Music
Legends in Ink: Unveiling the Heartbeat of Music through Handwritten Lyrics
PRINCE | HANDWRITTEN "LOVESEXY" LYRICS
May 24, 2024
PRINCE | HANDWRITTEN "LOVESEXY" LYRICS
Beyond the melodies that resonate in our souls, there lies a world of raw emotion and unfiltered creativity captured in the strokes of a pen. Handwritten song lyrics, often overlooked in the age of digital production, are not merely words on a page; they are windows into the very heart of the creative process. An upcoming auction of these treasured artifacts invites us to explore the profound connection between the written word and the music that moves us.
Consider a set of original annotated handwritten lyrics for "Daydream," from the the Lovin' Spoonful's second studio album "Daydream," in 1966, written on weathered note paper.
Imagine lyrics penned on tear-stained pages that bore witness to the birth of a heart-wrenching ballad, or the cocktail napkin scribbles that ignited a chart-topping anthem. These handwritten lyrics, imbued with the energy and vulnerability of their creators, offer an intimacy that recorded music, polished and perfected, simply cannot replicate.
A two-page sheet of notebook paper with the lyrics to "Lovesexy". Comprising sixty lines handwritten in pencil with annotations and additions in black ink by Prince. The top of the page is titled in bold black ink "Lovesexy". The lyrics feature Prince's characteristic writing style, using symbols such as hearts instead of the word "heart", and a doodle of an eye instead of the word "eye" and substituting "two" for the word "2".
The song is the sixth track on the 1988 Prince album "Lovesexy".
10.5 x 8 inches
With each crossed-out word, each impulsive flourish, you witness the evolution of an idea, the struggle to find the perfect expression, the spark of inspiration that ultimately transcended the page. These are not simply artifacts; they are portals into the minds and hearts of musical legends.
For collectors, it's an opportunity to own a tangible representation of the music that shaped their lives. For aspiring songwriters, it's a source of inspiration, a reminder that even the most iconic songs began as humble scribbles. And for music lovers everywhere, it's a chance to deepen their appreciation for the artistry that lies beyond the surface of the music they cherish.
A collection of early handwritten lyrics by Neil Young, c. 1960s, on five sheets of paper, including:
1. A piece of note paper with handwritten lyrics and added chord structure to the song "I Wonder’ (Canada) in blue ballpoint pen. The reverse has the chord structure to the song "All My Loving" also in Young's hand.
2. A piece of note paper with the handwritten chord structure to "I Wonder" in blue ballpoint pen, with lyrics written under the chords in an unknown hand.
"I Wonder" was Neil’s first ever recorded song, it appeared on the album "Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 1963-1972".
3. Handwritten chord structure to the song "Be My Girl" (Canada) on a piece of note paper in blue ballpoint pen. The lyrics are written on the reverse in an unknown hand.
4. A piece of note paper with Neil Young's handwritten chord structure to the song "Be My Girl" in blue ballpoint pen, with the lyrics written under the chords written in an unknown hand.
5. A piece of musical notation paper with the chords and music notation written for the Neil Young Song "Be My Girl" written in pencil in an unknown hand.
"Be My Girl" is mentioned in the Neil Young’s biography, and it is known to have been one of Neil’s earliest ever written songs but was never recorded.
6. A sheet of paper with Neil Young's handwritten chord structure to the songs "All My Loving" and "Cleopatra" in blue ballpoint pen. Both songs are previously unknown titles the would have been performed by the Squires in the early 1960s.
The lyrics and chord sheets come with a detailed Letter of Provenance from Marilyne Nentwig’s niece that reads "To whom it may concern, My mother Jacolyne Nentwig and my Aunt Marilyne Nentwig were close friends with Neil Young where they al attended Calvin Technical High together in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. During those years Neil often visited and practiced music with his band The Squires at my grandparents farm house where my mother helped Neil to write down many pages of original songs and lyrics as well documented in his biography "Neil Young Don't Be Denied -The Canadian Years". The lyrics written for "I Wonder" are the earliest known handwritten Neil Young lyrics and one his first recorded songs. I was gifted the lyrics by my mother and aunt in June of 2023 and they have been in my possession ever since’.
Sheet 1 measures 5 x 8 inches Sheet 2 measures 7.9 x 10 inches Sheet 3 measures 5 x 8 inches Sheet 4 7.9 x 10 inches Sheet 5 9.25 x 12 inches Sheet 6 7.9 x 10 inches
As the digital age distances us from the physical, handwritten lyrics continue to offer a precious reminder of the human touch that breathes life into every note. They are a testament to the power of the written word to capture the fleeting emotions that inspire music, and a celebration of the creative process in its purest form.
In Music Icons, the collection of lyrics up for auction lend themselves to the emotional connection of acquiring a piece of the artist's soul and heartbeat of the music that moves us all – honoring the legends in ink who poured their hearts onto the page, and inviting others to share in the magic they created.
