# Songs About The Joy of Music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2005, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-joy-of-music/306200 "2005-05-31T12:11:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-joy-of-music/306200/41 "2005-06-02T00:15:20Z")
I can’t resist. Happy Rhodes has a couple that are perfect. “Feed the Fire” is about her musical inspirations, mainly Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Queen, Yes and Wendy Carlos. The album version of the song appeared on 1991’s Warpaint, and later she recorded an “Acoustic Tribute version” with snatches of songs by Kate Bush (“Running Up That Hill”), David Bowie (“Starman”) and Yes (“Long Distance Runaround”). Here are both versions and the lyrics (I have [permission](http://wretchawry.com/happy/samples) to share her songs and lyrics): [Feed the Fire (Album version)](http://wretchawry.com/happy/samples/HappyRhodes_Warpaint02_FeedTheFire.mp3) [Feed the Fire (Acoustic Tribute version)](http://wretchawry.com/happy/samples/HappyRhodes_RhodeSongs16_FeedTheFire(AcousticTribute).mp3) > [@](#): > > **FEED THE FIRE** - Happy Rhodes > > So many powerful beings > So many in tune with life > Imagination abounds here > There’s wisdom and great insight > > My ears are lucky to hear these glorious songs > Of inspiration > And voices crafted from thunder > The power of life > > I want to go back to the trees > Where my art was born > And I was duly sworn > To be alive, to be alive > A live burning force > Forever more and evermore > Well I feed the fire > > There is a road straight to my heart > Traveled by those with fire > I hope to follow their patterns > They’re many more to inspire > > I live to see my fondest dreams realized > Of living under the sights, the sounds of the gifted > Who gave so much to me > > I want to go back to the trees > Where my art was born > And I was duly sworn > To be a live burning force > Forever more and evermore > > Allow me someday to touch you > The way that you’ve all touched me > I thank you for your expressions > All your music has set me free > > I want to go back to the trees > Where my art was born > And I was duly sworn > To be a live burning force > Forever more and evermore On a later album, she gave us [this song](http://wretchawry.com/happy/samples/HappyRhodes_ManyWorldsAreBornTonight11_SerenadingGenius.mp3) > [@](#): > > **Serenading Genius** - Happy Rhodes > > Every night I go to sleep > And dream of what I seek > I serenade > I’m serenading genius so… > Come on, come down and be with me > Come on, come down, give me the key > > One person’s genius may be another’s banality > But it’s only my criteria worrying me > I don’t know why > I want to be good > But since I’m alive > Maybe I should > Reach higher > For the bigger stuff > > I don’t sing because I’ve found it > I sing because I’m looking for it > > Since I was little I’ve known that > All I ever wanted to do was > Be tall and play it from the inside > Only then could I really know what > Happiness meant > > If I reach the middle of the world > I hope I see what genius really looks like > On the outside I’ve seen it many times > I wonder if I’d know it if it came > > Love, I have found, is in music > > Peace swallows me when there’s > g e n i u s > > If I reach the middle of the world > I hope I see what genius really looks like > On the outside I’ve seen it many times > I wonder if I’d know it if it came > > Every night I go to sleep > And dream of what I seek > I serenade > I’m serenading genius so… > Come on, come down and be with me > Come on, come down, give me the key > > hahahahaha That laugh is there, I think, because the song (and Feed the Fire) could be seen as, by turns, arrogant/hopelessly optimistic/shamefully needy, whatever a person wants to read into it, I suppose it’s there. She laughs at herself. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to want to be in the company of those you admire, and to want to inspire others the way you’ve been inspired. She has the talent to be in their company and to inspire, but not the drive to climb and claw and do whatever it takes to “make it.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-joy-of-music/306200/42 "2005-06-02T00:53:38Z")
Oh, man, XTC wrote a zillion of these, esp. in their early pop-punk days. Just off their debut, **White Music** : “Radios In Motion,” “Crosswires,” “This Is Pop,” “Dance Band,” “Traffic Light Rock,” “Instant Tunes,” “Spinning Top,” and “Neon Shuffle”. Most of these songs are about the transformative, liberating power of music, whether it’s for awkward British teens or the new generation in other countries (and esp. communist ones). The material gets better as the band, ahem, matured. From Go2: “Meccanic Dancing,” “Crowded Room,” and “The Rhythm”. From **Drums & Wires** : “Life Begins at the Hop”. You can look up the lyrics to one and all on the XTC fansite [Chalkhills.org](http://Chalkhills.org) – Archives – Lyrics (my server is unresponsive right now, so I can’t link it, sorry). ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-joy-of-music/306200/43 "2005-06-02T02:02:34Z")
Not sure if this is what the OP is looking for, but the first thing that popped into my head: [The Late Greats](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/wilco/lategreats.html) by **Wilco** ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-joy-of-music/306200/44 "2005-06-02T02:22:30Z")
Lots of Old School Rap: Ice T - I’m Your Pusher L’Trimm - The Cars That Go Boom Eric B & Rakim - Every other song Rakim did celebrated rap anmd hip. Move The Crowd, Check Out My Melody, Make 'Em Clap To This, Pump Up The Volume, Don’t Sweat The Technique LL Cool J - I Can’t Live Without My Radio Kool Moe Dee - I Go To Work MC Lyte - I Rock The Party ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-joy-of-music/306200/45 "2005-06-02T03:06:52Z")
A Praise Chorus, by Jimmy Eat World. About, as they say, nostalgia (especially for music) never letting you down. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-joy-of-music/306200.md?page=2)