Margo Guryan (born in New York City on 20 September 1937; died 10 November … Read Full Bio ↴Margo Guryan (born in New York City on 20 September 1937; died 10 November 2021) was an American songwriter, singer, musician and lyricist who is remembered for her 1968 album "Take A Picture".

At the height of her career her songs were recorded by some of pop music’s most important stars: Mama Cass, Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell, Astrud Gilberto, Julie London, Jackie DeShannon, Carmen McCrae, The Lennon Sisters, and Claudine Longet. Her first song to be recorded was "Moon Ride" by the jazz singer Chris Connor in 1958, while she was still in high school. Later, there were two hit versions of the Margo Guryan-penned "Sunday Morning" released a year apart in the late 1960s — the first by Spanky And Our Gang, and the second by Oliver (who had previous success with "Good Morning Starshine" and "Jean").

Although she preferred writing songs that others could record and perform, in 1968 Guryan recorded and released an album entitled "Take a Picture". Although the success of this record back then was limited, it has since become a much sought-after collector’s item.

"Take A Picture" was reissued in 2000 by Franklin Castle Records. A collection of demos entitled 27 Demos is also available.

Love Songs
Margo Guryan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I heard
Pretty love songs
Coming from an open window
Today

I stopped
To listen to the love songs
And I had to cry

Why didn't I
Just walk away

I knew
All the love songs
Once upon a time he sang them
To me

Today
I was crying in the sunshine
When someone said,
"Is something wrong?"
And I said no
It's just a song
And I can't tell you why

Pretty love songs always make me cry

Overall Meaning

The Margo Guryan song "Love Songs" describes the powerful emotional impact that hearing love songs can have. The lyrics describe the experience of hearing love songs coming from an open window, and the nostalgia and sadness that they bring back. The singer is reminded of a relationship in the past, in which their partner used to sing these love songs to them. The pain of this past relationship is still deeply felt, and the singer is moved to tears by the memories that the music brings up. The final line of the song, "pretty love songs always make me cry," provides a simple but poignant explanation of the singer's emotional reaction.

The song is beautifully written, with simple but evocative lyrics that capture the feeling of nostalgia and sadness that love songs can inspire. The melody is almost childlike in its simplicity, but it is also haunting and melancholic, perfectly complementing the lyrics. Overall, "Love Songs" is a powerful tribute to the emotional power of music, and a moving exploration of the lingering pain of lost love.

Line by Line Meaning

I heard
I perceived

Pretty love songs
Beautiful romantic melodies

Coming from an open window
Emitting from a window that was not closed

Today
This day

I stopped
I ceased in motion

To listen to the love songs
To pay attention to the love melodies

And I had to cry
And I felt the need to shed tears

Why didn't I
For what reason did I not

Just walk away
Depart without looking back

I knew
I was aware

All the love songs
Every romantic melody