Love can be exhilarating, painful, deep, or fleeting. It takes many shapes—romantic, familial, platonic, and even a love for the world itself.
The beginnings and endings of loving relationships, and the spectrum of emotions in between, have inspired music of great power, joy, despair, beauty, sorrow and even humour.
The Heartstrings playlist explores love in all its forms. From the thrill of new romance to the ache of lost love, and from the tenderness of family bonds to an appreciation of life itself, these tracks tell a story of love’s kaleidoscopic dimensions.
I Know Where I’m Going – Odetta
Odetta sets the tone with a sense of love as a double-edged sword. This traditional ballad’s melody and heartfelt lyrics capture the feelings of both devotion and a yearning never to be fulfilled. The words subtly plant a question in the listener’s brain – will the singer ever be re-united with her beloved? Will she always have to choose between a comfortable life, and one with the man she adores? The music answers with uncertainty, ending without closure on a half-cadence and leaving the question dangling.
Jealous Love – Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack’s Jealous Love delves into the darker side of passion. Love isn’t always gentle, sometimes, it is consuming, filled with insecurity and longing. Womack’s soulful voice conveys the turmoil of jealousy, showing how love, when clouded by doubt, can become a source of pain rather than joy.
Is this Love – Bob Marley
This timeless anthem brings a warm and uplifting energy to the playlist. The lyrics in the song expresses the deep, unconditional love that Marley envisions. It’s a declaration of devotion and a belief in love’s power to provide comfort, security, and happiness.
Marriage Is for Old Folks – Nina Simone
In her signature sultry style, Simone provides a witty, unconventional take on romantic relationships. She challenges the notion of traditional commitment, celebrating instead the freedom and excitement of living outside societal expectations. It’s a playful yet profound reminder that love isn’t one-size-fits-all.
You Don’t Miss Your Water – Otis Redding
You Don’t Miss Your Water carries the weight of regret and lost love. With his signature raw emotion, Redding laments taking love for granted, realising its value only after it’s gone. This soulful ballad is a heart-wrenching testament to the lessons learned through heartbreak.
These Three Words – Stevie Wonder
Closing out the playlist is ‘These Three Words’, a song that shifts the focus to the love we often overlook—the simple yet profound bond of family and friendship. Wonder’s gentle, heartfelt lyrics remind us of the importance of expressing love and appreciation while we have the chance.
Hey Jukebox
Listen to a playlist of the songs discussed in this blog on Spotify, or in the Museum on Tuesday afternoons from 2.30pm.
Lead image: Debby Hudson via unsplash