Im a fan of music, and I think lyrics can be the best, most powerful instruments we have in expressing our views/perspectives in life.
My 5 songs that represent my life views are, in no order:
“Echoes” by Pink Floyd - talks about feeling empathy for others and recognizing the good side each of us has the potential to have. Waters brilliantly writes “Strangers passing in the street by chance two seperate glances meet and I am you and what I see is me”
“Only the Good Die Young” by Billy Joel - you can lead a “good” sinless life, but you’ll be missing out on plenty. Like he says “I’d rather laugh with the sinners and cry with the saints, the sinners are much more fun…”
“Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley - somtimes, many times In fact, life comes at you with crap. Much of it depends on how you take it. A good perspective can often help. Bob sings " Don’t worry, about a thing, cause’ every little thing is going to be alright."
“Imagine” by John Lennon - Yes, can be corny. But hell, many of these “dreamers” songs started because of this one. Wouldn’t it be nice to not have wars, not having hate. “Imagine all the people living life in peace”
“Brain Damage” by Pink Floyd - Yes, I’m a Floyd freak, but they wrote good songs. Life dosen’t always make sense, and it isn’t always bad to be different, as Waters stated in an interview. Sometimes, it may be the madness that makes life interesting. “And if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes, I’ll see you on the Dark Side of the Moon”. Come on over, it’s cool over here.
So what are your top 5 “life songs”?
Swans - “God Damn The Sun” - ties right in with my depression, sometimes, and my nihilism:
“God damn anyone who ever said a kind word…” Joy Division - “24 Hours” ditto on the depression:
"A cloud hangs over me, marks every move[…]
Just for one moment, thought I’d found my way
Destiny unfolded, I watched it slip away!
"Billy Bragg - “There is Power in a Union” sums up my politics nicely:
“With our brothers and our sisters from many far-off lands
There is power in a Union” Shelleyan Orphan - “Summer Flies”, because I’m not always depressed:
“Summer flies, buzzing bees,
heavenly, and this could be -
totally undone and free!” all to a jazzy accordion tune.
and lastly 10 000 Maniacs - “Trouble Me” is all about how I feel about my wife and now, kid:
“Let me send you off to sleep with a
‘There, there, now stop your turning and tossing.’
Let me know where the hurt is and how to heal.”
Depend on my mood at times but three that immediately come to mind are The Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin”, Side One of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”, Alan Parsons Project’s “Time” along with “Old and Wise” and the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul”.
What an excellent choice. I would also add “Failure”, by Swans, for similar reasons;
“People Ain’t No Good”, by Nick Cave;
“One Part Lullaby”, by The Folk Implosion;
"12305(te Nacht), by Einsturzende Neubauten.
Dear God - XTC
Are The Good Times Really Over For Good - Merle Haggard
Heroes - David and David
Nothin’ Without You - Steve Earle
Chug a Lug - Roger Miller
Also in the running…
Lesson Pony - The Tripwires
Lost in the Supermarket - The Clash
Rock and Roll Can Rescue the World - Electric Eel Shock
Imagine is the first song that came to mind. “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one…”
Like a Prayer, Madonna - “Life is a mystery, everyone must stand all alone. I hear you call my name and it feels like…home”
No Woman, No Cry, Bob Marley - The part of this song that gets me is in the middle when he starts singing “Everything’s gonna be alright!” That song has taught me not to worry, that nothing comes from worry, and more often than not, everything IS alright.
Kyrie, Mister Mister - This song is totally uplifting to me, inspiring.
Life is a Highway, Tom Cochrane - This one never fails to put me in a good mood, and I love the thought - “Life is a highway, I want to ride it all night long!”
100 Years by Five for Fighting. Yes, I know it’s cheesy. But it epitomizes the inevitability of life - how each stage of life is its own milestone, how there’s no sense holding on to memories of time gone by, etc. Sample lyric: “Every day’s a new day.”
If I Stand by Rich Mullins. A flawed man’s assessment of his relationship with God. Or something like that. That’s me - the flawed man. Sample lyric: “If I weep let it be as a man who is longing for his home.”
Remember Me by Mark Schultz. I hope that I leave a lasting impact on the kids I work with, and that when I’m gone they remember me. Sample lyric: “Remember me when the children leave their Sunday School with smiles.”
Yes I know that’s only three, but those are the only three I really need (I think).
This song represents your views on life? Do you want to put your fingers in the notches of my spine? The world that you need is wrapped in gold silver sleeves placed beneath Christmas trees in the snow?
If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out, Cat Stevens Well if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
'Cause there’s a million ways to go
You know that there are
Virginia Woolf, Indigo Girls the apathy of time laughs in my face
you say
each life has its place
God Shiva, Me’Shell Ndegeocello Desire no more
what you already possess
You are already free
Train in the Distance, Paul Simon What is the point of this story
What information pertains
The thought that life could be better
Is woven indelibly
Into our hearts
And our brains
Whole bunches of stuff by Pink Floyd For long you live
and high you fly
The smiles you give and tears you cry
And all you touch and all you see
Is all your life will ever be
New car, caviar
Four-star daydream
Think I’ll buy me a football team
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look, but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown,
the dream is gone
**“What’s Going On” ** by Marvin Gaye - This has been my favorite album for almost my whole life and the message is still needed.
"She’s Strange" by Cameo - This is how I’ve always seen myself - strange in a good way.
**
You’ve Got To Be Taught ** - South Pacific - You’ve got to be taught
To hate and fear
You’ve got to be taught
From year to Year
It’s got to be drummed
in your dear little ear
You’ve got to be carefully taught This song really moves me.
**
The Age of Aquarius** - This song just makes me feel good, and I would like to believe that we’re almost there. “…harmony and understanding…”
What a great question! I just turned 55, and as I consider my life, my choices are these:
(1) “Amazing Grace” this version sung by Mahalia Jackson works for mehttp://youtube.com/watch?v=ZJg5Op5W7yw TheFury, I’ve had 55 years of screwups, bangups, & just plain stupid stuff I’ve done. It just amazes me that first, I’m still here and second, God loves me anyhow. (A wise woman wrote this dialogue between her & God: Woman: “God, how can you still love me with my foot in my mouth?” God: “Honey, who do you think created both that mouth and that foot?”)
(2) “I Am Blessed” (sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir): “I am blessed, I am blessed, from the moment I awake until I lay my head to rest.” Amen. I’ve noted in my will that I want this played at my wake.
(3) “Jesus is Just Alright” http://youtube.com/watch?v=u2ClBlp9crA – gotta have me some Doobie Brothers!
(4) “Thank God for Kids” (the Oak Ridge Boys) http://youtube.com/watch?v=AHWaTXMKT3s my babies (& grandbabies) are my life.
(5) This last one is hard. Do I choose Sir Elton John’s “The Circle of Life” in honor of my granchildren http://youtube.com/watch?v=vX07j9SDFcc, or Alice Cooper’s “You & Me” http://youtube.com/watch?v=_15VPVK6MEI Either of these are great, but I think I’ll go back to the beginning: “Amazing Grace” (“I’ve Been Set Free”) http://youtube.com/watch?v=cyFxArMeRDI For years I’ve fought alcohol, & I think I’ll fight it until I die.
My daughters and their families are the best things that ever happened to me (Erma Bombeck once defined family as "wearing your heart outside your body for the rest of your life:). I’m staying sober to be a good good Grandma.
Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon It’s A Beautiful Morning - Young Rascals At Last - written by Mack Gordon Bye Bye Blackbird - written by Henderson/Dixon Feeling Good - as sung by Nina Simone
“Sit Down” by James. Apparently written about Patti Smith, it’s about being bipolar and spiritual at the same time. “Drawn by the undertow/My life is out of control/I believe this wave will bear my weight/So let it flow.” I hope to one day have it sung at my wedding.
“The Bug” and “I Take My Chances” by Mary Chapin Carpenter. Ever buy an album that has absolutely no wasted tracks? These are two high points off MCC’s flawless Come On Come On. Not exactly a girly-girl. These are songs about balancing fate with your own determination; neither one will cut it alone.
“All For the Best,” Godspell original soundtrack. Life isn’t fair; roll with it.
“Strawberry Jam,” Michelle Shocked, Arkansas Traveler. Some people can get subversive joy out of just about anything–!
Cut My Hair, The Who: “Why do I have to move with a crowd
Of kids that hardly notice I’m around,
I work myself to death just to fit in”
Pure and Easy, Townshend: “We all know success when we all find our own dreams
And our love is enough to knock down any wall
And the future’s been seen as men try to realize
The simple secret of the note in us all”
Love of the Common Man, Todd Rundgren “Ive been burned in my prime
The simple things in life
Seem so hard to learn sometimes
And it takes so long
Catch it while you can
Too late tomorrow…”
Question, Moody Blues:
*“Why do we never get an answer
When we’re knocking at the door
With a thousand million questions
About hate and death and war?”
*
Lick It Up, Kiss: “You’ve gotta live like you’re on vacation”
Anything else I could name pales in comparison. But I’ll do it anyway, because I like to.
Light Years - Sloan…That I’m only realizing just how/She is light years away from me now Ladyfingers - Luscious JacksonWell i got ladyfingers baby,i got kid gloves baby i got heart Bone Bag -** Blur*** I don’t want to hurt you, no not ever* Come and Play in the Milky Night - StereolabLed astray/Before the/Fragile defense of words/Come and stay/Bring the stars/Play in the milky night
