You’re So Vain, You Probably Think This Song Is About You – Vol 8

Greetings friends!

How are you. It is getting cooler and I am hibernating. This is mostly because I refuse to purchase a decent pair of pants and my tights are just not cutting it. Sweatpants and pjs though, these I have in abundance.

Here in the VALLEY we have a season called “Wind”. You may scoff and say this is another wimpy LA thing but let me tell you – The wind is fucked and it means BUSINESS.

This was a nice little surprise yesterday. My superhero parents cut that BASTARD tree into BITS to get off the Zombie Killer. Take that TREE. That car is a bad bitch and we think it only left a little scratch. Today all his tree friends are getting a little adjusting. Revenge is sweet.

Back to business, and back to another You’re So Vain post! It has been too long and I keep finding songs that are all about ME – I mean feature my name.

I need someone to warm me up on this moderately cold California nights,

and I have just the man to do it!

Hello there!

Ok you guys – I LOVE ME SOME NEIL DIAMOND. Don’t mock. It is my new dream to see him in concert and sing Cherry Cherry like a spaz. Or better yet go on the ultimate road trip with only his greatest hits to keep me company. A girl can dream.

So imagine my excitement when I found a song with not only my name in it but my mother’s as well. SO FUCKING EXCITED. Until I looked up the lyrics for this post and realize I misheard him, He says MELINDA and not Linda. What the crap is that, Melinda?!? I think maybe he was humming and then saying Linda and everyone else got it WRONG.

Solitary Man

MeLINDA was mine
‘Til the time that I found her
Holding Jim, loving him
Then Sue came along, loved me strong
That’s what I thought
Me and Sue, but that died too

Don’t know that I will
But until I can find me
The girl who’ll stay
And won’t play games behind me
I’ll be what I am
A solitary man, solitary man

I’ve had it to here
Bein’ where love’s a small word
Part-time thing, paper ring
I know it’s been done
Havin’ one girl who’ll love me
Right or wrong, weak or strong

Don’t know that I will
But until I can find me
The girl who’ll stay
And won’t play games behind me
I’ll be what I am
A solitary man, solitary man
(instrumental)
Don’t know that I will
But until I can find me
The girl who’ll stay
And won’t play games behind me
I’ll be what I am
A solitary man
Solitary man

This song speaks to me. So Melinda is a bit of a cheating skunk. Serves her right for being named that and not LINDA. Linda would have crocheted him a warm blanket.

Sue came along and loved him strong, but then she got distracted by something shiny and maybe just stopped texting back. This is totally real life.

The best part is the chorus. He is like eh I am cool being alone until someone awesome comes around. Hopefully they are into yarn and pattern hoarding as much as I AM, I mean as much as Neil sure is. Listen it loud and often if you need a like YAYA I am FINNNNE in your life.  This is a good song for a fuck love mix. Look out for THAT in the future!

This song came out in 1966 and was Mr Diamonds first hit – 1966 was a good year.

It is also the year my parent’s got married. Maybe he changed it from Linda to Melinda because he was jealous. I mean who wouldn’t be:

Their wedding day!

My mom MADE that outfit! (AND DID NOT KEEP IT FOR ME) And holy mother of corsage – that thing is as big as her head!

This song has been covered 6 ways from Sunday, but the BEST one hands down is the Johnny Cash Version. I am never wrong about cover songs friends.

Neil was also on the Johnny Cash Show and it was magical.

And one last Neil gem for today: My mom had this mix tape in her Peugeot – It was one of maybe 4 tapes in the car. I think my brother made it from their records and THIS FUCKING SONG was on it. If I was lucky we would fast forward to the next fast song but most of the time my sister and I would take turns being Babs or Neil AND BELT THIS SUCKER OUT.

(Ps I am the worst signer IN THE UNIVERSE)

But still, fond memories of this…

Thanks for indulging my love for Neil – Come back and see me sometime!

Homework

• What is your FAVORITE Neil Song?

• What did your mom drive in the 80s?

• What songs from your childhood do you have a love/hate relationship with?

• Will you sing the Babs part and I can sing Neil?