karla bonoff, “someone to lay down beside me”
from: Karla bonoff, 1977
Linda Ronstadt had an almost-hit with this song the year before its writer, Karla Bonoff, released it on her debut album. Linda’s version is kinda sweet, but Karla’s is one of my favorite songs from the seventies.
Karla’s vocal has more emotional urgency, Waddy Wachtel’s guitar bites harder, and the chorus kicks it like the one in the Peter Asher-produced Ronstadt version only hints at.
Now the thing is, this album was produced by former Stone Poney Kenny Edwards — a prolific session guitarist and songwriter, but with only a (literal) handful of album credits as producer (most of which were Karla Bonoff albums). He certainly got it right on this, his first try.
-Charlie Blaum-
“There’s somebody waiting alone in the street
For someone to walk up and greet
Here you are all alone in the city
Where’s the one that you took to your side
Lonely faces will stare through your eyes in the night
And they’ll say
Woman sweet woman
Please come home with me
You’re shining and willing and free
But your love it’s a common occurrence
Not like love that I feel in my heart
Still you know that may be what I need
Is someone to lay down beside me
And even though it’s not real
Just someone to lay down beside me
You’re the story of my life
The morning is breaking
The street lights are off
The sun will soon share all the cost
Of a world that can be sort of heartless
Not like love that you feel in your heart
Still you know that may be all you’ll get
Is someone to lay down beside you
And even though it’s not real
Just someone to lay down beside you
You just can’t ask for more…. more…
— Karla Bonoff-”
