Todd Rundgren - Baby Let's Swing Lyrics

I don't think that Rundgren was in love with Laura Nyro. I think he just loved her style of songwriting.

Love this.

"I used to write songs like the Who, but when I listened to Laura's music I started to write like her."
- Todd Rundgren

To "swing" is a musical term, as is "shuffle". Laura wrote a number of songs with a swing/shuffle rhythm (Wedding Bell Blues, Sweet Blindness, Time And Love, etc.). As a musician and fan of Nyro, I've always liked the idea of this song: Philadelphia rock guitar-slinger dude Rundgren becomes a fan of this introverted female singer-songwriter's music and is inspired to write about it. He's saying "Now I love to shuffle
ever since I heard you sing". In real life, they met, worked together a tiny bit (nothing really came from it) but there was no romance - even though I'm betting young Rundgren was smitten by the image and music from afar which he weaved into a fictional story in this song ("But Laura where did that magic go? It's so hard, it's so cold down here. Did you have to leave me behind?"). I love much of the music of both these artists.

Very Sara's smile by Daryl Hall. Todd is very good frends with Hall & Oates

Vote for Todd for the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame

A beautiful song for a beautiful person! How I love to shuffle! How I wish I'd written this!! Good job Todd.We met a couple of years ago at Arkansas Record-CD Exchange and he was very nice. RIP sweet Laura!

I never, ever thought I'd see her live. Then, out of the blue, in 1994 it was announced that she was playing a place called the Union Chapel in North London. She was fantastic, medleys of old soul classics mixed with her own incomparable material. It was nice to see so many people that had heard of her, let alone wanted to see her.

With her best stuff, as soon as you think "I know where this is going" the song shoots off on a tangent and it always works, always. The term "genius" is overused, I think, but if there is a pop music genius it's Laura Nyro. Who else would have a random gun shot right in the middle of a soul shuffle like Mercy On Broadway? There is no formula for her more adventurous compositions - they stand completely alone. No wonder Todd Rundgren rated her so highly.

I saw her live in 1970 Stratford CT Shakespeare theater.. great show

Gail Artsgard
Wow! That must have been even better as she was in her prime then.
Captain St Lucifer is probably my favourite by her but there's so many great tracks, that could change tomorrow. Incredible artist.

She was something else, one of a kind

You've got it Tony. Laura can take you on an emotional roller-coaster ride all in the one song. I've never heard anyone like her since - apart from Todd Rundgren. It's a shame that Laura's hardly known in the U.K. where much lesser talents eclipse her.

I saw her around that time, also, in a small but well-known folk club in Philadelphia, the Tin Angel. What a precious night that was.

An affectionate pastiche by a guy who knew her well and knew she was a genius. They really did break the mould with Laura Nyro.

Nice tune Todd, A very creative piece of musical art. What were her thoughts when you presented it to her? Bet it made her smile and giggle

As always thanks todd- and yes we all miss ms. tendaberry

Oh My God. I just saw Ms. Tendaberry and the tears shot out like a flood., I've never heard her called that. After experiencing Laura I've never been the same. Changing me from the first time I heard her in '66 until the end in' 97, 
I still listen, but miss her doesn't quite say it. To quote Todd," There are No Words". To quote, as. you suggest, Ms. Tendaberry, " ..,"The past is a blue note, inside me..,.," & "Where is the night's lustre, past my trials?" To Glenn Morris my deepest thanks.

Wonderful song of 2 wonderful people and musicans

It' s got a breathless fan-gush "I just had to get it out" quality, which is wholly endearing. It's great, she's great, he's great. I'm a fan...

Other songs written about Laura Nyro:
'Mean Streets' by Tennis (USA)
'Laura Nyro' by the Cosmic Rough Riders (Scottish)
'Laura' by Lush (English,I think)
Interestingly, they are all indie bands.

thanks for the tour

This song is so sweet

I  hear the genesis for several of his later tunes in this....in a really great way; not derivation, but evolution.

Masterclass phrasing! Laura was the goddess and Todd always understood it. Both go to a deep place that always feels right.

Todd has a long standin relationship with Laura. These chord changes are so Laura. hanks t
Todd.

Todd had a long standing relationship with laura. This song is so "in the style of Laura." Now, I can really see the influence Laura had on Todd's music. Now, when I listen to todd;'s songs, I can hear the Laura influence. When you actually listen to Todd's hits, can't you hear the Laura Influence? We gotta get you a woman, Hello it's Me .... Don;t those sound like Nyro chord changes. Just wondering. Type me a yes if you agree.

oh he has publicly admitted it. Also Carol King was a direct replacement of Laura as well...obvious rip off - imho

You or so right on dude he is so melodic and many of the songs like we got to get you a woman, I Saw the Lightprobably colores influence on him and especially this song his tribute the Laura even sounds like a lot of her inflections with the high notes... I get pretty emotional when I think about Laura's life.... What a talent, she is greatly missed !

Brooke Merkin Carol King was writing songs before Laura. Both are and were great talents

you think?? How about ab-so-frigging-lutely, He was so enamored, in awe of her, and when she wasn't romantically interested in him, ( with other contenders for Laura's affection like , oh say, Jackson Brown, can you blame her? And that was not just a rumor, I saw Jackson soul kiss Laura when he finished his set, opening for Laura, at The DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION, IN DEC1971, And you could tell, it was STEAMY BETWEEN Jackson & Laura.t, Not to mention that Jackson wrote a song for Laura as well, "That girl should could sing") I've also felel both songs, Rundgren's and Browne's both showed a lightly veiled anger at her. Jackson's lyric,"she's wasn't very good at sticking around, but boy that girl could sing".sounds like the guy found her talented, but certainly not easily controlled, And Rundgren especial later was extremely critical of Laura, and her musical process. In the song, he sounded childish with the terrible lyric take a look in your own backyard., No wonder she left the music industry early !

Only todd can get flat and sharp chords to work in harmony. ....that's genius. .....

No doubt! You have a good ear

That's Laura Nyro. And of course, Mr. Rundgren.

How appropriate for her good friend Todd to write a song specifically for Laura. One of favorite song writers of all time. Thank you Todd.

Anyone wanna hear Todd's other "Laura" tribute? (musically not lyrically) Check out Nazz's Old Time Lovemaking...

I had to wait 40 years to hear this in its entirety. So beautiful! Thank you for posting.

This track is off the Alternate Runt LP.

please tell me more about Alternative Runt LP...

@Eastman D Alternative pressings
Upon its release in June 1970 the album was issued with 10 tracks. After "We Gotta Get You a Woman" became a hit single, Ampex decided to press more copies of the LP in November 1970 to keep up with demand. A rejected 12-track master of the LP was accidentally sent to the pressing plant resulting in approximately 5,000 mis-presses. Instead of throwing out the LPs, Ampex decided to sell them anyway, unmarked, as a sort of surprise to the purchaser. This album as well as Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren were issued in 1971 on the Bearsville label, being distributed by Ampex at the time. In mid-1971 Bearsville was purchased by Warner Bros. distribution, and plans were made to re-release each album with Runt as catalog number BV 2046 and Ballad as BV 2047. These were never pressed. Later in 1973 Warner Bros wanted Bearsville to re-release both albums as a "twin pack" entitled Todd Rundgren's Rack Job (Catalog number 2BV 2156). The album got as far as test presses and album art but was shelved, as Rundgren wanted to release an album of new material instead.

excellent info ! thanks a bunch ! early Rundgren is an absolute favorite of mine. this was a treat..such a sweet song for what appears to be a very sweet person. cast your votes for TR in R&R HOF every day....you can vote as many times as you wish so let's make it happen. I'm quite sure G. Artsgard has full knowledge of this ! Thanks again !

todd loves laura's music

Listen. Then listen to Laura. So good , separately and together.

fuckin great.

Two of my favourite people in the world- Todd and Laura.

You are not alone.........................

Hope I pointed everyone on earth this way I love more everytime I hear Laura, anyway.

Throw in, "How I love to shuffle, youre golden...as well you should be

Listen to Laura and act like you're actually a wave of future love.

Was Mr. Rundgren. in mad love or what. So sweet! Sounds as if she could've written this song.

I have loved Todd Rundgren since Nazz.  Now I know that we shared a love for Laura Nyro as well.  Thank you.

Wally Linebarger if you didn't know that you don't know his music well. Most of it was ripped from her style.

marvelous

Todd, you are still the greatest of all time!