Words used to not come easily to me. I heard this bottom-of-the-tier ’80s greatest-ballads, synth-produced track from the early ’80s, and it seemed to encapsulate my prepubescent loving. I hung on every word as if it had come straight out of my unformulated brain.
Then boom, like a bomb had hit… I lost my South African sweetheart Cheryl, which I wrote about in my post 20 Seconds of Insane Courage.
“Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, just literally 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery, and I promise you something great will come of it.”
Well, this frigidity I was consumed by couldn’t have been summed up better in a song than here. It’s all to blame for my losing Cheryl and, hey man, F.R. David, you have some explaining to do. And I’m now a-talkin’. You have to talk to the girl, for God’s sake – be a man!
I was channel zapping the other night and saw one of the opening scenes of ‘The Notebook‘ where Ryan Gosling goes full hammer for his girl on the Ferris Wheel. That’s the man and gets to what Muddy Waters was going all ballistic about it in the Last Waltz concert.
I don’t think I’ve downplayed a song I was to present as much as this one. But you get where I was going.
It’s nice, well, kinda, to be jolted back to the music you used to listen to and still feel some nostalgic attachment to it, even if, in part, it was your unmaking.
Words was released as a single in 1982 from F.R. David’s same-named debut album. The song was a huge European hit, even peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart. In Australia, where I was unlucky enough to hear it, the single peaked at number 12 and spent 41 weeks in the Top 100 across two chart runs throughout 1983 and early 1984.
The rest, they say, is history – and sadly, mine.
[Chorus]
Words don’t come easy to me
How can I find a way to make you see I love you?
Words don’t come easy
Words don’t come easy to me
This is the only way for me to say I love you
Words don’t come easy
[Verse 1]
Well, I’m just a music man, melodies are so far my best friend
But my words are coming out wrong, girl, I reveal my heart to you
And hope that you believe it’s true ’cause
[Chorus]
Words don’t come easy to me
How can I find a way to make you see I love you?
Words don’t come easy
[Verse 2]
This is just a simple song that I’ve made for you on my own
There’s no hidden meaning you know when I, when I say I love you, honey
Please believe, I really do ’cause
[Chorus]
Words don’t come easy to me
How can I find a way to make you see I love you?
Words don’t come easy
[Bridge]
It isn’t easy, words don’t come easy
[Chorus]
Words don’t come easy to me
How can I find a way to make you see I love you?
Words don’t come easy
Don’t come easy to me
This is the only way for me to say I love you
Words don’t come easy
Don’t come easy
References:
1. Words (F. R. David song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
I don’t recall ever hearing this song, though I can see why it would be anchored in such a tumultuous memory. Glad to see that words come easier now!
The song reached only No. 62 in the US and No. 9 in Canada on the Adult Contemporary chart. I think in my neck of the woods, Australia, at the time of its release, it probably received comparatively more airplay.
Re its association with that tumultuous memory, it didn’t come to me until I began the article. I was in a strange, whimsical mood and thought this might be an interesting angle with a touch of dark humour. Upon rereading it, though, I’m disappointed I didn’t give the song more respect instead offloading my silly personal story. I suppose it was meant to get out – like perhaps a twisted therapeutic exercise. Lol.
As always, thanks for commenting Steve.
You’re welcome, Matt. It’s funny what can shake loose while listening to an old favourite.
Personally, I’ve sometimes gone the route of focusing on the memories vs deep analysis of the song, and I think that’s a good thing. There are often many voices taking apart the song; I like to read about what a song does to somebody. Sometimes it is indeed therapeutic!
For me, it was so satisfying to read how your relaying of personal connections and the history of the song conveyed a more meaningful and relatable analysis. I couldn’t agree more about that rather than the rote, by-the-numbers music article. It was very timely and beneficial to read that from my own perspective. So thanks! However, I think in the case of this song, ‘Words’, I may have overdone the ‘woe is me’ part. But anyways, no one is perfect. Lol.
You’re welcome! The recollection of teenage lamentation didn’t feel overdone at all. It’s written in your own style, which I enjoy, and I thought it worked.
And on top of all that, it’s true… none of us is perfect. Press on, mate!
Your encouraging words means a lot Steve. Thank you Sir.
Always a pleasure, Sir.