One never knows why people like the songs that they do, why they remember certain songs over other ones, or why they prefer one over the other.
Certainly, if I were to select my favorite DMV songs, few of these would be on my list.
I suppose there is just no accounting for taste.
In reference to these songs:
If the World Ends Tomorrow
This one is probably the most remembered one because the title is the primary content of the entire song (kind’a like, “Born in the USA”). Even so, it is a good song, otherwise also.
- Saying that You Love Me
This song is about some woman that DMV works with and likes. They spend a lot of time living and working together. She fancies him and expresses her love for him. He kindly rejects her because he’s in love with someone else but still wants to retain the friendship. (I don’t think men could care less about this song, but who knows.)
One Way to Two
A song about a charismatic personality with the ability to get followers by sleight of hand, with certain sarcastic overtones. I’m not sure what the intent was; nonetheless, here it sits as the third most requested and popular DMV tune. Go figure.
California Girls
This song was written on-the-fly out of DMV’s overwhelmed response to seeing so many beautiful, scantily-clad women while performing in California (written in Palm Springs). A blatant Beach Boys rip-off, received a vote of approval from Sonny Bono.
- Island Girl in the City
A song about a girl (there’s a few of those on the Top 20 list; might cause one to think that’s all DMV wrote about) from an island who has relocated to the city and it appears that someone has developed a secret crush on her.
There’s Something
Presumably a song about an unfaithful wife of whom the husband (the singer of the song) is suspicious but unable to put his finger on what’s up (probably a good thing).
How to Say the Words
A DMV song about someone who has a secret crush (a familiar theme) but finds it difficult to find the words to express his/her feelings.
- Today
This is a decent song about frolicking with someone – maybe even being in love with someone – where just enjoying the time spent with that person is revered as joyous and wonderful, even if only for today. Notably one of DMV’s first three songs written for his band, Blue Flax.
- Hurt Me
A family man gets trashed by his wife and wallows in the pain. Accept the caveat from Tom Cruise in Cocktail, “Jesus, everything ends badly, otherwise it wouldn’t end.”
Contemplate the Mysteries
Some new-age something-or-other that women of a particular persuasion might like due to the vocabulary of the song’s content. (Gives you an idea of the type of person who would vote for this song.)
- Nightmare
Heart-wrenching tune about a mother whose daughter was brutally killed and is having trouble accepting the identity of the body. (Warning: this is a little disturbing.)
- Kool Kat Kitty
Second Blue Flax song (to the tune of Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode) about a young man from his hometown who makes good singing his original songs, while the singer of this song wishes he’d gone with him when he had the chance.
When I Get Down
One of the earliest DMV songs; a longtime favorite that is performed either with acoustic guitar(s) and/or keyboards, soulful, lonely song with some religious references.
- Where’d the War Be?
Where would the war be without the guns and bombs necessary to fight an effective campaign? Who supplies all that weaponry? (Who, exactly, is this song about? … This song may be heavier than it sounds.)
- Cannibal Girls
What man hasn’t almost been eaten alive by one of the original cannibal girls? They’d just as soon eat you as look at you. You think you’re in for a good time when they ask you to dinner, not realizing that you’re the meal. (Silly delivery, should’ve been a more gritty song.)
- Rebound Blues
Okay, so you’ve been dumped. Now what? You get approached by everyone offering a roll in the hay to help relieve your broken heart. Looks like this guy’s not falling for that offer.
- I Can’t Get Enough
It’s one of those it’s a love-song about a woman/no it’s a love-song about God… Well, it’s a little obvious; it’s pretty much just about God. Really not very clandestine.
- What You Do for You
This song promotes the idea that maybe we’d all be better off if we were just a little less selfish, because all the stuff is fleeting on the stage called, “life.”
- Every Time I Try to Help
If you have kids – especially teenagers – who you try to support and reason with, and they still do not respect your efforts; you already know what this song’s about.
- Top Secret
Obviously a song about stuff that we hide from each other; I mean, we wouldn’t want everyone to know all of our personal stuff, right?
If you have a better idea about what these songs are about, please don’t hesitate to chime-in below…
