Wednesday May 5, 2021 “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” Sophie B. Hawkins

There have been few interruptions to Song of the Day over the past year and they have been caused by serious matters like power outages and such so I feel embarrassed that this interruption was based on something as trivial as forgetting to bring my laptop, so apologies again, but here we go with an abbreviated week.

 Let’s start this (shortened) week with some rock & roll erotica.

 Sophie B. Hawkins, a trained percussionist who studied with legendary drummer Babatundi Olatunje, said she happened upon the chord progression for “Damn….” by accident but liked it so much that she felt this would be the big song she had been waiting for.  The lyrics, she said came quickly.
And it was a top ten song internationally.

 Her original video was rejected by MtV/VH1 as being too suggestive so she was forced to create a more general video which is what is included here today.  The original does not seem that problematic given some of the Madonna videos from the same time, but then the MtV/VH1 standards may be different than mine.  Not sure what they might have been expecting given this song’s title.  You can find the original video here and judge for yourself.

 The song has close ties and popularity within the LGBTQ community but Hawkins describes herself as omnisexual.  She would go on to have a couple of additional charting hits including a cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Want You” perhaps keeping with the “Damn….” theme.

 Stay safe and well...and enjoy this rather unique song.

That old dog has chained you up alright

Give you everything you need to live inside a twisted cage

Sleep beside an empty rage

I had a dream I was your hero

 Damn, I wish I was your lover

I'd rock you 'til the daylight comes

Make sure you are smiling and warm

I am everything

Tonight I'll be your mother

I'll do such things to ease your pain

Free your mind and you won't feel ashamed

Oh, oh

Open up, I'm gonna get inside

I'm gonna fill you up, gonna make you cry

 This monkey can't stand to see you black and blue

I give you something sweet each time you

Come inside my jungle book

What is it just too good?

Don't say you'll stay

'Cause then you'll go away

 

Damn, I wish I was your lover

I'd rock you 'til the daylight comes

Make sure you are smiling and warm

I am everything

Tonight I'll be your mother

I'll do such things to ease your pain

Free your mind and you won't feel ashamed

Shucks, for me there is no other

You're the only shoe that fits

I can't imagine I'll grow out of it

Damn, I wish I was your lover

(Yeah)

 If I was your girl, believe me

I'd turn on the Rolling Stones

We could groove along and feel much better

Let me in

I could do it forever and ever and ever and ever

Give me an hour to kiss you

Walk through heaven's door I'm sure

We don't need no doctor to feel much better

Let me in, oh

Forever and ever and ever and ever

 I sat on the mountainside with peace of mind

And I lay by the ocean making love to her with visions clear

Walked for days with no one near

And I return as chained and bound to you

 Damn, I wish I was your lover

I'd rock you 'til the daylight comes

Make sure you are smiling and warm

I am everything

Tonight I'll be your mother

I'll do such things to ease your pain

Free your mind and you won't feel ashamed

Shucks, for me there is no other

You're the only shoe that fits

I can't imagine I'll grow out of it

Damn, I wish I was your lover

 I wanna open up, I wanna come inside

I wanna fill you up, I wanna make you cry

Damn, I wish I was your lover

Getting on a subway

And I'm coming uptown

Damn, I wish I was your lover

Standing on the street corner

Waiting for my luck to change

Damn, I wish I was your lover

Feeling like a schoolboy

Too shy and too young, oh

Damn, I wish I was your lover

Tryna open up, I wanna come inside

I wanna fill you up, I wanna make you cry

Damn, I wish I was your lover

Getting on my camel

Gonna ride it uptown, ooh

Damn, I wish I was your lover