It’s very fun to see how and where this subject shows up in the lyrics of many different songs, and I also discovered a lot of great songs. The songs are not in any specific order, and I have divided the list. Part 1 can be found here. And this is part 2!
11. Billy Bragg - Handyman Blues
We kick off Part 2 of this top 20 with a rather funny song about someone who is more into ‘poetry’ than ‘pottery’. The music video also features quite a few familiar faces.
“Don’t be expecting me to put ip shelves or build a garden shed.
But I can write a song that tells the world how much I love you instead
I’m not any good at pottery so let’s lose the T and just shift back the E
And I’ll find a way to make my poetry a roof over our heads”
12. Alan Menken - When Will My Life Begin (from 'Tangled').
Disney princesses also do pottery…. Rapunzel from ‘Tangled’ lists all her activities in this song.
“Then after lunch it’s puzzles and darts and baking
Paper mache, a bit of ballet and chess
Pottery and ventriloquy, candle making
Then I’ll stretch, maybe sketch, take a climb, sew a dress!”
13. John Tartaglia - Find my purpose (from 'Avenue Q')
A song from a Broadway musical this time, namely ‘Avenue Q’, a musical based on the children’s program Sesame Street. A recurring theme is the main character Princeton’s search for meaning in his life.
“I’m gonna find my purpose, could be far, could be near
Could take a week, a month, a year.
At a job, or smoking grass, maybe at a pottery class!”
Not a bad idea, that last one, right?
14. Kerry Butler - Ready Set, Not Yet (from 'Beetlejuice')
teryThis song also comes from a Broadway musical, ‘Beetlejuice,’ and there ceramic throwing is used as a – rather strange – metaphor for raising children…
“Why can’t you see that ceramics is
simply a manifestation of motherly panic
By making a baby that’s breakable
aren’t you creating a way of translating the terror of making maternal mistakes into clay?”
Hm…
15. John Fogerty - Have thine own way, lord
A very different kind of song, this time with religious overtones, is this one by John Fogerty. Religion has been using clay metaphors for decades. With the Creator and His creations, how could it be otherwise…. Soothing song!
“Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.”
16. Echo & The Bunnymen - Clay
There is a bit more rhythm and swing in this song.
“Are you the heavy half
Of the lighter me
Are you the ready part
Of the lighter me
When I came apart
I wasn’t made of sand
When you fell apart
Clay crumbled in my hands”
17. Dwight Yoakam - Dreams of Clay
More of a ballad, this one from Dwight Yoakam. A beautiful crooner about a love gone bad to dream away….
“‘Cause in sorrow’s blinding light today
Baby, it looks like my dreams were made of clay”
18. Al Stewart - Songs Out of Clay
I really like the lyrics of this song and I also really like Al Stewart’s voice. Clay as an image for the creative process.
“Oh I know that you are an artist she said
For you make your songs out of clay
You carry the dust on your hands and your face
You never quite brushed it away
You were trying to chisel a perfect truth
When the instrument broke in your hand”
Unit 4 + 2 - Concrete and Clay 19.
The penultimate spot on this list is reserved for a swinging golden oldie. It’s hard not to be cheered up by this cheeky tune, and bonus points for the whole group, who look delightfully chic in their suits.
“You to me
Are sweet as roses in the morning
And you to me
Are soft as summer rain at dawn, in love we share
That something rare
The sidewalks in the street
The concrete and the clay beneath my feet
Begins to crumble
But love will never die
Because we’ll see the mountains tumble
Before we say goodbye”
20. Jan De Wilde - Walter. Ballad of a goldfish
The place of honour, the last place, is for this wonderful record by Jan De Wilde. A nostalgic, sad song about the lonely Walter who works with clay to forget his love….
“He lives off his sculpture now, makes Saskia’s out of clay
They all seem quite content
I am alpha and omega” he hums softly to himself
I have the keys to the future and the past”
Bonus track: With my hands - Willem Vermandere
This one did not make the “official” selection for this top 20 because it is not literally about clay or ceramics.
But still like to give an honorable mention to this song by Willem Vermandere.
Because it is a song in my very own West Flemish, because there is never enough Willem Vermandere and because it is a beautiful ode to, yes, hands.
And that concludes Part 2. Suggestions for any other songs with mentions of potters, clay and ceramics are very welcome! Feel free to leave a comment if you know of another song that fits in here. Enjoy the clay, the music, and this clay music!
