Right up until I was about to listen to this song for the first time, I had it in my head that it was by One Republic, not One Direction. I was thinking that they’d made quite a splash in recent months, with ‘Counting Stars’ still in the top ten and another track at #16.
But alas, ‘Story of My Life’ is by the British boy band, and is one of the first of their songs I’ve heard all the way through (knowingly, anyway).
It’s not bad. I’m guessing this signals a turn toward more mature material, though it will no doubt still resonate with the 5-15 crowd.
And so ends my second foray into the Billboard charts. I don’t picture any of these songs, or those from the first series, making my year-end list, but I’m glad they’re on my radar. And I bet some future Billboard hit just might crack my top ten.
[Harry]
Written in these walls are the stories that I can’t explain
I leave my heart open but it stays right here empty for days
[Liam]
She told me in the morning she don’t feel the same about us in her bones
It seems to me that when I die these words will be written on my stone
[Pre-Chorus: Zayn]
And I’ll be gone gone tonight
The ground beneath my feet is open wide
The way that I’ve been holding on too tight
With nothing in between
[Chorus: Harry]
The story of my life, I take her home
I drive all night to keep her warm and time is frozen
(The story of, the story of)
The story of my life I give her hope
I spend her love until she’s broke inside
The story of my life(the story of, the story of)
[Verse 2: Niall]
Written on these walls are the colors that I can’t change
Leave my heart open but it stays right here in its cage
I know that in the morning now I’ll see us in the light upon the hill
Although I am broken, my heart is untamed still
[Pre-Chorus: Louis]
[Chorus]
[Bridge: Zayn]
And I been waiting for this time to come around
But baby running after you is like chasing the clouds
[Middle 8: Niall]
The story of my life, I take her home
I drive all night to keep her warm and time is frozen
[Chorus x2]
Meet Me In Montauk 
Surely you’ve heard their monster hit “What Makes You Beautiful”???
I like these kids and these songs. They may just be the most savvy musicians/marketers out there, but the fact that their lyrics convey respect and love for women makes me like them all the more. They’re almost the antidote to that awful Chris Brown 😉
So, yeah, top ten list or not, I’m glad to have them on the radio airwaves.
Here’s a cool rendition by two contestants on The Voice in one of the “battle rounds.” I found myself liking the song as a song even more when listening to it performed this way – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2QWMitv3Pk
(oh and watch to the end… and then tell me you don’t understand why anyone who watches this show ADORES Adam Levine 🙂 )
Well, just to be clear, my contention as to your year end list was not just whether a song was on your radar or heard one time, but that greater familiarity through owning the song and repeat listenings could elevate a song into your rankings. Still, I think it is a good start to do what you are doing here and, who knows, there may well be a song you hear through this exercise that causes you to buy the album and, through repeat listening, jump start it into your year end rankings.
As for today’s song, and One Direction as a whole, as much as I feel I somehow shouldn’t enjoy this, I have to say that, as boy bands go that started by being forced together on a singing competition, they really do put out some decent pop fare.
Is this about familial relationships or a girlfriend. I am so confused!