Mills Jewelers Notebook
August 30th, 2013
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you sensational songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. As we say goodbye to August, we bring you Corinne Bailey Rae’s quintessential summer song, “Put Your Records On,” a tune that urges the listener to “let your hair down” and references the September birthstone — sapphire.

corineebaileyrae

The 34-year-old British singer-songwriter and guitarist scored a huge hit with “Put Your Records On” in 2006 when it was released as the second single from her debut album, Corinne Bailey Rae. The song charted in 11 countries, sold nearly two million copies and was nominated at the 2007 Grammy Awards for "Record of the Year" and "Song of the Year."

In the song about casting away worries, taking time to relax and embracing one's inner beauty, Rae sings the catchy phrase, “Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams. Just go ahead, let your hair down.” Although the “sapphire” in this line could be referring to a particular shade of Levi’s 525 straight leg jeans, we’re still happy to feature this song in our jewelry blog because Rae’s performance is awesome and her message is so uplifting.

Incidentally, the song's opening line, "Three little birds sat on my window. And they tell me I don't need to worry," is a reference to Bob Marley & The Wailers’ 1977 hit song, “Three Little Birds.”

Since its release in 2006, “Put Your Records On” has become a go-to tune for reality TV singing competition contestants. Among those covering the song were Antonella Barba (American Idol), Alisha Bennett (The X Factor), Carly Rae Jepsen (Canadian Idol), Megan Joy (American Idol), Katie Stevens (American Idol), Nicolas David (The Voice), Danielle Bradbery (The Voice) and Caroline Glaser (The Voice).

Check out Rae’s live performance of “Put Your Records On” at the end of this post. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Put Your Records On”
Written by Corinne Bailey Rae, John Beck and Steve Chrisanthou. Performed by Corinne Bailey Rae.

Three little birds, sat on my window.
And they told me I don't need to worry.
Summer came like cinnamon
So sweet,
Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.

Maybe sometimes, we've got it wrong, but it's alright
The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same
Oh, don't you hesitate.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely,
Sipping tea in the bar by the roadside,
(just relax, just relax)
Don't you let those other boys fool you,
Got to love that afro hair do.

Maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it's alright
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change.
Don't you think it's strange?

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

'Twas more than I could take, pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realize, that you don't even have to try any longer?
Do what you want to.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Oh, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow