Sandy Denny song: Solo

Subject: Sandy Denny song: Solo
From: Helen
Date: 03 Jan 22 - 03:09 PM

Hi all,

I tried to find a general thread on Sandy Denny's songs and although a Forum search shows a lot of threads about her and her music, I couldn't seem to find a thread just generally about her.

I only have one of her albums, Like an Old Fashioned Waltz, which I have on vinyl so I haven't heard it for at least 20 years as I haven't fired up the "gramophone" for quite a while.

One song which keeps popping into my head during the COVID times here in Australia is Solo.

Solo
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Sandy Denny
Solo lyrics © BMG Rights Management


Good morning, good afternoon,
And what have you got to say?
Well I'm waiting, but I can't stay long,
It's such a lovely day.

There's a time to be talking
And a time when it's no use.
Right now I think the things you say
Are liable to confuse.

I've just gone solo.
Do you play solo?
Ain't life a solo?
What a wonderful way to live,

She's traveling all over the world.
Why, the fame and all the golden
Opportunities unfurled.
No time for the gent with the Mulliner Bentley

And heaven knows what else.
Why, he wouldn't even stand a chance
With all his oil-wells.
She just went solo.

Do you play solo?
Ain't life a solo?
I've always lived in a mansion
On the other side of the moon.

I've always kept a unicorn
And I never sing out of tune.
I could tell you that the grass is really greener
On the other side of the hill,

But I can't communicate with you
And I guess I never will.
We've all gone solo.
We all play solo.

Ain't life a solo?


So you are probably wondering what COVID and Australia have to do with this earworm I have been experiencing.

Well, our Prime Minister's name is Scott Morrison, commonly known in the media as ScoMo, and he has been copping a fair bit of flak about the way he has handled the pandemic and especially about the slowness of the rollout of the vaccinations early in the pandemic. He has also been under fire for a few other non-COVID issues over the last couple of years.

So I think that the reason the song has been popping into my head during the pandemic has been the name ScoMo and the first two verses are especially relevant for me.

Now, before you have a go at me for sullying the wonderful memory of Sandy Denny and her beautiful songs and singing voice, this is just my brain subconsciously connecting the song with the current situation in Oz.

I think I'll have to buy the album on CD so that I can listen to it again and enjoy it. I doubt whether I'll be breaking out the record player in the near future.

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny song: Solo
From: Reinhard
Date: 03 Jan 22 - 04:44 PM

You can listen to the song on YouTube, e.g. Solo (BBC John Peel Session).

And the verse structure is somewhat botched in the lyrics you copied; the chorus has three lines:

SOLO

Good morning, good afternoon,
And what have you got to say?
Well I'm waiting, but I can't stay long,
It's such a lovely day.
There's a time to be talking
And a time when it's no use.
Right now I think the things you say
Are liable to confuse.

I've just gone solo.
Do you play solo?
Ain't life a solo?

What a wonderful way to live,
She's travelling all over the world.
Why, the fame and all the golden
Opportunities unfurled.
No time for the gent with the Mulliner Bentley
And heaven knows what else.
Why, he wouldn't even stand a chance
With all his oil-wells.

She just went solo.
Do you play solo?
Ain't life a solo?

I've always lived in a mansion
On the other side of the moon.
I've always kept a unicorn
And I never sing out of tune.
I could tell you that the grass is really greener
On the other side of the hill,
But I can't communicate with you
And I guess I never will.

We've all gone solo.
We all play solo.
Ain't life a solo?

(Copyright © 1973 Warlock Music)

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny song: Solo
From: Helen
Date: 03 Jan 22 - 06:26 PM

Thanks Reinhard,

Yes that version makes more sense. I just copied the lyrics which came up on the Google search page.

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny song: Solo
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Jan 22 - 07:20 PM

google search pages are interesting - I counted 20+ lyric sites with the same mondegreen in a famous Australian song when I was trying to post it on the Australia/NZ online songbook.