Isn't that odd, how music makes us behave? My mother was a semi-professional entertainer who adored Judy Garland. When we laid her to rest, we played 'Over The Rainbow' at her funeral - but I INSISTED that the version they played was the one that she sang as a frail adult. I will never forget that day.
I cannot over emphasise the sheer brilliance of the lyrics and musical structure of this song (along with Alone Again Naturally). This is someone who has crafted a song with great care and attention to detail. True genius. I salute you Mr O'Sullivan.
Back then I was taking a music course in college and the professor was teaching us that what we were taught earlier, that the time signature beats_per_measure / what note gets one beat was B.S.. His example was 6/8 time. There are only two beats per measure. He challenged us to go out and find a song in 6/8 time. The examples the other students brought in were not 6/8 time. I played "Nothing Rhymed" for him and it looked like his jaw dropped a foot. He said he couldn't believe it, a modern pop song in 6/8 time.
You've said all could not agree more, a Masterpiece of work what an artist. Never given the credit he deserved instead, this society more often celebrates talentless Trash.
My idol when I was 14yrs old, now I'm 64yrs old, I've always Loved Gilbert's music 🎶 I remember I use to have a scrap book filled with Gilbert O'Sulluvan photos and I use to watch top of the pops every Thursday just to see Gilbert singing and playing his piano. I admired him so much for his music and lyrics and his piano playing and his good looks, being an orphan I only had music to make life bearable because my mother passed away when I was 2yrs old and my father when I was 4yrs old and I was born in 1960. Those were the days, anyway I just want to say thank you Gilbert for making me love your music and you, you don't know how you kept me going, my family at the time when I was 14yrs old use to take the mikey out of me because I was infatuated with you but every time you appealed on T.V. back in 1974 they called me downstairs to watch you on t.v. They will never understand why I admired you, it was because of your talent and simplicity of words into music 🎶. I hope you are well and healthy and Thank You for your Music 🎶 xxx Love from Patsy.
For the song writer this is pure magic. For the orchestra it was a pleasure. Genius piece of writing by a very humble man. God Bless You Gilbert O` Sullivan.
My beautiful wife and I bought our first house nearly 50 years ago. We had little money and a box full of LPs one of which was Himself by the great man.We played it to death all through that summer. I played it again recently and now both nearly 70 were shot right back to 1971 the orange curtains the turquoise formica kitchen table .New love that grew. Thanks for posting this I agree G.O underrated
Can not, and do not want to understand what Gilbert (Raymond) sings. This song is telling beyond understanding. I hate the sentimental violins yet the music is sheer genius. This song will ring on forever.
This man was truly talented. He took the 70's by storm and went from plain old singer to pop star in a minute. He was so different, and to this day nothing has matched his visual originality, or his musical writing skills.
Went to see him recently in Cork....burst into tears....in my 50's, first heard Gilbert in the 70's. He's come along with me musically. They guy is just different....
This man should've been a damn sight bigger than he was. A genius with lyrics, and not too shabby in the melody department either!! This song has a tendency to induce little rivulets running down my face. A TRUE musician!!!!
Absolutely. My late sister interviewed him for her Irish newspaper back when he was wearing short trousers. I didn't get it. I do now and wish I had asked her about it and him. He is a genius song-writer: word-play, word pictures, completely capturing everyday life. Every song he sings is a wonder. Mind you, he is Irish as I am and that Irish Catholic thing runs through it.
una mckillen Yes he is a very talented writer, there's no doubt about it. The middle eight counter plays against the verse perfectly. It's pretty much as good as anything really.
If I give up the seat I've been saving To some elderly lady or man Am I being a good boy Am I your pride and joy Mother please if your pleased say I am And if while in the course of my duty I perform an unfortunate take Would you punish me so, unbelievably so Never again will I make that mistake This feeling inside me could never deny me The right to be wrong if I choose And this pleasure I get From say winning a bet Is to lose When I'm drinking my Bonaparte Shandy Eating more than enough apple pies Will I glance at my screen and see real human beings starve to death Right in front of my eyes Nothing old, nothing new, nothing ventured Nothing gained, nothing still-born or lost, Nothing further than proof nothing wilder than youth Nothing older than time, nothing sweeter than wine Nothing physically, recklessly, hopelessly blind Nothing I couldn't say Nothing why 'cause today Nothing rhymed This feeling inside me could never deny me The right to be wrong if I choose, And this pleasure I get From say winning a bet Is to lose Nothing good, nothing bad, nothing ventured Nothing gained, nothing still-born or lost, Nothing further than proof nothing wilder than youth Nothing older than time, nothing sweeter than wine Nothing physically, recklessly, hopelessly blind Nothing I couldn't say Nothing why 'cause today Nothing rhymed
I can't help but admire the simplicity of the songs and the songwriting talent of this great man . . . I was brought up listening to Gilbert's songs and can relate to each and everyone. . . without doubt a songwriting genius.
I think, like Leonard Cohen, he's a poet put to music. I totally agree with your assessment. I loved heavy rock when I was a teenager yet when I listen to Gilbert I find that I can sing along and know all the lyrics. Beautiful. An ex colleague recently went to see his 50th anniversary concert! She posted on FB that he hadn't lost any of his exuberance, stayed behind for two hours talking to fans and signing autographs then he was going to a party. I adore him.
Can you believe this was 45 years ago?????? Sheer genius - and just look at the pure, unrefined SHITE we are offered as "music" these days. Thanks for the great memories Gilbert.
+Ricky J.P. Ugh, I am SO TIRED of cranks griping about "this music today". Google "Winged Beat Drums" or "Goddess On a Highway" and tell me there aren't intelligent songwriters still publishing. What really burns me is that nowadays we have a TON of services that will help you locate new music that suits your tastes and people still whine about "having" to listen to Rhianna and Justin Bieber. If you don't look, you'll never find.
+Ricky J.P. Well, in general, every ninny who gripes about "unrefined SHITE", but in case the math is unclear, I'm calling YOU a crank, you crank. I don't listen to ANY music I don't enjoy, and that isn't hard these days, so I can't imagine why you have any idea what "music these days" sounds like unless you listen to it just to annoy yourself. That's pretty cranky behavior in my book.
+steveasat2 gilbert is from my home town in waterford . some fuking song writer... music is allways going to be driven by the times and the money . drop the handbags ...
What I really like about Gilbert O'Sullivan is that his songs are delightfully unpredictable and full of musical surprises at every corner, liking walking through a mysterious and magical never ending garden. Truly unique.
+lake fire It's funny, the kids today I'm sure will one day listen to this music and realise that truth. I thought the birdie song and Culture club were good.
That's quite close minded mate. There are plenty of great artists today who work hard and put love and passion in their music... Of course opinions differ. But at least take the time to research the non-mainstream music of today.
Your absolutely right Rick. Some say after the 70's musicians just plagiarise. Its more difficult. My point was not about contemporary musicians who are often passionate and learn from previous masters but about our youth.
Yes, these are thoughtful lyrics and Gilbert was a thoughtful song-writer. There were a lot of them around in the 60s and 70s; later not so sure. I guess song-writing talent is still out there but there are less mechanisms and we do exalt the mediocre.
I think Gilbert O'Sullivan, like Bobby Dylan, Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen and a host of other 60's 70's artists were more like literary figures, who wrote beautiful poetry with their music. I absolutely loved and worshipped the talent that was around in the 60's, 70's and 80's. It was like a renaissance in culture with these people. Used to be the case that you had to go on the road and prove you had a track record of raw unplugged talent to get a contact with a music company. Now all you have to do is look like a model, they give you a contract and pump your out-of-tune voice through a computer.Packaging, not talent', is all that matters in today's music industry.
The 'Bonaparte Shandy' verse is as perfect a lyric as has ever been written - ever. Presumably about the Biafran war, much publicised around the time he wrote it, but of course those supreme words are as relevant today as ever.
@@steveforest8385 I read that he had some hassle about referring to 'Napolean Brandy' so, fed up, simply changed it, though I think I prefer your version!
Als je ouder gaat worden begrijp je wat Gilbert hiermee bedoel, geniaal, Nothing Rhymed is niet alleen een 70's jeugd herinnering, luister naar de tekst, mooi!
Great well chosen lyrics. A song that not only hasn't aged, but a song that actually sounds better and better with each passing year. Timeless. A true classic!
I met the work of Gilbert O'Sullivan a teenager in Brazil. It was a time of military dictatorship! I could buy (for me, it was very expensive!!) your LP Alone Again (Naturally) and I was delighted with your music, voice and musical arrangements! Even in a tough time, I got it, along with several friends, enjoy good music! To this day, I still have this LP! Thanks Gilbert O'Sullivan!
absolutely one of the best lyrics of his era!! it made an emotional impact to me and i have been playing it over and over again. this man is a deep thinker. He is not a light weight, and I can't figure out why he is not as well known as thousands of less talented songwriters!!
So true. Respect to Gilbert O`Sullivan but he really is recognised and loved for his talent by those who appreciate a great singer/song writer of the highest regard. Didn`t George Martin once say the Beetles would have been very proud of those songs. That`s recognition if ever you needed it.
The Irish have always been underrated, especially because of who runs the music industry. He was famous during the wars between the English and the IRA and during the early 70s being Irish was an irrelevance
There is something really fulfilling about being right about an artist before everyone else. That happened to me when I heard this, my introduction to Gilbert O'Sullivan. I was drawn to the wicked, tangled-up lyrics and the cheekily innocent sounding vocals and thought two things at once; why isn't this a #1 smash...because it's just too damned good. From the look of this video (which I am seeing for the first time), he changed nothing of himself but his wardrobe and the next thing he released here in the USA about year later was "Alone Again Naturally." You and I know where that ended up.
Drinking my Bonaparte Shandy! Such poetry, if this was released today it would be a massive hit. The look, lyrics and audience appeal were spot on then - and would be now.
I was 6..I heard his songs year after(1972 dec), when we had the worst air accident in Norway..some in my family gave his CD that year as a Christmas gift..
I was a teenager racing around all over the place when this was a hit. At the time I expect I never really listened to the music of Gilbert. Now in 2016 the minute I hear his songs I am back in the seventies and I miss the simpler happy times. Gilbert is a music great.
Wonderfully talented, massively underrated songwriter and performer. In the mould of the late and great Gerry Rafferty, they’re both up there with the best.
I remember this being on tv for the first time and we LOVED IT. We became fans there and then. My dad loved his music and 22 years after his death I still do...
I'm almost 70 and came across this song from my lost youth. 20 at the time,I liked it, but didn't quite register as it does now. His first hit and for me although Claire,Alone again are brilliant songs in their own right,this, for me is his signature song and his masterpiece . The lyrics need listening to intently, as they can pass you by quite easily. I am so so delighted to be re acquainted with this genius of a song. I get much more pleasure listening to it now than I did as a 20 year old at the time.
I'm almost 50 and I notice that I have had the same experience with songs that I knew from my childhood. I guess these songs sort of like mature with you as you become older. The true understanding and meaning of some lyrics come with life experience. They require some type of wisdom. Not seldomly I was struck by the fact that these artists seem to possess that particular wisdom already at a relatively young age.
he is a great songwriter gilbert comes from waterford where my mother was born he makes great songs this is my favourite i love this song so much i got it on my i pod. this song is older than me shame i was'nt around in the seventies to enjoy this mans music.
Masterpiece 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟remember when it came out first i was so young and the lyrics moved me inside❤💙💜💛💚 Beautiful song📀📀📀📀 if i give up the seat ive been saving to some elderly lady or man now im the elderly man And on the bus 🚍very nice young people give up there seat for me 🪑yeah great song Nothing Rhymed
exellent all his songs are a work of lyrical genius it was a shame his record company shafted him but he got his due in the end a nice humble man the music world is a better place with him in it.
The more you listen to his music the more you realise how great it is, great tunes and meaningful lyrics. He deserves much more airplay and recognition than he gets.
Amigos del mundo musical les presento la primera obra de arte de este genio irlandés(gran compositor), creador de TODOS sus temas, LETRA Y MÚSICA. Este Nothing Rhymed fue versionado por artistas de la talla de Tom Jones, Yvonne Elliman, Clodagh Rodgers, Burton Cummings(ex-voz de The Guess Who), Cliff Richard, I Profeti(de Italia) y luego por Bertin Osborne!!!! Solo por nombrar a los artistas más conocidos.GRANDE GILBERT!!!!!!!!!!!!
This man is so talented and is rightly up there with the best singer/songwriters not only this country has produced but worldwide,he a super super talented genius 👏 👏👏👏😊
I think a month ago I heared this song on the radio while driving to work. At that moment I realized it was a 40 years old song. I really enjoyed it and it wasn’t a problem to remember the words. Fortunately no one heard my singing. It made my day ❤️
