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Natalie Merchant — Life Is Sweet
Album: Ophelia
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 866









Released: 1998
Length: 5:05
Plays (last 30 days): 1
It's a pity, It's a crying shame
He pulled you down again
How painful it must be
To bruise so easily...inside
It's a pity, it's a downright crime
It happens all the time
You wanna stay little daddy's girl
You wanna hide from the vicious world...outside

Don't cry, you know the tears will do no good
So dry your eyes
Your daddy, he's the iron man
Battleship wrecked on dry land
Your mamma, she's a bitter bride
She'll never be satisfied
You know, and that's not right

But don't cry, you know the tears will do no good
So dry your eyes
They told you life is hard
Misery from the start, it's dull
It's slow, it's painful
But I tell you life is sweet
In spite of the misery
There's so much more, be grateful

Well, who do you believe
Who will you listen to, who will it be
Because it's high time that you decide
In your own mind

I've tried to comfort you
I tried to tell you to be patient
That they are blind and they can't see
Fortune gonna come one day
Then all gonna fade away
Your daddy the war machine
And your momma the long and suffering
Prisoner of what she can not see

For they told you life is hard
Misery from the start, it's dull,
It's slow, it's painful
But I tell you life is sweet
In spite of the misery
There's so much more, be grateful
So who will you believe
Who will you listen to
Who will it be
Because it's high time that you decide
It's time to make up your own
Your own state of mind

They told you life is long
Be thankful when it's done
Don't ask for more, be grateful
But I tell you life is short
Be thankful, because before you know it
It will be over
Because life is sweet
Life is all so very short
Life is sweet
And life is all so very short
Life is sweet
Life is sweet
Comments (42)add comment
Hi !
Did you fallen in love with her ?
You playing her so often RP
LOVE FROM PARIS FRANCE 
Before RP I had never come across Natalie Merchant, but now her voice and style seems very distinctive. This is my first time hearing this song and I reckon it'll grow on me
Wow...powerful & emotional lyrics. 
Tigerlilly ...  my first Vinyl from Natalie Merchant. I love it to listen to here special Voice and Vocals, still touching my  Heart.
Bought it in 1995 in Hamburg/ Germany were i'm still living. 
Love RP since a long time and still ongoing.
Best regards from the Best Town in Europe.
Erwin
Wow. Natalie finally gets some love from the listeners.
 peter_james_bond wrote:
Sweet song, but where am I going to sit, she's hogging that couch! {#Grumpy}
mention to her how uncomfortable she looks and "would you mind"?

Should be played at every high school graduation...
How nice it is to have one Natalie Merchant not filled with her weird vibrato.
I know some people love it but I'm much more able to enjoy her work when she sings the way she does on this song  :-)
Holy God almighty this is a beautiful song with some of the most touching and thoughtful lyrics ever put to music. It's just simply fantastic. 
On the Mellow Mix Bill just transitioned seamlessly from Tori Amos' "Parasol" to this. That was just... *chef's kiss* This skill is what makes RP so much better than any other stream.
 peter_james_bond wrote:
Sweet song, but where am I going to sit, she's hogging that couch! {#Grumpy}

You don't sit, guy, you get on your knees before her. At least, that's what I'd do {#Tongue}
Sweet song, but where am I going to sit, she's hogging that couch! {#Grumpy}
wow!
Great!{#Clap}
 Captain-Fishy wrote:
Decent song, dreadful shoes!
 
Actually, I'm diggin the shoes but the pose is quite awkward. Can't be comfortable...

Wow great transition, Bill.
bokey wrote:
One of the more listenable things I've heard from her.
I agree, sometimes I like her and sometimes she is like nails on a chalk board.... I give this song thumbs up.
Decent song, dreadful shoes!
Lookie--a Natalie Merchant comment page not filled with hate. Nice to see the girl gettin' a break once in a while.
One of the more listenable things I've heard from her.
8/9
ekeyte wrote:
Killer transition, Bill.
Killer transition, Bill.
I have this CD, and it's been ages since I listen to it. Gotta go back to it, it is actually a great, great CD. Dark, touching... Great music!
snakechaser wrote:
Sweet transition from Debussy, Bill.
Debussy was cranked up full blast (that's allowed in my office - I manage a classical outfit) then came this outstanding transition... A fine moment. Many have noticed I think.
snakechaser wrote:
Sweet transition from Debussy, Bill.
very nice indeed!
life can be sweet indeed.
snakechaser wrote:
Sweet transition from Debussy, Bill.
Imperceptible, I would call it. A true masterpiece!
that was nice today too. Frater_Kork wrote:
Quite indeed.
snakechaser wrote:
Sweet transition from Debussy, Bill.
Quite indeed.
Beautiful song from a beautiful record. TheLoneIguana wrote:
I agree that NM has a great voice, but most of her post-Maniacs stuff is becoming more and more dreary...
Read the title, dude.
Sweet transition from Debussy, Bill.
Nice solo work from a girl who was afraid to face the audience when she performed. Whatever you think of her work now, at least she's facing forward.
lily34 wrote:
wow! an NM song i can actually stomache!!!
+1...I still am not crazy about the voice, but I like this song.
If nothing else, that was a brilliant transition. Claude Debussy - Estampes- III Jardins sous la pluie into this was seamless.
21% of the votes are 1s? What's wrong with you people? It may not be the greatest song, but a 1 should be a sacred rating for only the worst songs in the world - not your attempt at lowering the rating of a song.
Nice song. Thanks for playing it, Bill!
wow! an NM song i can actually stomache!!!
I agree that NM has a great voice, but most of her post-Maniacs stuff is becoming more and more dreary...
Originally Posted by Graeme: Tremendous voice - check out her DVD - Live in Concert in New York City, it includes a great version of These are Days.
While I am not a NM fan, I can understand that some people like her. I do not think one can call her voice "tremendous" by any definition though.