My abusive husband had passed away the year before, so when Kelly Clarkson came out with Because of You it resonated with me, and brought up bad feelings.
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you
I am afraid
As someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, on many days, my theme is
“Hello, darkness, my old friend…”
Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me
Deep-Heart Depression, Excessive Misery
Standing on the outside, I don’t know where I’m going to
But I do know just one thing, and that is it’s over with you
I’ve been very lonely, I did not think I could go on
I was caught - in memories, and dreams I should have won
Blind Freddy knew that, a blind man could see
I was in love with you, but you weren’t in love with me
=============================
=============================
This is the nearest thing to crazy I have ever known
I was never crazy on my own
And now I know that there’s a link between the two
Being close to craziness and being close to you
Any song about a lonely overlooked person who doesn’t get the girl.
The day this song came out I played it for a friend, who made me turn it off. This exact scenario had just happened to him that very morning.
I woke up and called this morning
The tone of your voice was a warning
That you don’t care for me anymore
I made up the bed we sleep in
I looked at the clock when you creep in
It’s 6 a.m. and I’m alone
Harry Chapin’s song “Mr. Tanner” has long been my personal anthem. It’s about a midwestern dry cleaner with a nice baritone voice, whose friends and family constantly encourage him to leave his business and become a full-time musician. He finally books a gig in New York, and the critics rip him to shreds…and as a result, he never sings in public again. I am a singer with a day job, and even though I’m a bit more accomplished than the dry cleaner I definitely have a deep-down fear of Someone Who Matters someday telling me that I’m not actually much good – and having that rob me of the joy I’ve found in music for the past 40+ years.
Music was his life, it was not his livelihood
And it made him feel so happy, it made him feel so good
He sang from his heart, and he sang from his soul
He did not know how well he sang; it just made him whole
Mine is a mix tape.
Although he didn’t raise me, my father was always a loving part of my life. Once, when I was maybe 12 years old he told me, “You’re the flower I planted. You’re a beautiful pearl.”, plopped a set of headphones on me and played Earth, Wind and Fire’s That’s The Way of the World.
That’s the way (that’s the way)
Of the world (of the world)
Plant your flower
And you’ll grow a pearl
That’s beautiful!
Hope there’s room for another “Blood on the Tracks” reference.
These days, any time I see someone ignoring social distance / mask wearing guidelines, the title of a BotT cut immediately enters my noggin: “Idiot Wind”.
Then I have a nice earworm for a few hours.
mmm