Today’s teaser comes from When the Earth Had Two Moons:
The lunar calendar is a living thing: when you try to write it down, it resists.
Today’s TTT is a love freebie, so I’m going to go with….ten love songs! I can’t “top ten”, because frankly books and music are my cardinal loves and I would have to spend six months actually listing and mulling over songs to create an “ultimate” list. So, what I’m going to do is slightly biographical; I am going to list ten love songs that were important to me from teen days onward.
(1) Just To See You Smile
I walked away and let you have your space
‘Cause leavin’ didn’t hurt me near as badly
As the tears I saw rollin’ down your face
And yesterday I knew just what you wanted
When you came walkin’ up to me with him
So I told you that I was happy for you
And given the chance, I’d lie again
Just to see you smile
I’d do anything that you wanted me to
When all is said and done
I’d never count the cost, it’s worth all that’s lost
As a kid, I wasn’t allowed to listen to “worldly” music — which meant pretty much anything contemporary. I somehow got away with country, though. This was…..pretty formative, I think.
(2) Tell Laura I Love Her, Ricky Valens
It’s possible I found this by accident, because somebody on Limewire mistook Ricky Valens for Ricky Nelson. It’s possible. In actuality, I found the song by buying a CD, good and proper. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more! “Tell Laura I Love Her” is part of a frankly disturbing trend of “teen romances ruined by automobile wrecks” in the 1960s — along with tracks like “Teen Angels”, “Leader of the Pack”, and “Dead Man’s Curve”.
(3) Wouldn’t It Be Nice
It only makes it worse to live without it
But let’s talk about it….
wouldn’t it be nice?!
As a teenager who was more in love with being in love than actually….being in love with anyone. this song meant a lot to me until I read a criticism of it that was like “You know, if you’re not happy out of love, you’re not going to be happy in love, because you can’t expect one person to just…make you happy. That’s a ridiculous amount of pressure for one person to put on someone else.”
(4) You’re So Good to Me
And you’re such a doll
I’m glad you’re mine
You’re so good to me
How come you are?
Back in the day, I loved this song just for its….sweetness. These days it’s somewhat more relevant because my ladyfriend is a head shorter than me.
(5) Dela, Johnny Clegg
This remains the first and only song that made me watch the credits of a movie because I HAD TO KNOW WHO WAS SINGING THAT.
The image of your face comes to me when I’m alone in the dark
If I could give a shape to this ache that I have for you
If I could find the voice that says the words that capture you!
I think I know, I think I know
I think I know why the dog howls at the the Moon
(6) The Way You Look Tonight, Frank Sinatra
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine introduced me to Frank Sinatra, and I’m pretty sure that’s a sentence you’ll only find on this book blog. Do you doubt me?
(7) Never Be Anyone Else But You, Ricky Nelson
This is probably not surprising given my sheltered upbringing, but the first DVD I ever watched was episodes of The Ozzie and Harriet Show. As someone who was already raised primarily on 1950s/1960s pop, I loved Ricky Nelson.
But you for me
Never ever be
Just couldn’t be
Anyone else but you
(8) REO Speedwagon
The less said about my emotional life in 2004, the better, but when I started playing GTA Vice City and heard these songs, I became an instant REO Speedwagon fan. (Yeah, sorry. GTA Vice City was my introduction to 1980s music in general.)
9, Operator. Jim Croce.
I can’t read the number you just gave me
There’s something in my eyes
You know, it happens every time
I think about the love I thought would save me
Isn’t that the way they say it goes?
Well, let’s forget all that
And give me the number, if you can find it
So I can call
Just to tell `em I’m fine
I’ve learned to overcome the blows,
I’ve learned to take it well
I only wish my words
Could just convinced myself
That it just wasn’t real
But that’s not the way it feels.
Love isn’t always sugar and spice and all things nice. Sometimes it’s it’s “Operator”.
10. NUMBER TEN? I’m barely into the 2010s! And I’m starting to think I was remiss in ignoring songs like “Won’t Ever Be Lonely” by Andy Griggs, and “Would You Go With Me” by Josh Turner? WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?!
Folk music!
(10) Annie Laurie, performed by the Corries
Is the fall o’ her fairy feet
And like wind in summer sighin’
Her voice is low and sweet
Her voice is low and sweet
She’s a’ the world tae me
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I’d lay me doon and dee
Bonus: “Heard it in a Love Song“, because it inspired my title.
A few weeks back this song was driving me crazy, and I was subsequently driving my friends crazy. “Have you ever heard a song that has a refrain that’s something like ‘sweet little love songs’, or ‘crazy little love songs’? …I hate to say it, but I think chatgpt was the one to guess what ear worm I was guessing after.
Heard it in a lo-ooo-oove song
Can’t be wrong
Reading Freely 
Fun!I went with red covers: https://wordsandpeace.com/2026/02/10/top-ten-red-covers-for-valentine/
Wouldn’t It Be Nice is such a catchy tune!
wow! Thanks for the nostalgia! I love your post!