Sweets for the Sweet: Songs of Sugar & Candy for Valentines
Part five in an ongoing series.
With two little girls in the family, and a deliberate tendency towards inclusion over babysitters, Valentine’s Day seems to have become a family affair by default. This year, for example, what was originally intended as a suggestion for a romantic afternoon has somehow turned into plans for a nice brunch out with the four of us, followed by a family hottub soak - though I’m not saying what might follow once the kids are abed.
It’s nice to think of Valentine’s as a platform for love on a larger scale. And, as long-married couples well know, though it is truly both sin and stumble to miss Valentine’s Day altogether, missing the mark the other 364 is a bigger sin by far. Hallmark notwithstanding, it is the careful craft of the life together throughout the year which really matters - and planning and capturing the romantic moments as they come is a big part of that.
As such, I think it’s important to take Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to not only mark our love, but to reflect on our expression of it, and consider what we can do better in deed and word as the year goes on. And though I tend to be a romantic soul by nature, I’ve been tired this year, missing opportunities more often than not.
Which is the whole point of the flowers and chocolate, in the end - to make our offerings as neither overture nor apology, but as a confirmation of love, and renewal of commitment to that love.
Happily, my sweetheart is a doozy of a gal: sweet and sassy, tender and confident, solid as a rock, understanding in all ways, and always sure of what I need before I can put it into words. Most years I’m her candy man in more ways than one come Valentine’s Day, but she’s been skipping desserts as of late, so this small virtual sampler of Valentine’s candy will have to do - until the kids fall asleep, anyway.
- Ben Kweller: Lollipop (orig. The Chordettes)
(from the Stubbs the Zombie soundtrack, 2005)
- Sadie Compton: Candy Gal (trad.)
(from Trouble Come Knockin’, 2003)
- Taj Mahal: Candy Man (orig. Rev Gary Davis)
(from An Evening of Acoustic Music, 1996)
- Chris Smither: Candy Man (orig. Mississippi John Hurt)
(from Train Home, 2003)
- Longsleeves: Big Rock Candy Mountain (trad.)
(from Black Swamp, 2008)
- Elizabeth Mitchell: Little Sack of Sugar (orig. Woody Guthrie)
(from You Are My Flower, 2002)
- Emm Gryner: Pour Some Sugar On Me (orig. Def Leppard)
(from Girl Versions, 2001)
- The Baird Sisters: Sugar Baby (trad.)
(from Lonely Town, 2008)
- Uncle Earl: Sugar Babe (ibid.)
(from She Waits For Night, 2005)
- Rebecca Loebe: You’re As Sweet As Sugar on a Stick (orig. Barry Louis Polisar)
(from We’re Not Kidding: A Tribute to Barry Louis Polisar, 2009)
As noted above, we’ve had four Valentine’s Day posts in three years here at Cover Lay Down, and all remain relevant and live - so whether you’re looking for a dozen songs about roses or one of several sets of sweet songs about love, don’t forget to head back in time for the following previously posted tributes to the ones we love.
Category: Valentines Day Coverfolk
February 14th, 2010 at 12:55 am
Pour Some Sugar On Me…. by Def Leppard, not Van Halen
February 14th, 2010 at 1:06 am
Whoops! I knew that - must have been a brain slip.
February 17th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Absolutely love the song selections- it’s always good to have some loved-up songs for Valentine’s day
-Eileen