I Can't Quit Her (3:38; Al Kooper) - This song is fast. Horns are among the instruments here and in almost every other song. Other instruments in this song include a piano and violins. The narrator can't let go of the girl because loves her too much. He sees her face everywhere he goes, city or country. She has "a woman's touch, a young girl's eyes." He desperately needs to have her beside him. The vocals stop at the 2:30 mark; shortly after that, I hear several backwards guitar licks.
I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know (5:56; Al Kooper) - This song has a moderate 3/4 tempo. Instruments include an electric guitar, an organ, and a saxophone. The narrator loves his sweetheart too much to ever leave her. In his poorer days, he used his whole paycheck to support her rather than waste a penny. His goal is to be worthy of her trust. An instrumental lasts from 3:19 to 4:23; the sax plays lead during most of it.
Sometimes In Winter (3:06; Steve Katz) - The tempo is a bit hard to follow, but the mood is somber. Some time before the setting of this song, the narrator's girlfriend left him. At times during the coldest season, he wishes he could have her back. Instruments include a flute.
You've Made Me So Very Happy (3:29) - Enter David Clayton-Thomas, and the group's career took off. This song has a moderate tempo and includes an organ and a tambourine among its instruments. This is the BS&T tune I hear most often on the radio. It was written and previously sung by Brenda Holloway.
Spinning Wheel (2:39) - This moderately slow song is another radio classic. Instruments include a piano, and a tambourine. From the "painted pony" reference, I surmise the wheel is a carousel, AKA a merry-go-round. Weaved into the lyrics is the adage "What goes up must come down." The lyrics encourage the listener to tune out all worries and enjoy a carousel ride. This version is shorter than the one I hear on the radio; it fades completely out just as I hear the first calliope solo.
More And More (2:40) - The moderate tempo and the blaring horns illustrate the narrator's enthusiasm as he tells his girlfriend how his love for her grows. He compares her to medicine and honey; he will stay with her as sure as the sun rises.
And When I Die (3:25; alternate version 4:01) - Some parts of this song are slightly faster than moderate; others are very fast. The song opens with a very slow, 17-second harmonica solo. The narrator knows that sooner or later he will die, but he is not afraid; he knows that on the same day he dies, someone else will be born to help perpetuate the human species. All he asks is to live freely and die peacefully. At 2:43, the tempo slows drastically; then at 3:16 it goes back to very fast for the last few measures. The alternate version has an organ instrumental that I like.
God Bless The Child (5:52) - For the first 14 seconds, the horns play slowly by themselves. The tempo in the rest of the song is slow but hard to follow. Pondering the meaning of "Mama may have, & Papa may have / But God bless the child that's got his own," I think that even if parents are rich, children will cope better in this life and the next by working for what they want and need instead of being given everything by their parents and relatives. I also like the line "Help yourself, but don't take too much." This song was written and previously sung by Billie Holiday.
Hi-De-Ho (That Old Sweet Roll) (3:58) - This version has a similar tempo to the one sung by Dusty Springfield. Instruments include an organ and a piano.
Lucretia MacEvil (3:04) - The tempo is very fast. Lucretia's very name suggests she's a daughter of evil. According to the lyrics, she wanders throughout town, wearing scanty clothing, shaking her hips, seducing country boys and even married men.
Lisa, Listen To Me (2:58) - This song is somewhat fast. Lisa lived her life in silence and fear until she met a guy who had soothing words for her. She could end her silence and disclose her troubles to him.
Go Down Gamblin' (2:46) - The fast tempo matches the gambling lifestyle (known popularly as "the fast lane"). The narrator, "born a natural loser," has gambled for as long as he can remember. Alcoholic drinks, poker, blackjack and roulette are his whole life.
So Long Dixie (4:25) - This song is slow. The narrator's southern belle is now leaving him. He looks back on happy days they used to spend together and is glad she was in his life at all. So long to BS&T also, but you can always view this page again at any time.