Quote:
Originally Posted by DownOnRodeo
"Hit it on the nail" is a variant of the English cliche "hit a nail on the head" and I actually like that line in the song and its delivery. Like you say it's a fun uplifting song and also a confident one, which that line exemplifies.
I respect your zealous defense of the song title but I don't think anyone disagrees that "skies" is a legitimate word in English. The grating issues for me are that:
- the phrase doesn't appear in the song (rather, a similar but different phrase ("the sky is the limit") appears ad nauseum)
- even if they used singular in the song and plural in the title for some reason, it should probably be "Skies Are The Limit", as it reads as unnaturally abbreviated without the verb to be
- or if they wanted to keep it singular but contract it for the title, it should have been "Sky's The Limit"
The end result is a feeling that the track was titled by one of the engineers or someone else who was one step removed from the writing process.
Having said that, after looking at the alternatives above, I agree that they do look a bit clunky compared to "Skies The Limit", grammar issues notwithstanding.
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I was aware of the cliche "hit it on the nail" and its reference to hit the nail on the head. I was just saying that line for some reason is my only weakness on in the song. That critique is even an exaggeration on my part.
I really dont think the title of one of Chris's songs would be given by a sound engineer. The issue I have is people thinking its grammatically wrong or a mistake as you allege.
First there is nothing wrong with skies since it refers to the heavens above the sky before space. Its also the plural of sky which could mean the sky in different places. A love in Europe and a love in the States. Even though its grammatically correct rock and roll is full of clever titles and even words purposely spelled wrong. Sort of like when Stevie got angry at Lindsey for correcting her tenses. Yes its true her and Dylan do change several tenses throughout their songs. But that is rock and roll. The words "Smells like teen spirt" were never in the song either. Many titles of songs dont appear as lyrics in songs.
Could it be an accident where someone intended on Sky's but instead picked the word skies instead? Possible. But when people start picking apart songs because words are not in titles, the tenses change in songs or lyrics are run on sentences annoy me because its fuddy old English professors criticizing rock songs while their favorite poets do the exact same thing. Would you say that to Emily Dickenson? I was in horror many years ago that people were writing on this site the issues with Hold Me and parts of the song were not written in perfect English and should have been changed. That is horrifying
Now what I have written here is tongue and cheek like what I wrote above. I am not being over zealous which I am accused of lots around here. I am inserting some humor and common sense only. Now I ask you. Would you say this to Bob Dylan if he wrote a song Skies the Limit?
Steve had a theory awhile ago that the word Skies was taken from an airline commercial that was sponsoring the Mac tour in 1990. Was it clever on purpose or an unintended accident or done to purposely annoy people. I simply do not care
We may never know the mystery of the song. I only have a theory. There are countless songs and poems called "The Sky Is The Limit." That is the phrase that is sung in the song, no? I don't think she ever sings Sky's The Limit which would still irk people because its a title that is not sung in the song. I think it was purposely done for copyright reasons. Its not lumped in with all the other songs named The Sky Is The Limit. There is only one Skies The Limit. I think Chris went out of her way to not call the song The Sky Is The Limit even though that is what she wrote and sings. But my guess is like yours, just a guess. They mystery and the annoyance from some people just makes me like the song more
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