Paramount acoustic to encourage myself.
This was the first song that popped out. I was thinking about how tough recent romances had left me feeling and drew on Beatles inspired references of peace and love.
But a second, hidden message emerged: a lament from our planet, how we don’t love it enough, and our ambivalence towards what’s going on.
When a friend died in early 2017, the ‘wake’ was a musical celebration held in a church in the next village. I was asked to perform some songs so I played this one – its first public airing. Although nervous (I hadn’t played live for over 20 years) I really enjoyed performing again. Gotta do more of this, I thought.
A week later I broke four fingers on my left hand.
Thanks to P for backing oohs and aahs!
LOVE ME RIGHT (SONG FOR GAIA)
They said all you needed was love
I’ve waited for a long time for mine
They said that it goes hand in glove
To have such a feeling all the time
But I won’t be sad
I’ll just carry on
One day I’ll wake up with the one
CHORUS
So love me right
Or don’t love me at all
'Cause I’ve got so tired of feeling blue
And the simple truth is that
Time’s running out
And there might not be another you
They said all we needed was peace
It sounds like a good thing to me
So when will the hatred ever cease?
And we can all live in harmony?
But I don’t blame you
I know you’ve had it tough
You just can’t love me enough
CHORUS
Where are we going?
I was happier not knowing
They say ignorance is bliss
But I don’t want to end like this
CHORUS
© ANDY BARKER OCTOBER 2016
