Almanac Music: ‘Hip To Be Square’ – Songs Referencing Shapes
Yellow-Red-Blue, by Wassily Kandinski, oil on canvas, 1925.
Musée National d’Art Moderne, Paris, France. [Wikimedia Commons.]
Almanac Music: ‘Hip To Be Square’ – Songs Referencing Shapes
Hi, Almanackers! This piece in my long-running series about key popular song themes concerns songs that reference shapes. Relevant key words in this context include square, circle, triangle, diamond and the like – even three-dimensional shapes like cube and box are acceptable, as is the word ‘shape’ itself. Add a few words of explanation to your chosen song if you feel it’s necessary.
So, dear readers, please put your relevant ‘shapes’ songs in the ‘Comments’ section. Below, as usual, are some examples from me to get the ball rolling.
‘The Auld Triangle’, written by Dick Shannon, performed by Brendan Behan (1960)
‘The Windmills of Your Mind’, written by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, performed by Noel Harrison (1968)
‘Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind’
‘Circle Game’, written and performed by Joni Mitchell (1970)
‘The Shape of Things To Come’, written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, performed by Slade (1970)
‘Circle’, written and performed by Harry Chapin (1972)
‘Hip To Be Square’, written by Bill Gibson, Sean Hopper and Huey Lewis , performed by Huey Lewis and the News (1986)
‘Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes’, written by Joseph Shabalala and Paul Simon, performed by Paul Simon (1986)
‘The Shape of You’, written by Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Kandi Burruss, Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs, Steve Mac and Tameka Cottle, performed by Ed Sheeran (2017)
………………………………….
Now, dear readers / listeners – it’s over to you. Your responses to this topic are warmly welcomed. In the ‘Comments’ section, please add your own choice of a song (or songs) referencing shapes, along with any other relevant material you wish to include.
[Note: as usual, Wikipedia has been a solid general reference for this piece, particularly in terms of checking dates and other details.]
Read more from Kevin Densley HERE
Kevin Densley’s latest poetry collection, Isle Full of Noises is available HERE
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About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His sixth book-length poetry collection, Isle Full of Noises, was published in early 2026 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
First that come to mind are:
‘Shapes of Things’ – The Yardbirds
‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ – The Beatles
‘Mr Tambourine Man’ – Bob Dylan
Thanks, Col, for opening the batting with a highly fitting triplet.
Circlesquare – Wonder Stuff
“I’ve been a long time disappointment to myself
But it hits like a hammer when I’m that to someone else
And the circle doesn’t fit this little square
But it bulges with opportunities
Bulges”
Morning KD!
The theme looks like a winner.
First two song that springs to mind is:
The Band – The Shape I’m In (1970)
‘Out of nine lives I spent seven
Now, how in the world do you get to Heaven?
Oh, you don’t know the shape I’m in’
Black Sorrows – Shape I’m In (1985) : song written by Lee Cathy & Otis Blackwell
‘I feel good, I feel bad
I feel happy, I feel sad
But I love you all over again
Whoa, the shape I’m in’
‘Circlesquare’ is a commendably apt opening song – thanks, Swish.
Morning, Karl. Thanks for two highly fitting songs with basically the same title. Excellent!
Circle in the sand: Belinda Carlisle
Bizarre love triangle – New Order
Spin the black circle – Pearl Jam
Circle of life – Elton John
Square one – Tom Petty
Bermuda Triangle – Barry Manilow
The Shape I’m In – Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons
Heart Shaped Box – Nirvana
Can’t Shape Up – Wonder Stuff
Bend Me Shape Me – Amen Corner et al
Contact In Red Square – Blondie
Bermuda Triangle Blues – Blondie
She’s So Square -XTC
Width of a Circle – David Bowie
Form A Circle – Hoodoo Gurus
Circle I – Jonathan Richman
Perfect Circle – REM
Green Circles – Small Faces
Bizarre Love Triangle – New Order
The Auld Triangle – Pogues
Rubber Ring – Smiths
Five Years – David Bowie
“Pushing through the market square
So many mothers sighing (sighing)
News had just come over
We had five years left to cry in (cry in)”
Thank you, Liam, for Carlisle’s ‘Circle in the Sand’.
Thanks, Smokie, for your quintet of choices – an interestingly diverse bunch.
Thank you for your latest group of selections, Swish. Bit of an overlap with Smokie re ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’. And just a question: did Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons and the Black Sorrows both record a version of ‘The Shape I’m In’? I don’t know, off the top of my head, though it’s certainly conceivable that both bands performed it live.
Good question KD. The song named Shape I’m In on the Black Sorrows album Rockin’ Zydeco was a different song, but the Black Sorrows did play the Jo Jo Zep song live.
Ah – interesting. Thanks for the additional information, Swish.
Always the way: Australian Crawl (James Reyne also did a solo version)
Don’t make waves: The Byrds
Loneliness game: Belinda Carlisle
Stranger: Electric Light Orchestra
Four little diamonds: Electric Light Orchestra
Just for love: Electric Light Orchestra
Losing Lisa: Ben Folds
Diamonds: Rihanna
The big country: Talking Heads
The voice: Ultravox
Great theme KD.
Diamonds are Forever by Shirley Bassey
Glad you really like the theme, Peter. Superb song choice, too.
Thanks for your most recent selections, Liam – good to see some of your favourite artists featuring prominently here – ELO, for example.
This classic song, I feel, needs to go early in the list: ‘Ring of Fire’, written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore, released by Johnny Cash in 1963 – a ring is certainly a shape.
Greetings Kev
Circle Game – Joni Mitchell
(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care – Elvis
Won’t You Wear My Ring – Elvis
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square – Frank et al
Washington Square – The Village Stompers
She Wears My Ring – Johnny O’Keefe
Devo – Whip It
Now whip it/into shape
Shape it up/get straight
Sincere apologies to any other FA’er who may have really really wanted to add this song.
Greetings, Peter Cr. Many thanks for your contributions – and it’s pretty much always a fine thing when Elvis ‘enters the building’, so to speak. (Side note: ‘Circle Game’ was in my personal opening song choices.)
Ah yes, Karl – you’ve leapt onto our new theme podium (or, to be exact, its foundations, as it’s just starting to be constructed) with your selection of ‘Whip It’ – a great pickup.
Diamonds and Rust – Joan Baez
“We both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust’
And Joan’s song about her relationship with Dylan also mentions Washington Square
“Now you’re smiling out the window
Of that crummy hotel
Over Washington Square
Our breath comes out white clouds
Mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me
We both could have died then and there”
Some Velvet Morning – Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra (written by Lee Hazlewood)
“Some velvet mornin’ when I’m straight
I’m gonna open up your gate
And maybe tell you ’bout Phaedra
And how she gave me life
And how she made it end
Some velvet mornin’ when I’m straight”
(in the context of this song straight is a state of mind – but the word also describes a shape (and it’s a good song)
And a (Scottish) industrial folk song to finish this contribution.
Swan Necked Valve – written by Alex Russell (I have it on record sung by Matt McGinn)
“When Strathclyde was in Brigton [When I was in the factory] and my time was nearly oot
What happened in the monkey shed I’ll tell ye a’ aboot.
Chorus.
Rickie doo dum da, doo dum da,
Rickie, tickie doo dum day.
A sneezer o’ a job came in and I was left to solve
The problem of the makin’ o’ the swan-necked valve.
(and then 8 verses follow about his struggle to make the valve)
Black Diamond, most all will say KISS but I say The Replacements version
Diamonds from Sierra Leone, Kanye, back when he was the best music had to offer
Has Diamond Dogs been cited?
Bejeweled, Taylor, another cracker song, mentions diamonds and walking
Diamond Joe, Dylan’s take on a traditional song, from his album of old time covers, Good As I’ve Been To You
A highly interesting trio of choices – thanks, Dave. The Scottish industrial song, ‘Swan Necked Valve’, particularly tickled my fancy, but all selections were very worthy ones, of course.
Thanks for your five ‘diamond songs’, Rick, including ‘Diamond Dogs’, which hadn’t been mentioned before you did so
Mike Oldfield’s ‘Tubular Bells’ certainly deserves a guernsey, as referencing a tubular shape definitely fits the ‘shape’ theme.
Oblongs Theme Song – They Might Be Giants
“Oblongs, oblongs
Down in the valley where a chemical spill
Came from the people living up on?a?hill
Live a family?by the land filled with hazardous?foam
In their happy glowing home
Oblongs!
Crossyed and Painless – Talking Heads
“Lost my shape
Trying to act casual
Can’t stop
I might end up in the hospital
Changing my shape
I feel like an accident
They’re back
To explain their experience”
Senses Working Overtime – XTC
“Hey, hey, the clouds are away
There’s straw for the donkeys
And the innocents can all sleep safely
All sleep safely
My, my, sun is pie
There’s fodder for the cannons
And the guilty ones can all sleep safely
All sleep safely
And all the world is football-shaped
It’s just for me to kick in space
And I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste
And I’ve got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in
I’ve got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference ‘tween a lemon and a lime
Pain and pleasure and the church bells softly chime
Hey hey, night fights day
There’s food for the thinkers
And the innocents can all live slowly
All live slowly
My, my, the sky will cry
Jewels for the thirsty
And the guilty one’s can all die slowly
All die slowly
And all the world is biscuit-shaped
It’s just for me to feed my face
And I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste
And I’ve got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in
I’ve got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference ‘tween a lemon and a lime
Pain and pleasure and the church bells softly chime
And birds might fall from black skies (woo-woo)
And bullies might give you black eyes (woo-woo)
But to me they’re very, very beautiful
(England’s glory)
Beautiful
(A striking beauty)
And all the world is football-shaped
It’s just for me to kick in space
And I could see, hear, smell, touch, taste
And I’ve got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in
I’ve got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to tell the difference ‘tween the goods and grime
Turds and treasure and there’s one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in
I’ve got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference ‘tween a lemon and a lime
Pain and pleasure and the church bells softly chime”
The Whole of the Moon, The Waterboys – I saw the crescent
Waiting for a Dream, Rufus Wainwright – something about an ogre in the Oval office
Pyramid of Tears, an Alejandro Escovedo song
Penny Lane – Beatles
“Behind the shelter in the middle of a roundabout
A pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray
And though she feels as if she’s in a play
She is anyway”
Some particularly fine choices, theme-wise, among your latest offerings, Swish – I have in mind ‘Oblongs Theme Song’ and the in-all-respects-wonderful ‘Senses Working Overtime’ in this context.
Thank you for your latest trio, Rick – in terms of theme relevance, they are all spot-on, with, to me, ‘The Whole of the Moon’ being the standout.
On 7 March, Country Joe McDonald died.
He will be remembered for his exceptional performance of ‘I Feel Like I’m Fixing to Die Rag’ at Woodstock ’69.
I had been wondering how I might recognise him in one of these song themes and (hey presto) ‘shapes’ comes along.
‘Well, come on mothers throughout the land
Pack your boys off to Vietnam
Come on fathers don’t hesitate
Send them off before it’s too late
Be the first one on your block
To have your boy come home in a box’
The Country Joe McDonald song is another fine pickup on your part, Karl. Thank you.
Hi Kevin,
If “smoke rings” can fit in this category, two songs come to mind:
Marrakesh Express: Crosby Stills and Nash
On the way home: Buffalo Springfield (also Neil Young did a solo version)
Hi Liam. The two ‘smoke rings’ songs you chose are certainly on-theme, as a shape (namely, a ring) is referenced. Thanks for these.
And here is the perfect song for this thread.
The Ballad of the Shape of Things is a satirical song written by Sheldon Harnick sometime before 1962. It was recorded by the Kingston Trio but it’s style is more night club or cabaret. The best version I have heard is by the Jazz Singer Blossom Dearie.
Completely round is the perfect pearl
The oyster manufactures;
Completely round is the steering wheel
That leads to compound fractures
Completely round is the golden fruit
That hangs from the orange tree
Yes, the circle shape is quite renowned
And sad to say, it can be found
In the dirty, lowdown runaround
My true love gave to me, yes
My true love gave to me
Completely square is the velvet box
He said my ring would be in
Completely square is the envelope
He said farewell to me in
Completely square is the handkerchief
I flourish constantly
As I dry my eyes of the tears I shed
And blow my nose that turned bright red;
Completely square is my true love’s head:
He will not marry me, no, he will not marry me
Rectangular is the hotel door
My true love tried to sneak through
Rectangular is the transom
Over which I had to peek through
Rectangular is the hotel room I entered angrily
And rectangular is the wooden box
Where lies my love neath the golden phlox
They say he died from the chicken pox
In part I must agree: one chick too many had he!
Triangular is the piece of pie
I eat to ease my sorrow
Triangular is the hatchet blade
I plan to hide tomorrow
Triangular the relationship
That now has ceased to be
And triangular is the garment thin
That fastens on with a safety pin
To a prize I had no wish to win;
It’s a lasting memory that my true love gave to me
Excellent choice, Dave – yes, what a superb one to pick in relation to our ‘shapes’ theme!
A few more ‘shape’ lyrics from various artists:
In The Shape Of A Heart (1986) – Jackson Browne
It was a ruby that she wore
On a chain around her neck
In the shape of a heart
Shape Of You (2021) – Neil Young
Yeah, I’m older now, but I’m still dreaming
The sky is what I believe in
Stars scatter in the shape of you
You’re The One That I Want (1978) – Olivia Newton-John
You better shape up, ’cause I need a man
And my heart is set on you
Drifters Escape (1967) – Bob Dylan
Just then a bolt of lightning
Struck the courthouse out of shape
And while ev’rybody knelt to pray
The drifter did escape
Thanks for your ‘various artists’ foursome, Karl. And I do note how His Bobness has snuck unobtrusively into this theme, the exact opposite of the person escaping in his ‘Drifters Escape’.
Thanks KD…it just occurred to me that the three other artists mentioned above have all done a Dylan cover that has (ONJ/NY), or will eventually (JB), feature in one of my Dylan articles.
A Dylan classic, continuing the ‘shape’ concept:
It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
‘While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society’s pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he’s in’
Thanks for ‘It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)’, Karl – obviously a great addition to the ‘shapes’ theme. Very much worthy of note, too, is the connection to your Dylan articles that you’ve mentioned.
‘Surf’s Up’, written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, performed by the Beach Boys (1971). The song’s opening line: ‘A diamond necklace played the pawn…’
Good Monday morn KD.
Here’s a few circles from His Bobness ~
Eternal Circle (1962 outtake)
My eyes danced a circle across her clear outline
With her head tilted sideways she called me again
As the tune drifted out she breathed hard through the echo
But the song it was long and it was far to the end
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again (1966 – Blonde On Blonde album)
Oh, the ragman draws circles
Up and down the block
I’d ask him what the matter was
But I know that he don’t talk
Wedding Song (1973 – Planet Waves album)
Ever since you walked right in, the circle’s been complete
I’ve said goodbye to haunted rooms and faces in the street
To the courtyard of the jester which is hidden from the sun
I love you more than ever and I haven’t yet begun
Good Monday morning, Karl. Thanks for the three ‘circle songs’ from Bob. I must admit that I’m intrigued as to how Bob will be represented in this ‘shapes’ theme – and I feel the answer will be very well (as usual).
Yes, well, Bob’s had to dig deep to offer his usual fare of ‘on theme’ lyrics – some may require a bit of interpretive leeway, but we’ll get to those later.
Here’s another ‘circle’ that was overlooked:
Idiot Wind (1974 – Blood On The Tracks album).
‘Idiot wind, blowing like a circle around my skull
From the Grand Coulee Dam to the Capitol
Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your teeth
You’re an idiot, babe
It’s a wonder that you still know how to breathe’
It’s Hard to be a Saint in the City, Bruce – I had skin like leather and the diamond-hard look of a cobra/I was born blue and weathered but I burst just like a supernova
Far From Me, John Prine – And the night is all black and still now/On the hill where the angels sing/Ain’t it funny how an old broken bottle looks/Just like a diamond ring/But it’s far, far from me
How to Murder Your Wife, Aretha – Strangle your darling with diamonds/Drown her in sparkling champagne/Dresses from all the softer line once/Will drive the lady insane
Bend Me, Shape Me, The American Breed – Bend me, shape me, any way you want me
You’re the One that I Want, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta – You better shape up, ’cause I need a man/And my heart is set on you (And my heart is set on you)/You better shape up, you better understand/To my heart, I must be true/Nothing left, nothing left for me to do
Thanks for ‘Idiot Wind’, Karl. It’s one of those Bob songs that’s represented in quite a number of our themed songlists.
Nice variety in your most recent array of songs, Rick. To select just one for further comment – ‘Bend Me, Shape Me’ is one of .those quintessential songs, theme-wise, in that its central idea revolves around shape.
Black Diamond Strings – Guy Clark
Black Diamond Strings
Black Diamond Strings
Drinkin’ 1 W. Harper
Playin’ Black Diamond Strings
Black Diamond Strings
Are like white flour and grits
You play Black Diamond Strings
‘Cause it’s all you can get
Black Diamond Strings on a Catalog Guitar
That’s pretty high cotton whoever you are
You break one you change one, that’s as good as it gets
You can play all year long on two or three sets
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
(written in1908 by two men I have never heard of, and sung at all American Professional Baseball games.)
Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don’t care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don’t win, it’s a shame.
For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,
At the old ball game.
Wasn’t Born to Follow – The Byrds
No I’d rather go and journey
Where the diamond crescent’s glowing
And run across the valley
Beneath the sacred mountain
And wander through the forest
Where the trees have leaves of prisms
And break the light in colors
That no one know the names of
And when it’s time I’ll go and lay
Beside the legendary fountain
‘Till I see her form reflected
In its clear and jewelled waters
And if you think I’m ready
You may lead me to the chasm
Where the rivers of our visions
Flow into one another
I will want to dive beneath the white cascading waters
She may beg, she may plead, she may argue with her logic
And mention all the things I’ll lose
That really have no value in the end she will surely know
I wasn’t born to follow
I I am not sure what Carole King and Gerry Goffin had in mind when they wrote this song, but I doubt that they envisaged the wonderful piece of psychedelia that the Byrds arranged.)
Thank you for your most recent selections, Dave. An interesting trio, to be sure – but I’m not clear how the ball game song fits the theme. What did you have in mind in this context?
Hi Kevin, Surely a ball is a shape. Dave
I think of a ball as a sphere-shaped object, typically made of leather or plastic, often associated with sports. ‘Ball-shaped’ would be acceptable, as the word ‘shape’ is referenced. Songs referencing balls (of any kind) would be a big theme in itself. Mentioning a ball without any reference to shape falls a bit short in relation to this theme, I feel.
Fair enough,
Billy Bragg – Valentine’s Day Is Over
For the girl with the hour glass figure, time runs out very fast
We used to want the same things but that’s all in the past
Thanks, Karl, for ‘Valentine’s Day Is Over’. Nice delineation of a shape in the quoted lyrics!
Happy hump day KD
Here’s one for the adjudicator…..
She Belongs To Me – His Nobel Bobness
‘You will start out standing
Proud to steal her anything she sees
But you will wind up peeking through her keyhole
Down upon your knees’
Cheers, KD
Happy Wednesday to you, Karl. Bit of of tricky one, close to fifty-fifty maybe, but given that there are figurative uses of the word ‘keyhole’ that signify dimension (e. g. ‘keyhole’ surgery), I’ll pay it.
Thanks for that KD.
I suspect the following lines of lyric would fall far below the 50-50 threshold:
‘The geometry of innocence flesh on the bone’ – Tombstone Blues
‘That big fat moon is gonna shine like a spoon’ – I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
‘Like a corkscrew to my heart’ – You’re A Big Girl Now
‘I see the arrow on the doorpost, saying this land is condemned’ – Blind Willie McTell
‘I’ve had the Mexico City blues since the last hairpin curve’ – Something’s Burning Baby
I got ‘shape’ vibes from the third, fourth and fifth songs, Karl (corkscrew, arrow, hairpin curve), but with the first two choices, not really. I suppose all I can do here is be as as fair as I can be.
‘Baby Let Me Bang Your Box’, by Daddy Cool (and various others). A shape (box) is certainly referenced here – even if the meaning in this song is piano, as well as the obvious sexual connotation.
‘Catch My Disease’ – Ben Lee (2005): ‘ My head is a box full of nothing / and that’s the way I like it….’
Here’s a couple more Dylan lyrics that should pass the pub test ~ this theme has proven ‘trickier’ than most:
Farewell Angelina
‘The triangle tingles/And the trumpets play slow’
Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window
‘Are you frightened of the box you keep him in’
Standing In The Doorway
‘I eat when I’m hungry, drink when I’m dry/And live my life on the square’
Slow Train
‘Sheiks walkin’ around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings’
This Dylan quartet certainly passes muster, Karl. Fine work!
Interesting how this theme is proving to be trickier than many others. I suppose if any of the following words are mentioned in the lyrics, the song is on theme. These words are just examples, not everything relevant: square, box, quadrant, cube, cubic, circle, circular, triangle, triangular, spiral, diamond, tube, tubular, cylinder, octagon, hexagonal, hexagon…
Sorry I haven’t pitched in much with the latest theme, I’ve been in work mode in Perth. But here’s a handful:
Okie from Muskogee, Merle, – And I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee/A place where even squares can have a ball/We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse/And white lightnin’s still the biggest thrill of all
I’d be Better off in a Pine Box, Doug Stone – Well, I’d be better off in a pine box on a slow train back to Georgia/Or in the gray walls of a prison doin’ time/And I think I’d rather die and go to Hell and face the Devil/Than to lie here with you and him together on my mind
The Three Sofa Story, Tom T Hall – That third one right out there/There’s a story about it/I got that one from my second wife/A middle aged lady with money to spend/I guess she was the love of my life/Now I like I never got That damn thing in here/Cause it don’t seem to fit any house/It’s oblong and shapeless it’s Ugly and tasteless/But I got it in here and I’ll get it out
Daddy Sang Bass, Johnny with June and The Carter Family – Daddy sang bass, Mama sang tenor/Me and little brother would join right in there/Singing seems to help a troubled soul/One of these days and it won’t be long/I’ll rejoin them in a song/I’m going to join the family circle at the throne
Has Will the Circle be Unbroken, The Carter Family been nominated? If not, please add that magnificent song to this list.
Cheers
Thanks for this country quintet, Rick, including three absolute standards, ‘Okie from Muskogee’, ‘Daddy Sang Bass’ and ‘Will the Circle Be Unbroken’. Excellent theme-connected material, all in all.
I still feel if ball is not a shape than diamond should only be used to describe the shape not the precious stone. However this song about diamonds mentions shapes.
Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend
“Men grow cold
As girls grow old
And we all lose our charms in the end
But square-cut or pear-shaped
These rocks don’t lose their shape
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”
Similar questions could also be asked about the use of “box” as a container rather than a shape but songs have already been accepted using box as a container so this classic Australian folk song should be acceptable.
Five Miles from Gundagai (Also known, with extra lyrics, as Bill the Bullocky or the Bullocky”s Lament)
“I’m used to punchin’ bullock teams across the “ills and plains,
I’ve teamed outback for forty years through bleedin’ hail and rain.
I’ve lived a lot of troubles down, without a bloomin’ lie,
But I can’t forget what ‘appened just five miles from Gundagai.
‘Twas gettin’ dark, the team got bogged, the axle snapped in two.
I lost me matches and me pipe, so what was I to do?
The rain it was comin’ on, and hungry too was I,
And me dog shat in me tucker-box, five miles from Gundagai.
Some blokes I know has stacks of luck, no matter where they fall,
But there was I, Lord love a duck, no bloody luck at all,
I couldn’t heat a pot of tea or keep me trousers dry,
And me dog shat in me tucker-box, five miles from Gundagai.
Now, I can forgive the bleedin’ team, I can forgive the rain.
I can forgive the damp and cold and go through it again.
I can forgive the rotten luck, but ‘ang me till I die,
I can’t forgive the bloody dog, five miles from Gundagai.
(Later versions were recorded and performed with the dog SITTING On The tucker box, which was good for Gundagai tourism but made no sense in the context of the song.)
Thanks for these two choices, Dave. Spot-on theme-wise. Respectfully, I maintain my positions on ‘diamond’ and ‘box’. That said, I admit that in its totality this shapes theme is not as straightforward as some others. All I can do is note this, indicate reasonable parameters, and say that this long-running theme series is ultimately about creating excellent songlists and not getting overly involved in definitional matters. I think I spend enough time on them already.
I heard the news today ~ Dash Crofts (50% of Seals & Crofts) died on 25 March aged 85. I certainly had a few of their tunes swirling in my head and on my cassette player in the early-mid 70’s.
Relevant to this theme, they also had a chart topper titled: Diamond Girl
Hi Karl – yes, I heard the news today (oh boy) about Dash Crofts. Thank you for ‘Diamond Girl’.
Here’s a particularly good one to add to our ‘shapes’ songlist. It’s ‘This Song’ by George Harrison (1976): ‘This riff ain’t hip or square, well done or rare’.
Another good ‘un…’Little Egypt’ by The Coasters (1961) – it opens in their version with ‘Step right up folks and see Little Egypt do famous dances of the pyramids’ then later mentions ‘a diamond big as Texas on her toe’. Elvis’s rendition of the song omits the opening line of the Coasters version which preceded his.
Happy Saturday KD.
Not sure about SE Vic, but Blue Mts, NSW is shivering at the moment.
I was hoping to add some momentum to the theme and was wondering…….
An ‘X’ is a letter but is a ‘cross’ a shape? Here’s some Dylan examples:
Ballad Of A Thin Man
‘Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you and then he kneels
He crosses himself and then he clicks his high heels’
Senor (Tales Of Yankee Power)
‘There’s a wicked wind still blowin’ on that upper deck
There’s an iron cross still hanging down from around her neck’
Sign Of The Cross
‘And it’s that ol’ sign on the cross
That worries me’
Makes no difference to me either way, just a thought that crossed my mind.
Have a cool weekend. You can reast easy, your team has already won!
Happy Saturday, Karl. SW Victoria (where I am) is cool and overcast as I wrote this. Thanks for adding some momentum to this theme. I’ve just done a brief bit of online research, and, as a result of this, I feel it’s perfectly reasonable to consider an X a letter and a cross a shape. So yes, let’s include your latest Bob quartet.
And yes, my team has already won. What about yours?
My team? I’m unattached ~ have been since 1997 when Super League entered the scene & I exited. I am now a casual observer only.
On the shapes theme, I believe my list has been exhausted ~ until something pops into my head (as it sometimes does).
As predicted at 6.35pm on 28.03.2026, my memory bank kicked in, went ‘pop’ and presented to me:
Donovan – Happiness Runs (1969)
‘Happiness runs in a circular motion
Thought is like a little boat upon the sea
Everybody is a part of everything anyway
You can have everything if you let yourself be’
Great, Karl. I thought your memory bank would kick in again! Thanks for your Donovan song.
One of my all time favourite songs is David Gray’s 1998 ‘Babylon’, from his ‘White Ladder album.
The 20th Anniversary edition of ‘White Ladder’ includes a song titled:
Walking In Circles
‘Walking in circles, acting up all night
Praying for somethin’, gonna make things right
Prying and searching this heart of mine
Going wrong, going wrong’
Another excellent pickup from you, Karl. Thank you for ‘Walking in Circles’.
And this theme gives me the opportunity to quote a couple of my favourite opening lines of the rock/pop era, from Warren Zevon’s ‘Carmelita’: ‘I hear mariachi static on my radio / and the tubes they glow in the dark…’ (tubes, of course, constitute referencing a shape)
This theme aint over yet.
Turn Me On, Nina Simone – My hi-fi’s waitin’ for a new tune/And my glass is waitin’ for some fresh ice cubes/I’m just sittin’ here waitin’ for you to come home/And turn me on
Christmas on the Square and Circle of Love, Dolly, both songs on the same album
I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago, Elvis – Yeah, I was born about ten thousand years ago/Ain’t nothing in this world that I don’t know/Saw Peter, Paul and Moses playing ring around the roses/I’ll lick the guy that says it isn’t so
Little Boxes, Pete Seeger – And the people in the houses all went to the university/And they all got put in boxes/Little boxes, all the same
Glad to see that this ‘shapes’ theme still has some life left in it! Thanks, Rick, for your five latest choices – all spot on, theme-wise, referencing shapes in their own particular way. (And I did think more songs referencing boxes would have been mentioned, overall – for me, a song referencing a box/cube/comparable three-dimensional shape is a fine example of one with thematic relevance. In this context, a box has connotations in a metaphorical sense, which would fit well in certain kinds of lyrics.)
NOTE: NEW THEME TO COMMENCE THIS FRIDAY, 10 APRIL.
May as well keep going until 10 April then:
Child of the Moon, The Stones, b-side to JJF and a damn fine country bluesish little number – The first car on the foggy road riding/The last star for my lady is pining/Oh, child of the moon, bid the sun arise/Oh, child of the moon/Give me a misty day, pearly gray, silver, silky faced,/Wide-awake crescent-shaped smile
Boxcar, Joe Ely – I watched them lonesome boxcar wheels/Turnin’ down the tracks out of town/And it’s on that lonesome railroad track/I’m gonna lay my burden down
Tears in the Holston River, Johnny Cash does sad as – Then walking down that river road/I saw crystal tear-shaped droplets/Silver beads of love sparklin’ on the river side/And I’ll just bet they turn to diamonds/For the love that was behind ’em/There were tears in the Holston River/When Mother Maybelle died
One Piece at a Time, Johnny does funny as – So the very next day when I punched in/With my big lunchbox and with help from my friends/I left that day with a lunch box full of gears/I’ve never considered myself a thief/But GM wouldn’t miss just one little piece/Especially if I strung it out over several years
Thanks for keeping this theme going, Rick, with your usual selection of fine, thematically fitting material. Your dual inclusion of songs by Mr Cash compels me to mention here that I recently bought a hardback book titled The Complete Johnny Cash, a comprehensive collection of his lyrics from a lifetime of songwriting.
How good is the Johnny Cash book of lyrics! I got it for Christmas (I may have suggested it). Love it.
Okay, while I’m here and if it hasn’t already been put forward:
Have You Ever Seen the Rain, CCR – Yesterday and days before/Sun is cold and rain is hard/I know, been that way for all my time/’Til forever on it goes/Through the circle, fast and slow/I know, it can’t stop, I wonder
Yep, Rick, I’m thoroughly appreciating – and loving – my Cash book, too! One of the fundamental aspects of excellent writing is CLARITY – and Cash’s lyrics possess that quality in abundance.
Thanks for ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain?’ – certainly the circle mentioned qualifies it.
And while I’m here, here’s one out of the BLUE, if you’ll pardon the pun: Joni Mitchell’s ‘Carey’ (1971):
‘But let’s not talk about fare-thee-wells now
The night is a starry dome…’
Great pick up KD, love Carey, and on I go:
Ohio Shaped Heart, Dillbilly, now I didn’t know who this act/band was before the great local based country soul singer, Tanya Lee Davies posted her 3CR radio show playlist yesterday, so I had a listen – So if you need some time/I will carve out the space/We can take our love/To the edges my bones will not break/I’ll be Ohio heart shaped/Ohio heart shaped
Caroline, Jay Buchanan, lead singer of Rival Sons goes out on his own and this song is the lead single and one sad as song grieving the loss of his wife, unrelated factoid, in the Springsteen biopic you will see Jay as part of the house band playing The Stone Pony – My hands make the shape/Of yours in mine/And they refuse/To hold onto something new/Caroline/I’m gonna burn up/All my time/Until the Lord/Brings me back/Caroline/I’m gonna burn up/All my time/Until the Lord/Brings me back to you
Big Time Annie’s Square, Merle, 10 years since he passed and still a giant of American music and here is a song that came out one year after Okie, the song everyone jumped on to show he was right wing (they really missed the point on that one) and yet in this song he is at peace with hippies, go figure, actually go listen to Hag’s albums – I was thrilled because she greeted me with joy/And was glad she still remembered well enough/To know some old Checotah boy/And I’d heard about those sugar cubes/Before I ever came to find her there/I was glad to be accepted/Even though I’m known as big time Annie’s square/[Chorus]/I’m just big time Annie’s leaning post/Someone she can turn to now and then/Annie says I’m people, Annie’s friends don’t question/The square John known as big time Annie’s friend
Down Here Below, Steve Earle, one of his finest lesser known songs – Pale Male, the famous red-tail hawk/Performs wingstands high above midtown Manhattan/Circles around for one last pass over the park/Got his eye on a fat squirrel down there and a couple of pigeons/They got no place to run, no place to hide/Pale Male, he’s cool, see/Because his breakfast ain’t going nowhere/So he does a loop t’loop/For the tourists and the six o’clock news/Got him a penthouse view/From the tip-top of the food chain, boys/He looks up and down Fifth Avenue/And says, “God, I love this town”
Thought you’d love ‘Carey’, Rick.
And many thanks for your most recent song choices and comments. Re Merle, I read very recently that he’d agreed to produce a Gram Parsons album but only lasted half a day in the studio with him before bowing out of the job.