Wanted
This is the first in our multi-part series reviewing the songs from Andy’s new Letters to the Editor, Vol. 1. Today we address the first track on the album: Wanted.
Every night I have the very same dream
You and I are staring at the TV
Then the power dies, the roof goes flying
And we’re running for our lives
Outside a river’s in the streets
Boats and copters where the cars used to be
The world ends and you take my hand
And set me free
Andy starts out with a surreal picture of a dream, and who hasn’t had a dream like this before? Now, maybe some of these pictures aren’t so surreal after Hurricane Katrina a couple years ago. In the midst of all the chaos, what’s important?
Cause you
You’re the only thing
I really need
And if you say that you want me, too
I’ll believe you to follow through
All I want is to be wanted by you
Now we’re to the heart of this beautiful little love song – all I want is to be wanted by you. I could try to paint some more words here and elaborate, but hey, Andy’s the writer here – I’m only the geek who writes reviews. Suffice it to say that this song has gotten one of the biggest initial responses on his blog; I think a lot of people resonate with it.
Or I’m flying in the sky
I try to fall but I just rise
Just like always I’m afraid
This is goodbye
And I wake in a cold sweat
I look at you
You’re sleeping yet
And in the rhythm of your breath
I can’t forget
Again with the dreams, but this time they are filled with loss and fear – is this goodbye? But then the wakefulness, and the reminder that it was just a dream.
Musically, this song sets the tone for the album. We’re introduced to a wonderful melody, some gentle acoustic guitar, and the layered harmonies that show up throughout the album. Toward the end he dispenses with the guitar altogether and gives us an a capella taste of a couple of lines that are strongly reminiscent of the Beach Boys.
In my mind, Wanted isn’t necessarily the strongest song on the EP, but it is a solid start and a song that will be loved by Andy fans for many years to come.
Amen.
I also found it interesting (after having it pointed out to me by my good buddy Clyde) that the desire of wanting to be wanted by our significant other, is still there even in marriage. I struggle, being single, with wanting someone to want me. I guess I just always thought it was a single person’s desire. But its neat to see the honesty from Andy here about the desire to be wanted even in marriage.
Anyway… yeah there’s that
tk
Hello friends. Thanks Tony. I believe that the story is really focused on a one-sided long term relationship, where as we all have experienced in some form or another, the opposite of love which is not hate, but rather indifference. This kind of silence is more harmful than harsh words. The reason I come to this conclusion is that the narrator states in a hopeful manner, “if you say that you want me too, I’ll believe you to follow through.”
Sadly in our fallen world we witness too many marriages not stricken with violence, but apathy.
I’d also like to say I don’t feel that this particular story is told from Andrew’s perspective.
Oh, and since I’m talking, I feel that this may well be the strongest track on the record.
i know this is a page back on the blog here, but i echo the fact that i think this is the best song on the ep.
it’s arresting and i immediately connected with it, understood it. it also has been stuck in my head sine the first day i heard it.