On Currency of Man, Gardot takes on a rootsier sound, embracing West Coast soul, funk, gospel, and pop from the early '70s as the backdrop for these songs. It is not only different musically, but lyrically. This is a less "personal" record; its songs were deeply influenced by the people she encountered in L.A., many of them street denizens. She tells their stories and reflects on themes of social justice. It's wide angle. Produced by Larry Klein, the cast includes members of her band Read Full BioOn Currency of Man, Gardot takes on a rootsier sound, embracing West Coast soul, funk, gospel, and pop from the early '70s as the backdrop for these songs. It is not only different musically, but lyrically. This is a less "personal" record; its songs were deeply influenced by the people she encountered in L.A., many of them street denizens. She tells their stories and reflects on themes of social justice. It's wide angle. Produced by Larry Klein, the cast includes members of her band, crack session players -- guitarist Dean Parks, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, Larry Goldings, the Waters Sisters, et al. -- and strings and horns. The title track is a funky blues with a rumbling bassline, dramatic strings (à la Motown) and fat horns. Gardot uses the lens of Sam Cooke to testify to the inevitability of change: "We all hopin’ for the day that the powers see abdication and run/Said it gonna come…." First single "Preacherman" is similar, employing a wrangling, smoldering blues that indicts racism in the 20st century by referring to the violent death of Emmett Till, a catalyst in the then-emergent Civil Rights movement. A driving B-3, saxophone, and menacing lead guitar ratchet up the tension to explosive. A gospel chorus mournfully affirms Gardot's vocal as a harmonica moans in the background. "Morning Sun" and closer "Once I Was Loved" are tender ballads that emerge from simple, hymn-like themes and quietly resonant with conviction. "Same to You" evokes the spirit of Dusty Springfield atop the punchy horns from her Memphis period, albeit with a West Coast sheen. The nylon-string guitar in "Don't Misunderstand" recalls Bill Withers' earthy funkiness. The song's a groover, but it's also a warning to a possessive lover. "Don't Talk" uses spooky polyrhythms (à la Tom Waits) as brooding, spacy slide guitars, B-3, and backing singers slice through forbidding blues under Gardot's voice. "If Ever I Recall Your Face" is jazzier, a 21st century take on the film noir ballad with glorious strings arranged by Clément Ducol that rise above a ghostly piano. "Bad News" simultaneously looks back at L.A.'s Central Avenue and burlesque scenes. It's a jazz-blues with a sauntering horn section, snaky electric guitar, and squawking saxophone solo. Vocally, Gardot is stronger than ever here, her instrument is bigger and fuller yet it retains that spectral smokiness that is her trademark. Currency of Man is a further step away from the lithe, winsome pop-jazz that garnered her notice initially, and it's a welcome one.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
It Gonna Come
Melody Gardot Lyrics
See that, see that, see that, see that man
See that, see that, see that, see that man
See that man sittin' in front of the border line
He ain't got the time to argue what's yours and what is mine
See that man holdin' his hand out in desperation
He don't see salvation, no God and sure no nation
We all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, said it it gonna come
See that man
See that man sittin' in front of the jewelry store
He can't walk no more, he just too damn poor
See that man holdin' his eyes from the glarin' sun
He ain't got noone, his hopes all been undone
We all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, said it gonna come
See that
See that
See that
See that man
Nothin' good comes from nothin'
Nothin' comes from nothin' good
Why you spend the whole day bluffin'?
Come on man, do what you should
What you mean, the world ain't easy?
What you mean, the world ain't mine?
Last I checked, there were no price tags
Hangin' on them shady pines
What you say when you say nothin'?
What you mean when you say lies?
Politician, tell me somethin'
What you got behind them eyes
'Cause we all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, Lord said it gonna come
See that, see that, see that man
See that, see that
(See) that man
(See) that man
(See) that man
(See) that man
Look to our brother if you can (see)
Look to our brother if you can (see)
See that man (see)
See that
See
See that
See that
See that man
What does it mean
There's no single answer except to say
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MELODY GARDOT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Erzebet Tot Bagi
It Gonna Come
See that, see that, see that, see that man
See that, see that, see that, see that man
See that man sittin' in front of the border line
He ain't got the time to argue what's yours and what is mine
See that man holdin' his hand out in desperation
He don't see salvation, no God and sure no nation
We all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, said it it gonna come
See that man
See that man sittin' in front of the jewelry store
He can't walk no more, he just too damn poor
See that man holdin' his eyes from the glarin' sun
He ain't got noone, his hopes all been undone
We all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, said it gonna come
See that
See that
See that
See that man
Nothin' good comes from nothin'
Nothin' comes from nothin' good
Why you spend the whole day bluffin'?
Come on man, do what you should
What you mean, the world ain't easy?
What you mean, the world ain't mine?
Last I checked, there were no price tags
Hangin' on them shady pines
What you say when you say nothin'?
What you mean when you say lies?
Politician, tell me somethin'
What you got behind them eyes
'Cause we all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, Lord said it gonna come
See that, see that, see that man
See that, see that
(See) that man
(See) that man
(See) that man
(See) that man
Look to our brother if you can (see)
Look to our brother if you can (see)
See that man (see)
See that
See
See that
See that
See that man
What does it mean
There's no single answer except to say
Erzebet Tot Bagi
It Gonna Come
Мелоди Гардо
See that, see that, see that, see that man
See that, see that, see that, see that man
See that man sittin' in front of the border line
He ain't got the time to argue what's yours and what is mine
See that man holdin' his hand out in desperation
He don't see salvation, no God and sure no nation
We all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, said it it gonna come
See that man
See that man sittin' in front of the jewelry store
He can't walk no more, he just too damn poor
See that man holdin' his eyes from the glarin' sun
He ain't got noone, his hopes all been undone
We all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, said it gonna come
See that
See that
See that
See that man
Nothin' good comes from nothin'
Nothin' comes from nothin' good
Why you spend the whole day bluffin'?
Come on man, do what you should
What you mean, the world ain't easy?
What you mean, the world ain't mine?
Last I checked, there were no price tags
Hangin' on them shady pines
What you say when you say nothin'?
What you mean when you say lies?
Politician, tell me somethin'
What you got behind them eyes
'Cause we all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, Lord said it gonna come
See that, see that, see that man
See that, see that
(See) that man
(See) that man
(See) that man
(See) that man
Look to our brother if you can (see)
Look to our brother if you can (see)
See that man (see)
See that
See
See that
See that
See that man
What does it mean
There's no single answer except to say
Erzebet Tot Bagi
It Gonna Come
See that, see that, see that, see that man
See that, see that, see that, see that man
See that man sittin' in front of the border line
He ain't got the time to argue what's yours and what is mine
See that man holdin' his hand out in desperation
He don't see salvation, no God and sure no nation
We all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, said it it gonna come
See that man
See that man sittin' in front of the jewelry store
He can't walk no more, he just too damn poor
See that man holdin' his eyes from the glarin' sun
He ain't got noone, his hopes all been undone
We all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, said it gonna come
See that
See that
See that
See that man
Nothin' good comes from nothin'
Nothin' comes from nothin' good
Why you spend the whole day bluffin'?
Come on man, do what you should
What you mean, the world ain't easy?
What you mean, the world ain't mine?
Last I checked, there were no price tags
Hangin' on them shady pines
What you say when you say nothin'?
What you mean when you say lies?
Politician, tell me somethin'
What you got behind them eyes
'Cause we all workin' for the means to the end of our situation
We all hopin' for the day that the powers see abdication and run
Said it gonna come, Lord said it gonna come
See that, see that, see that man
See that, see that
(See) that man
(See) that man
(See) that man
(See) that man
Look to our brother if you can (see)
Look to our brother if you can (see)
See that man (see)
See that
See
See that
See that
See that man
What does it mean
There's no single answer except to say
Khalid Elamin
O My dear Goddess !
Jill Even
I just stumbled on to this, wow I'm glad I had insomnia last night
al591
high quality sophisticated pop
by the way her 2012 the absence live on you tube is a masterpiece
Ben Cleric
This track is awesome 😍 Her voice is indescribable. Love it. 🔝I can't stop to listen it. 🎶
Slavko Cosic
Wow...Melody Gardot - Rocks<3...See that...Light & Love...
Venus Gordeyeva
Powerful!
Mowtowny
What a voice :)
chrissy76600
Awesome song...Like it +++
Arnaldo carpio
the absence and currency of man are the best albums she has ever done!