I Meant Every Word

Trust me #68
I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

I don't know why the ability to discover and share a song instantly still blows my mind. I mean, after all, we're living in 2024. I guess/I know there is still a big part of me pining for 1994 or 2004, times when I would excitedly phone friends to tell them about a new record or CD I'd bought, inviting them to my house/flat for a few beers to listen, or making mixtapes or mix CD's.

Times have changed though! Songs, albums, likes, dislikes, opinions and much, much more, can be shared within a few clicks. Whether with family, friends, or anyone who chooses to follow you online. I love this and have got to meet some incredible people who display passion and taste for music.

There are a number of people that I regularly WhatsApp songs to if I'm enjoying them and think they will too. And I love receiving songs from them as well. Sometimes, they sit for a while, other times, I'm in the position to check their recommendation out instantly.

Last Thursday I was in a position to instantly check out the song I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters that my sister Carla sent to me at 7.55am with the message; 'Stumbled upon this EP this morning which is wonderfully weird. This song is brilliant.'

I subsequently played it 4 times in a row!

Who were / who are the Burnett Sisters?

Well, there's not a great deal of info available. In 1972 they were singing standards and pop songs locally in Detroit, when their distant relative Wardell Montgomery invited the four sisters to help him bring to life selections from Teen Age Widow - his self published poetry chapbook - at the RAPA Community Theatre.

Dave Hamilton at TCB studio made the recordings. Montgomery would continue to work intermittently as songwriter for Hamilton's production company, but the Burnett Sisters seem to have disappeared entirely.

I can't find any photos, but I also find that quite refreshing. All we have is the music. The EP is only 7-songs, some of them are poetry/spoken word. The standout, at least for Carla and I, is the heart-string tugging I Meant Every Word. 

The performance matches the title. They mean it, with every breath, every ache, with all their heart and soul. Backed by piano, bass and drums, the lead vocal kicks hard, you really feel it, especially when it soars. Then just wait for the heavenly backing vocals to come in! Wow!

What good are diamonds, silver or gold

If I don't have you in my arms to hold?

Everything about this song gives me the feels; the rawness, the lyrics, the performance, the vocals, the tight rhythm, beautiful piano ...

When I said I loved you, for richer or for poorer

I meant every word that day

And I mean it now, even more

And ooh that rise towards the end ...

As long as the sun shines in the sky

I'll be standing, standing here by

As long as 1 and 1 and 1 is three

Oh baby, you and me

As long as water runs cold

I want you in my arms to cold

I Meant Every Word is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE 

Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones