Sexy Song Saturday #2

Hello, and welcome to another installment of Sexy Song Saturday, my effort to combine two things I love—music and writing. In my first SSS, I tackled Bruce Springsteen’s I’m on Fire. Today, I’m going to do a less well known song, but one that I really, really love.

There are some songs that from the very first note or beat or word you’re hooked. Well, the song I’m going to be discussing today is one of those: You Look Like Rain from an indie band called Morphine. They describe their music as “low rock,” but I’d describe it as jazz rock. Regardless, their work is pretty amazing, and I’d encourage you to give at least this song a listen.

You Look Like Rain opens up with the smokiest baritone sax you’ve ever heard calling out a siren’s song. It’s smooth, it’s hot, and then a couple of measures later, the drumbeat and Mark Sandman’s* poured-whisky-over-ice voice comes in and you’re like, “Are you trying to seduce me, Mister Sandman?”

Yes, yes he is.

This is what I’d describe as a thinking man’s seduction, carefully designed to appeal to a specific kind of person. It’s seduction by gray matter, and it is extremely sexy. Let’s take a look at the lyrics:

You Look Like Rain
Lyrics: Morphine
Music: Morphine
Performed by Morphine

Your mind and your experience call to me
You have lived and your intelligence is sexy
I want to know what you got to say
I want to know what you got to say
I want to know what you got to say

I can tell you taste like the sky
‘Cause you look like rain
You look like rain
You look like rain
You look like rain
You look like rain

You think like a whip on a horse’s back
Stretched out to the limit you make it crack
Send that horse ’round and ’round the track
I want to know what you got to say
I want to know what you got to say
I want to know what you got to say

I can tell you taste like the sky
‘Cause you look like rain
You look like rain
You look like rain
You look like rain
You look like rain

Short and simple, but there’s so much more here. I won’t overanalyze the lyrics…it’s evident what he means. This guy is pretty much saying, you’re smart, and that’s the hottest thing about you. I will touch on the line I can tell you taste like the sky ‘cause you look like rain. My take? That the listener/person to whom the song is directed is cleansing. Fresh. Clear. I like the clarity interpretation, especially because of the whip on the horse’s back line. Sharp and lucid.

And the music, God, it’s awesome, especially the understated drums and the baritone sax riff in between the two verses? Like wood smoke curling around you, creeping into your pores. You can’t help but fall under its spell. But you’re fully aware that you’re doing it, which makes it even sexier.

So there you have it! My second installment of Sexy Song Saturday. See you next time, and as always, I’d love to hear what you think are the sexiest songs.

* Tragically, Mark Sandman died in 1999 of a heart attack. You can read more about him here.