Imperfection

Imperfection: noun (uncountable) Those qualities or features that are imperfect; the characteristic, state, or quality of being imperfect, (countable) Something that makes something else less than perfect; a blemish, impurity, error, etc.

Now and then I’ve suffered imperfection
I’ve studied marble flaws
And faces drawn pale and worn
By many tears
I am that I am from out of nowhere
to fight without a cause
Roots strain against the grain
With brute force you’d better
Hold out when you’re in doubt
Question what you see
And when you find an answer
Bring it home to me.

(Roxy Music, ‘Manifesto’)

The title track from Roxy Music’s 1979 album Manifesto, this track opened the album with an electric fanfare and set the scene for the two hit singles that appeared on the album: Dance Away and Angel Eyes.  Rolling Stone reviewer Greil Marcus wasn’t impressed with the track at the time:

[T]he record has its moments—moments few bands even know about—but as with the brazenly (and meaninglessly) titled “Manifesto,” they add up to little. Ferry announces he’s for the guy “who’d rather die than be tied down”; he’s rarely traded on such banality, and he mouths the lyrics as if he hopes no one will hear them. The sound may be alive, but the story is almost silent.

Oh well, you can’t please everyone.  Here’s a performance of the song from the Manchester Apollo in 1979.  (Nice pink suit, Mr Ferry).

Propinquity

Propinquity: noun 1 nearness in time or space. 2 technical close kinship.

I’ve known for a long time
The kind of girl you are
And a smile that covers teardrops
The way your head yields to your heart
Of things you’ve kept inside
That most girls couldn’t bear
Well, I’ve known you for a long time
But I’ve just begun to care

(Michael Nesmith & the First National Band, ‘Propinquity (I’ve Just Begun To Care)

From Nevada Fighter, the third Michael Nesmith solo album with the First National Band, this song had been around for at least five years before its 1971 release.  According to Wikipedia, Nesmith had demoed it with the Monkees in 1966, and later recorded it with them in 1969, although this latter version did not appear on an album at the time.  The lyric requires a minor concession to appear here, as the title doesn’t actually appear in the song, but it’s such a great word and a lovely song to boot, so in it goes.  Here’s a live version performed by Nesmith in 1991, as seen in Live at the Britt Festival:

Inclement

Inclement: adjective (of the weather) unpleasantly cold or wet.

There is no end to what we can do together
(There is no end, there is no end)
The willow turns his back on inclement weather
We can do it, just me and you

(Wings, ‘With A Little Luck’)

The first single from Wings’ 1978 album London Town, ‘With A Little Luck‘ was a US chart-topper and reached number 5 in the UK charts.  While the lyrics displays the usual McCartney fondness for elegant simplicity, they also fit in this rarely-seen weather adjective (well, rarely seen in rock lyrics, that is) thereby qualifying the song for inclusion here.

Symmetry

Symmetry: noun, 1 the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis. 2 correct or pleasing proportion of parts. 3 similarity or exact correspondence.

I’m torn between the light and dark

Where others see their target, divine symmetry

Should I kiss the viper’s fang

Or herald loud the death of man?

I’m sinking in the quicksand of my thoughts

And I ain’t got the power anymore

(David Bowie, ‘Quicksand’)

From the peerless ‘Hunky Dory‘ album in 1971.  Blimey Dave, you should just be happy that you managed to get ‘symmetry’ in there, not to mention the divine kind, whatever that is.  Some people are never satisfied.