What’s not to like about “Maybe You Should.” It is the pure, rich voice of Taylor Hicks singing a powerful song from the heart.
The heart rending lyrics of “Maybe You Should” have the feel of resignation. When all the words have been spoken and silence is broken only by tears, there is nothing left. Painful words recall the way love once was. Yet, in spite of the resolve and promises, all that remains is to give in to the inevitable.
“If you can leave here tonight,
Baby, maybe you should.”
We hold on to love, fight for it, live for it. Sometimes, we finally give up on it. “Maybe You Should” is a last acquiescence, a death knell in “this room” now filled only with memories.
The acoustic simplicity of “Maybe You Should” leaves a blank canvass for the emotional lyrics and rich vocals. Taylor’s simple delivery is straightforward, a sigh of resignation, even as plaintive words make a last attempt to rekindle those “tender years.”
“Baby, I just keep on seeing all that moonlight shining down
The way our love could light up this little Alabama town.
I keep holding on to hope still finding reasons to believe...”
If there is a trace of underlying anger it is in realizing “there’s a lot that I misunderstood” –an anguished moment when neither words, nor music, can change life.
“If you can tear down everything we built,
Deny everything we felt,
I guess there’s a lot that I misunderstood.
If you can leave here tonight,
Baby, maybe you should."
An austere, but rich piano track moves hand in hand with expressive lyrics. Bass, guitar, drums, organ and pedal steel are so finely interwoven that they are almost indistinguishable. Their blending is such a smooth musical backdrop that the mood of “this room” is all we hear.
Vocals fade at the end like someone walking out of the room. A final “maybe you should” is a whisper in an empty room sung only for the singer. Like the door closing or the final curtain falling and the lights coming up, the last musical notes take us to another inevitable—life goes on.
“Maybe You Should” is a hauntingly beautiful, bittersweet song that finds a place in each of us where love did not last forever. It plays in that deep, hidden spot in our hearts that we cover and deny that the pain is still there. But in remembering lost love, we also remember the bright spots when love could “light up this little Alabama town.”
And so for that, we go on gambling, leaning on love, and, sometimes, walking away.
Stunning lyrics are the fire in this song. They contrive to place us in the past, the present and the probable future. Words and phrasing are creatively unpredictable—not the usual “ losing you” lyrics. They are matched by beautiful melodies that carry us through a story that comes together for the kind of musical experience that we will listen to for a lifetime.
Smokey Robinson told Taylor that the songs you record, you have to live with for a long time.
“Maybe You Should” is a song that Taylor Hicks can live with for a long time!
And so can I.
“Maybe You Should,” written by Taylor Hicks/Gary Nicholson/Michael Reid is from the album, The Distance, by Taylor Hicks on Modern Whomp Records.
Photo courtesy of RagsQueen, The Magic Bag, 6.22.09
“Maybe You Should” video capture by RagsQueen at Smith’s Olde Bar, Atlanta, 8.16.09
Listen to an MP3 sample of “Maybe You Should” from The Distance at TTHC Discography:
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7 comments:
I absolutely love "Maybe You Should" and especially performed acoustically.
Bravo for the fantastic interpretation of the song. Taylor sings this piece perfectly and "whoever" the mystery singer is who has a "hold" on this song can only help bring the realization of the amazing musicianship of Taylor Hicks to the next level.
Thanks!
Yes, Julie, it would be wonderful for this song to be covered and become a "standard" in the country music scene. It would be well deserved also! I really think this one is around for the long haul!
Thanks, Rags and Julie for reading and for your comments.
When "The Distance" came out, I was disappointed given the time he spent putting the CD together. However, "Maybe You Should" and "Nineteen" stood out for me as very marketable songs. Why he picked "What's Right is Right" and "Seven Mile Breakdown" to release as singles, I'll never understand. They are good, but not great, songs.
I just saw Taylor at Beau Rivage, where he performed all four songs. "Nineteen" appeals to anyone who is, was, or knows someone in the military.....which is just about everyone. "Maybe You Should" is a beautiful love song that almost everyone young and old can identify with.
I would like him to release both as singles with videos (his mistake with the TH album). I don't think MYS being released by a "superstar" will do anything for Taylor's career as a singer. I couldn't tell you who the two other co-writers of the song are...most people don't care who the song writers are. Let him release MYS as a single. If he can't get a number one hit, then maybe all the bad press since AI, however unjustified, will continue to hold him back. However, if this is the second big break he has been looking for...I'd hate to see him "give this gem away" (no matter the price) to someone else.
Maybe You Should is a fav of mine as it is rich in expressive lyric. Each phrase embodies an emotion which leaves me ( as a listener) sighing plaintively after the last note.
While having Taylor sing this as a single might be wise; having an "A" lister give life to "Maybe You Should" could establish Taylor as a songwriter of note as well as add coin to his coffers for future CD development. Songwriting is a very lucretive job , think Marvin Hamlish, Hoagy Carmicheal, commanding respect in the industry.
cath
Maybe You Should and Nineteen were the two songs from The Distance that stopped me in my tracks.
When I listen to "Maybe You Should", for me it is a reflection of a part of my life which is perhaps why I can relate to it so well.
I have to agree with JC. I believe that Taylor's recording of this song and the way that he expresses each word with sensitivity and raw emotion draws the listener in. I would venture to say that 99% of people can relate to such an emotional memory at some point in their lives.
Could someone else record it better? It's hard to say because I have always loved the tone of and depth to Taylor's voice. It might make an interesting duet though.
It goes without saying that if someone else does release the song, it would definitely give Taylor and his songwriting skills the credabilty and notoriety that he has worked so hard for.
I would love to see the song released to the airwaves because it is going to be a huge hit no matter how or who releases it.
Beautifully written blog, San. Thanks so much for putting your thoughts down so eloquently.
Thanks, Karin, and thanks everyone for your thoughts.
The best part of writing the blog was listening to the song over and over and over to be sure of what I wanted to say!
Now, it is continuously playing in my head! But that's okay. It is beautiful from within my head too, and I can sing along with Taylor on this one.
It is difficult to decide whether I'd rather have Taylor release it as a single or the notariety of another artist's release. We can only wait and see what Taylor will decide. No matter which, it is still HIS song.
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