Songs You May Have Missed #820

17 Feb 2026 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

Emily Kinney: “I Went Looking For You” (2021)

Actress/singer-songwriter Emily Kinney wrote “I Went Looking For You” about the 2018 funeral of her “TV dad”, as she called Scott Wilson, who played Kinney’s character’s father on The Walking Dead.

Beyond the particulars, though, there is a universal idea most of us can relate to–that of looking for a loved one who is no longer there…or perhaps still is in some way.

I thought I felt you, and the sun was burning my skin
As I climbed the stairs to handshakes and embraces
I thought I saw you in the screens, or heard you in the speeches
Or maybe in the tears running down your best friends’ faces

Take it in, one last look
We all hesitantly stood
Take a view, past the church pews
I was just staring at my shoes
But as expected, at the last second
Paper skin and bright white hair
I went looking for you, my friend
But you weren’t there

I guess you’re in the heavens
I guess you’re in the sky
I guess you won’t be coming back to say goodbye
More questions than answers
Your guess as good as mine
And though you’ve lived such a beautiful life
It doesn’t seem fair
When I went looking for you, my friend
You weren’t there

There were whiskey shots and dancing
Handouts with your name
We all kept our composure
Though the world would never, ever be the same
In this life, the hits keep coming
Oh, our bodies wear and tear
I spent the evening circling, looking
For you, my friend
But you weren’t there

I guess you’re in the heavens
I guess you’re in the sky
I guess you won’t be coming back to say goodbye
More questions than answers
Your guess as good as mine
And though you’ve lived such a beautiful life
It doesn’t seem fair
When I went looking for you, my friend
You weren’t there

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2023/12/10/songs-you-may-have-missed-738/

Songs You May Have Missed #819

15 Feb 2026 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: , ,

Offa Rex: “The Queen of Hearts” (2017)

The collaboration between England’s Olivia Chaney and Portland band The Decemberists earned a Best Folk Album Grammy nomination in 2018.

Songs You May Have Missed #818

03 Feb 2026 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

Juan Luis Guerra: “Palomita Blanca” (1998)

Beautiful melodies spill out of Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra with every release. The fact that he hasn’t appeared more frequently on this site isn’t indicative of a lack of great material to showcase; it’s more a problem of narrowing it down to which of his sublime bachata ballads or irresistible merengue dance numbers to feature.

Guerra’s 1998 Ni Es Lo Mismo, Ni Es Igual (Neither Is It the Same Nor Is it Equal) album ended a four-year hiatus from recording following his conversion to Christianity.

The record received nominations in four categories at the first annual Latin Grammy Awards and won Best Merengue Album.

“Palomita Blanca” (“White Dove”) was the album’s second single and one of many gorgeous ballads in Juan Luis Guerra’s ever-growing catalogue.

I will tell you: I am so happy
when I am close to you
that I do not get used to it,
if I do not hear the green of your voice,
you see nothing is the same
everything is cold if you are not here white dove,
carry my song on your wings.

CHORUS
Tell her that the nights haven’t been silent,
they talked about love and haven’t left,
tell her that I love her and that I miss her,
that I haven’t forgotten and
that I’ve suffered

I already know
my mistake,
but I understand that love
forgives everything and never ends, sweetheart,
you see nothing is the same
everything is in vain if you’re not here
White dove,
carry my song on your wings

Tell her that the nights haven’t been silent,
they talked about love and haven’t left,
tell her that I love her and that I miss her,
that I haven’t forgotten and
that I’ve suffered

And a seagull of light
Among the waves of the sea,
It gathers the blue that I did not know how to give you
And a dawn with kisses of yours

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/07/17/songs-you-may-have-missed-149/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2017/01/25/video-of-the-week-flashmob-performance-of-juan-luis-guerras-la-bilirrubina-in-dominican-republic-airport/

Songs You May Have Missed #817

23 Jan 2026 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

The Arrogant Worms: “The Happy Happy Birthday Song” (1995)

Canadian musical comedy trio The Arrogant Worms remind us what we’re really celebrating every year.

Songs You May Have Missed #816

23 Jan 2026 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

Donovan: “Hurdy Gurdy Man” (Live) (1990)

Donovan wrote his top 5 hit “Hurdy Gurdy Man” in Rishikesh India, as he tells the story in this live version, which includes a previously unrecorded third verse contributed by Beatle George Harrison.

Donovan has said he originally wanted the song to be recorded by Jimi Hendrix, and it’s not far-fetched given the studio session that produced it included three guys named Page, Jones and Bonham, and may have been responsible for the formation of Led Zeppelin.

There’s no electric guitar bombast here, however.

This version is from a live album, a live compilation really, variously titled Donovan Rising, The Classics Live, 25 Years in Concert, and Atlantis, depending on the continent–confounding for the pre-internet vinyl collector. (I collected it at least twice).

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/05/07/recommended-albums-16/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/02/22/songs-you-might-have-missed-18/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2025/12/17/recommended-albums-102/

Songs You May Have Missed #815

10 Jan 2026 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

Kany Garcia: “Aguita e Coco” (2022)

Of 6-time Latin Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Kany Garcia, Billboard Magazine said the following:

Her husky tone seems built for a sideways glance at breakups, sex, aging and human indifference. What has set Garcia apart from other pop divas on the charts, other than writing her own songs and ability to play guitar, is her blend of commercial melodies with lyrics that are sometimes bracingly personal, even if the story isn’t always about her.

In the same year of this song’s release, Garcia was recognized at the Latin Recording Academy’s annual Leading Ladies of Entertainment event, which recognizes “indelible impressions and contributions to the Latin entertainment industry”.

Sounds like serious stuff, but this particular song is just a bit of lighthearted (and damn catchy) fun.

The chorus, translated:

I’m going with you, swimming in the deep
Now they call me and I don’t answer
I take you like coconut water
Little by little, we go crazy

Previous Older Entries