IFLTS: 'Sweetie,' Josh Rouse

'Sweetie,' Josh Rouse
From 2007's 'Country Mouse, City Mouse'

In the great McCartney/Lennon "Some people wanna fill the world with silly love songs" debate of the early 1970s, color me a McCartneyist. (Lennon, God bless him, came around before his disciples, like me, did).

In fact, listening to Philly Soul architects Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff wax poetic about 'Love Train' last week, and watching Shelby Lynne belt out Dusty Springfield-popularized torch songs a couple weeks before, reaffirmed my belief that sweet, honest, simple lyrics are the best. Yep, "it's crazy, but it's true."

Enter 'Sweetie,' a catchy little lullaby from road-weary Nebraska native Josh Rouse. Amid somber images of dirty dishes and dirty faces, and a sprinkling of meloncholy steel guitar, piano and woodwinds, Rouse saves the day by crooning the brilliantly dopey proposal, "We'll sleep on rooftops/We'll ride on bicycles/Baby, we'll get married/Don't you want to, Sweetie?" And, just in case his gal could possibly say no, he follows it up with a string of la-la-la-la's.

Sure, this couple has been through its share of woe (the minor chords alone tell us that), but Rouse instead chooses to focus on the wonderment. People all over the world, join in.

Listen to Josh Rouse, 'Sweetie'

What song do you freakin' love? Write our next IFLTS. Send it to us at spinnereditor@aim.com