"Dear Boy" is kind of straightforward as a song. Then it is, again, that dreamy wall of sound (using backing vocals mainly to create the wall) that make it special. Paul was experimenting. Many of his solo albums have this experimental... almost unfinished feel to them. While I love the stereo separation of the main vocals from the backing vocals in the song... it is a nostalgic thing for me... I think later in the song the wall of sound effect has a better feel to it. It is nice to begin a song with simple elements then move to complex... but.... those elements have a heavy load to bear when highlighted alone.
Then... well, what do you make of this? Tied together by sound... "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey / Smile Away". "Smile Away".... let's call that a ballad. :) "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" was a moment for me as it put together this sound (which was far different than I had been used to) into a very polished composition with orchestration and everything it needed to succeed. In fact, I would guess that this song helped more than any other to help me accept the vast changes Paul's sound seemed to be going through. Since then, I have heard enough outtakes to realize that not much had really changed at all with the exception of adding Linda's vocals, a little creativity, a carefree manner, and that country twang. :)
"Dear Boy"
Once again. I need to correct those lyrics... well, a project for another time...
I guess you never knew, dear boy, what you have found,
I guess you never knew, dear boy,
That she was just the cutest thing around,
I guess you never knew what you have found,
Dear boy.
I guess you never knew, dear boy,
That love was there.
And maybe when you look to hard, dear boy,
You never do become aware,
I guess you never did become aware,
Dear boy.
When i stepped in, my heart was down and out,
But her love came through and brought me 'round,
Got me up and about.
Dear boy,
Dear boy, dear boy,
Dear boy.
When i stepped in, my heart was down and out,
But her love came through and brought me 'round,
Got me up and about.
I hope you never know, dear boy,
How much you missed.
And even when you fall in love, dear boy,
It won't be half as good as this.
I hope you never know how much you missed,
Dear boy, how much you missed, dear boy
"Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey"
We're so sorry, uncle albert,
We're so sorry if we caused you any pain.
We're so sorry, uncle albert,
But there's no one left at home
And i believe i'm gonna rain.
We're so sorry but we haven't heard a thing all day,
We're so sorry, uncle albert,
But if anything should happen
We'll be sure to give a ring.
"we're so sorry, uncle albert,
But we haven't done a bloody thing all day.
We're so sorry, uncle albert,
But the kettle's on the boil
And we're so eas'ly called away."
Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh,
Doo-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh,
Uh-uh -
Hands across the water, heads across the sky,
Hands across the water, heads across the sky.
Admiral Halsey notified me,
He had to have a berth or he couldn't get to sea.
I had another look and i had a cup of tea and a butter pie.
"couldn't put it in something else
So i put it in the pie, alright!"
Hands across the water, heads across the sky,
Hands across the water, heads across the sky.
Live a little, be a gypsy, get around,
Get your feet up off the ground,
Live a little, get around.
Live a little, be a gypsy, get around,
Get your feet up off the ground,
Live a little, get around.
Hands across the water, heads across the sky,
Hands across the water, heads across the sky.
"Smile Away"
I was walking down the street the other day,
Who did i meet?
I met a friend of mine and he did say:
"man, i can smell your feet a mile away."
Smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah, smile away,
Smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah, smile away.
Yeah, smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah, smile away,
Smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah, smile away.
I was walking down the street the other day,
Ah, who did i meet?
I met a friend of mine and he just said:
"man, i can smell your breath a mile away."
Smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah, smile away, oh,
Ho! smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah, smile away.
Ah, smile away sweetly now,
Come on now, ooh, sweetly smile away,
Yes, sir! smile away,
Now, smile away quietly now,
Oooh, ho, ho, ho.
Smile away horribly now,
Smile away, smile away, smile away,
Yes, sir! smile away,
Ah-oh,
Ooh.
Ah, who did i meet?
I met a friend of mine and he did say:
"man, i can smell your teeth a mile away."
Smile away, uhhh, smile away, uhhh,
Smile away, uhhh, smile away, uhhh,
Smile away, uhhh, smile away, uhhh,
Smile away, uhhh, smile away,
Once again. I need to correct those lyrics... well, a project for another time...
