Music Review: Ellie Goulding "Goodness Gracious"

Ellie Goulding

Goodness Gracious

Album: Halycon Days

Year: 2014

         Ellie Goulding is thrown by the amount of pain she has over her ex-boyfriend in the accepting “Goodness Gracious.”

              Aged synths open the single, setting a classic tone.  Another memory hits her. He was helping her with the dishes. He was going on about work…maybe? She responded with “uh huh’s.” She’d tell him she had a headache as an excuse in order to get of talking with him. He’d leave her alone and she would promise herself that tomorrow she’d listen to him. She convinced herself it was moving too fast and it wasn’t working out. She figured she wouldn’t miss him. (“I lost the signal and put you away/Swore upon the sun I'd save you for a rainy day/Loosen the noose & let go of the rope/I know if it's never coming back it has to go.”)

              In the pre-chorus, she wakes up herself in the middle of night, saying his name. Being near him wouldn’t be enough. Unconcernd about her vulnerability, she craves an intimacy they didn’t share. (“I keep callin' your name, keep callin' your name/I wanna hold you close but I never wanna feel ashamed/So I keep callin' at night, keep callin' at night/I wanna hold you close I just never wanna hold you tight.”)

            In the chorus, he has consumed her thoughts, haunting her when she least suspects it. It’s not going away. She has made of a habit of making hang-up calls on his cellphone. She hopes he’s notices she hasn’t forgotten.  (“Goodness gracious I can't seem to stop/Callin' you, callin' you up just to keep crawlin' into your arms/Goodness gracious I can't seem to stop/Callin' you, callin' you up just to keep crawlin' into your arms.”)

          She didn’t give him a chance. She limited their conversations to her and her work. She didn’t learn anything about him. She loved him for his kindness, though. Nonetheless, she took and didn’t ever give back. Finally, he told her it’s over and he can’t do be in a relationship with her anymore. (“I found the weakness & put it to play/Swore upon the stars I'd keep you til the night was day/Shake my head dizzy so I'll never know/You said if you're never comin' back you have to go.”)

                 The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

                 She “ah’s” and then sings part of the chorus. (“Callin' you up just to keep crawlin' into your arm/Callin' you up just to keep crawlin' into your arms.”)

                 In the bridge, she holds back her excitement. He called her up and they are planning to meet. She’s aware of her emotions but doesn’t get the depth of them. (“Oh my goodness, here I go again/Pullin' you back to me, pullin' up you back into my arms so selfishly/I don't think I understand cuz' I don't really know myself/I keep callin' you up callin' you up/Callin' you up (So I keep call...)/Callin' you up (So I keep call...)/ Callin' you up (So I keep call....”)

              The chorus is sung again.

            She “ah’s” and sings part of the chorus again to end the single. (“Callin' you up just to keep crawlin' into your arms/Callin' you up just to keep crawlin' into your arms.”)

               Goulding’s tentative vocals chide herself for allowing herself to becoming so emotional. She maintains her poker face, though. Her natural dusky vocals have a bleakness to them. In turn, even if the lyrics are cheery, the song itself won’t ever be airy. It works to her favor, giving her songs an emotional impact they might not otherwise have.

                    The cloudless “Goodness Gracious” has a streak of light streaming in it.