At first (so to speak), Helen’s prompt for today’s extravaganza of music and lyrics stumped me. The only song I could think of was Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” the multiple Grammy winner that launched her into the music scene in the early ’70’s. I was sure someone would pick that one up right away (and I think I’ll be upset if someone doesn’t). So I was stuck. I went to sleep on it, and woke up hearing the lyrics “First step, bla bla bla bla bla, second step, bla bla bla…” I hate when that happens, when I can’t remember the name of the song or who did it, just a few of the lyrics and the style of music.
Thanks to that washday miracle, The Internet, that turned out to be enough. My song today is “Step By Step,” title track from Eddie Rabbitt’s 1981 album, part of the explosion of “new country” that started in the late ’70’s and picked up steam in the ’80’s. It was written by Rabbitt, David Malloy, and Even Stevens. It was Rabbitt’s ninth #1 song on the Country chart, and a big crossover hit, reaching #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #5 on the Hot 100.
The lyrics, courtesy of AZLyrics:
She seems a million miles away
When she walks by you don’t know what to say
You gonna make a move, you better make it now
Don’t be afraid, cause love will show you how
You take that first step
Ask her out and treat her like a lady
Second step
Tell her she’s the one you’re dreaming of
Third step
Take her in your arms and never let her go
Don’t you know step by step
Step by step
You’ll win her love
She looks too beautiful to touch
But your heart keeps talking to you now
Don’t give up
You think you see something in her eye
But you will never know until you try
But you gotta take that first step
Ask her out and treat her like a lady
Second step
Tell her she’s the one you’re dreaming of
Third step
Take her in your arms and never let her go
Don’t you know that step by step
Step by step
You’ll win her love
Second step…
Third step…
Don’t you know step by step
Step by step
First step
Ask her out and treat her like a lady
Second step
Tell her she’s the one you’re dreaming of
Third step
Take her in your arms and never let her go
Don’t you know that step by step
Step by step
You’ll win her love
Second step…
Third step…
don’t you know step by step
Step by step
First step
Ask her out and treat her like a lady
Second step
Tell her she’s the one you’re dreaming of
Third step
Take her in your arms and never let her go
Don’t you know that step by step
Step by step
You’ll win her love
That Internet thingy… I think it’s going to catch on…
That’s Song Lyric Sunday for November 25, 2018.
So frustrating when you can’t remember a song title isn’t it? How did we live without the internet! Didn’t know this one but good choice 😊
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We used to drive record store owners and our friends crazy trying to think of the song. Remember?
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I do remember it well John :O) I also remember playing music on cassette – winding forward and backwards for ages trying to find one track – happy days :O) x
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For that reason, I tried to avoid cassettes as much as possible.
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Very wise ;O) x
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That was a good find John. I’d never heard of it, but it was nice. 🙂
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It is nice, at that. He also wrote “Kentucky Rain” that Elvis did, and “I Love A Rainy Night.”
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Oh I’ll have to look for the Rainy Night. Thanks!
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Nice! So glad for the washday miracle :). I always thought of this as pop but “new” country makes more sense.
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I look at “new” country, that began to permeate the airwaves after 1978 or so, as a mixture of country and popular music, although Chet Atkins and his “Nashville Sound” in the ’60’s (more of a subtracting of the twangier elements of country music) was a precursor to that. So calling it pop wouldn’t have been that big of a deal.
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Been a long time since hearing this song. It’s a good one, tender with a good chorus. Eddie Rabbit had a lot of hits!
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He’s a member of the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame, so he’s written quite a few great songs, and he’s a fantastic singer as well.
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This happens to me all the time. I find myself googling lyrics or partial lyrics all the time, it’s worse when I remember the words wrong. This is a great song. Eddie Rabbit is a favorite of mine from days gone by.
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I didn’t realize he had passed away until I looked him up. He wrote a lot of great songs and I think country singers will be doing them well into the future (and if they don’t, they don’t know what they’re missing).
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I haven’t heard this one in a long time. I didn’t know he wrote Kentucky Rain which is one of my favorite Elvis songs. I Love A Rainy Night is another good one. Happy Sunday, John.
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“Kentucky Rain” is my favorite Elvis song. You can just hear the frustration and sadness in the lyrics. Just the image of walking through the rain, not caring how wet you get as long as you find someone, is very evocative…
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Loved this song and had such a crush on Eddie…but don’t let that get out! LOL! 😀
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Your secret is safe with me… 😉
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