Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends showcases a wide variety of Anne's favorite female vocalists. Among the album’s tracks and collaborating artists are "Snowbird" with Sarah Brightman, "You Needed Me" with Shania Twain, "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" with Anne’s daughter Dawn Langstroth, "Danny's Song" with Martina McBride, “Another Pot O’ Tea” with Emmylou Harris, “A Little Good News” with Indigo Girls, “Cotton Jenny" with Olivia Newton-John, “Could I Have This Dance” with Amy Grant, “Daydream Believer” with Nelly Furtado, “A Love Song” with k.d. lang, “Time Don’t Run Out On Me” with the song’s writer, Carole King, and more.
In 1979, Anne and Dusty Springfield each recorded the song "I Just Fall In Love Again." Anne's version became a hit single that garnered her Canada’s Juno Award for "Single of the Year" in 1980. Anne and Dusty remained friends until Dusty’s passing in 1999, and for Anne, releasing an album with this type of sisterly theme wouldn't seem complete without Dusty's inclusion. With the blessing of the Springfield family and estate, a new version pairing Dusty's original with Anne’s newly recorded vocals is featured on the album.
Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends was produced by one of the most respected music producers in the world, Phil Ramone (Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel), who counts 14 Grammy Awards and 32 Grammy nominations among his many honors. Together, Anne and Phil decided they would treat the songs on their own terms and not adhere rigidly to the arrangements of Anne’s classic versions. While Anne had designs on how she imagined the arrangements, she gave Phil free rein to rework the songs.
“We approached the sessions as if we were just handed these songs and told to make this record,” explains Ramone. “While arrangements were changed, there are also licks on some songs that I didn’t mess with. We stayed true to the song.”
Working with Anne for the first time, Ramone adds, was an easy task. “What I love about Anne is there are no words minced about whatever she feels,” he says. “This is not a person you have to think, ‘Will she tell me the truth?’ When we met for a few hours in Michigan before we started, we agreed we wanted to bring some daring ideas and some freshness to this album.”
“I said to Phil,” joked Anne, “The only reason I asked you was that I’m the only singer left that you haven’t worked with!”
“I’ve done duets throughout my career,” Anne says. “I did duets when I started out on (CBC Television’s) ‘Singalong Jubilee.’ I did a duets album in 1971 with Glen Campbell. Growing up I did lot of group singing at school and sang with my brothers. I’ve always loved singing harmony.”
Since releasing her debut album in 1967, Anne Murray has been honored with a spectacular number of awards. She is the proud recipient of four Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, three Country Music Association Awards, three Canadian Country Music Association Awards and twenty-four Juno Awards. Anne has also been honored with the Legacy Award from the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2006), the East Coast Music Association Directors' Special Achievement Award (2001), induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (2002), and induction into the Juno Hall of Fame (1993).
Anne Murray will tour to several U.S. cities in February and March 2008 (confirmed tour dates listed below). For updates and additional information, visit Anne Murray’s official Website: www.annemurray.com
In 2011, Billboard ranked her 10th on their list of the 50 Biggest Adult Contemporary Artists Ever, and on July 1, 2017, in celebration of Canada’s 150th Anniversary, the Toronto Sun listed Anne at #1 in Canada’s Top 160 Influences that helped define Canadian culture!
things
Anne Murray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Staring at the lonely avenue
Watching lovers holding hands and laughing
And thinking 'bout the things we used to do.
Chorus:
(Thinking of things)
Like a walk in the park
(Things) like a sailboat ride
What about the night we cried.
Things like a lovers vow, things that we don't do now
Thinking 'bout the things we used to do
Memories are all I have to cling to
And heartaches are the friends I'm talking to.
When I'm not thinking of
Just how much I love you
Well, I'm thinking bout the
Things we used to do.
Chorus:
(Thinking of things)
Like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride
What about the night we cried.
Things like a lovers vow, things that we don't do now
Thinking bout the things we used to do.
Still can hear the jukebox softly playing
And the face I see it still belongs to you.
Now there's not a single sound,
There's nobody else around
Well, it's just me thinking 'bout
The things we used to do.
Chorus:
(Thinking of things)
Like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride
What about the night we cried.
Things like a lovers vow, things that we don't do now
Thinking bout the things we used to do
And heartaches are the friends I'm talking to
Got me thinking 'bout the things we used to do.
Staring at the lonely avenue
In Anne Murray's song "Things," the lyrics express the singer's nostalgia and bittersweet memories of past love. She sits by her window every night and watches lovers walking down the street, holding hands and laughing. This sight triggers her memories of the things she used to do with her former partner, which include walking in the park, kissing in the dark, and sailing in a boat. She also recalls crying together and making promises about their future.
The chorus reiterates this theme of reminiscing about the past, and how these memories are all she has left. The nostalgia is so intense that she can still hear the jukebox playing in her memories and sees her ex's face everywhere she looks. The song ends with the poignant insight that the only company she has is her heartaches, which cause her to think about her past love even more.
Line by Line Meaning
Staring at the lonely avenue
I am sitting by my window, feeling lonely, and looking at the empty street outside.
Watching lovers holding hands and laughing
I see couples walking together while being affectionate towards each other, which reminds me of my past relationship that used to be like that.
And thinking 'bout the things we used to do.
This sight triggers my memory, and I start reflecting on the things that my partner and I used to do together when we were happy.
(Thinking of things)
The chorus introduces the phrase that implies reminiscing about some specific memories of the past relationship.
Like a walk in the park
This line is an example of what the singer means by 'thinking of things.' It refers to a specific scenario that used to make her happy, such as a walk in the park with her former partner.
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
Another scenario that used to make her happy is a kiss in the dark, which is something that she misses now.
(Things) like a sailboat ride
The singer remembers a sailboat ride that she took with her partner and how much fun they had together, which is why this memory makes her happy.
What about the night we cried.
The singer questions herself and her former partner about the night when they cried, which is a bad memory that still haunts her.
Things like a lovers vow, things that we don't do now
The singer is reminiscing the vows of love that she and her partner took once, which are now forgotten because they don't do it anymore.
Memories are all I have to cling to
The singer implies that she has nothing else to hold onto except the memories of the time when she was happy with her partner.
And heartaches are the friends I'm talking to.
The singer has nobody else to talk to except her sad memories that cause her heartache.
When I'm not thinking of Just how much I love you
The singer thinks about how much she loves her partner, even when she's not reflecting on their past memories.
Well, I'm thinking bout the Things we used to do.
The singer is reminiscing about the past once again because that's what she has to hold onto now.
Still can hear the jukebox softly playing And the face I see it still belongs to you.
The jukebox music is a reminder of the past when the couple used to go out together, and even now, she sees her partner's face in everything that reminds her of him.
Now there's not a single sound, There's nobody else around Well, it's just me thinking 'bout The things we used to do.
The environment around the singer is quiet and deserted, and she's alone with her sad memories, reminiscing about the good times that she shared with her partner.
Contributed by Sarah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pondy Hsu
Every night I sit here by my window
Staring at the lonely avenue
Watching lovers holding hands and laughing
And thinking 'bout the things we used to do.
(Thinking of things)
Like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride
What about the night we cried.
Things like a lovers vow, things that we don't do now
Thinking about the things we used to do
Memories are all I have to cling to
And heartaches are the friends I'm talking to.
When I'm not thinking of just how much I love you
Well, I'm thinking about the things we used to do.
--------------------
(Thinking of things)
Like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride
What about the night we cried.
Things like a lovers vow, things that we don't do now
Thinking bout the things we used to do.
Still can hear the jukebox softly playing
And the face I see it still belongs to you.
Now there's not a single sound,
There's nobody else around
Well, it's just me thinking 'bout the things we used to do.
-------------------
(Thinking of things)
Like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride
What about the night we cried.
Things like a lovers vow, things that we don't do now
Thinking about the things we used to do
And heartaches are the friends I'm talking to
Got me thinking about the things we used to do.
Staring at the lonely avenue....
Nicky Smith
Timeless gift....the music and words in this song touch my heart like no other! Thank you Anne Murray!!
Omar Perales
My favorite song of Anne. I love her voice.
Daniel Burns
this song went to #12 on the adult contemporary charts in 1976!!!
todd canton
Anne takes ahold of a song and makes it her own....good job on this one.
MrJamieMurph4141969
Thanks for posting; just hearing this is enough to get ejected back in time to fall 1976 when it was first released. I may have been all of seven years old and in second grade, but I do remember hearing this frequently at the time. Up until fairly recently, I always used to think it was "thane" Anne was singing; partly because she is Scottish(born in Nova Scotia)and I know the term thane refers to something in Scotland(can't think of what it is now.) Now I know correctly, "Things," in fact this is the cover version of Bobby Darin's hit from 1962. Again, Jack, thanks for posting, such fond memories of growing up as a kid in the 1970s. :)
J.W. Gauntt
you're most welcome
Debbie Horn
Love this version of this song ! Love u Anne!
Pondy Hsu
Every night I sit here by my window
Staring at the lonely avenue
Watching lovers holding hands and laughing
And thinking 'bout the things we used to do.
(Thinking of things)
Like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride
What about the night we cried.
Things like a lovers vow, things that we don't do now
Thinking about the things we used to do
Memories are all I have to cling to
And heartaches are the friends I'm talking to.
When I'm not thinking of just how much I love you
Well, I'm thinking about the things we used to do.
--------------------
(Thinking of things)
Like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride
What about the night we cried.
Things like a lovers vow, things that we don't do now
Thinking bout the things we used to do.
Still can hear the jukebox softly playing
And the face I see it still belongs to you.
Now there's not a single sound,
There's nobody else around
Well, it's just me thinking 'bout the things we used to do.
-------------------
(Thinking of things)
Like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride
What about the night we cried.
Things like a lovers vow, things that we don't do now
Thinking about the things we used to do
And heartaches are the friends I'm talking to
Got me thinking about the things we used to do.
Staring at the lonely avenue....
bob linka
Great cover versionnnnnnnnnnnnn, with a beautiful femenine touch to the Bobby Darin classic
J.W. Gauntt
bob linka appreciate you listening