Lyrical Dissonance

Have you ever heard a song that sounds very upbeat, with a catchy melody, but when you pay attention to the words, it turns out to be a very sad or depressing song? That came to mind yesterday when, in a furtive attempt to cheer people up during the cold, depressing winter weather we're experiencing, the song leader at my Rotary club selected "You Are My Sunshine" as the song of the day.

If you aren't familiar with the lyrics, here is the main chorus:

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray;
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

Most people are already familiar with that refrain. How many are familiar with the next verse, which goes like this:

The other nite, dear,
As I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
When I awoke, dear,
I was mistaken
And I hung my head and cried.

And then there are other verses, which normally don't get included in the song. These were available online, and I assume some versions of the song include them:

I'll always love you
And make you happy
If you will only say the same
But if you leave me
To love another
You'll regret it all some day;

Chorus

You told me once, dear
You really loved me
And no one else could come between
But now you've left me
And love another
You have shattered all my dreams;

Chorus

Real cheery stuff, isn't it? At the time, I knew there was a musical term that described such a juxtaposition of upbeat music and downbeat lyrics, but I couldn't think of it. Today, I googled for the following search terms: "music term lyrics song don't match upbeat sad." In return, this website came back as the sixth hit for that search. So, not only do I now know that the correct terminology is lyrical dissonance, but I also have many, many examples of such lyrical dissonance provided by listeners around the Web.

I'll have to include the lyrics or a reference to "You Are My Sunshine," since that song has not made the list yet. There are some excellent examples of lyrical dissonance provided at that website, including many songs I wouldn't normally think of, but which make perfect sense after someone else suggests them.

However, in addition to the omission of "Sunshine," people left out perhaps the master of all songwriters when it comes to lyrical dissonance. I'm talking about none other than Declan Patrick McManus, AKA Elvis Costello. Almost every song he's written and/or sung, be it with his band The Attractions or in his solo career, has had some measure of lyrical dissonance. From early work such as "Alison" and "Radio, Radio" to later hits such as "Veronica" and "Every Day I Write the Book," Costello's songs often strike upbeat, cheery melodies... ...but the lyrics couldn't be darker.

Costello also covered "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" in excellent fashion, with an upbeat tempo. He also did a cover of Burt Bacharach's "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" for the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack, another example of what sounds like a beautiful little love song, but whose lyrics make it certain he'll never open up his heart to another.

I've been very impressed with this phenomenon every time I listen to an Elvis Costello song, but I wasn't motivated to learn the musical term behind it until yesterday's singing of "You Are My Sunshine." Funny how that works.