# Upbeat Songs for a Young Woman Leaving Home **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 17, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172 "2004-08-17T01:46:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/21 "2004-08-17T08:21:49Z")
Keep 'em coming! **Marley** , thanks for the clarification on the ones you mentioned. **racinchikki** , I know that the first one that her mom mentioned as an example was one by the Dixie Chicks. She likes lots of kinds of music, but the D.C.s are a favorite. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/22 "2004-08-17T12:40:17Z")
“Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/23 "2004-08-17T13:29:49Z")
“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/24 "2004-08-17T13:48:30Z")
Leavin’ on a Jet Plane The Letter Time After Time Bluer than Blue Tears in Heaven Not those. Don’t use those. Use these instead: Wind Beneath My Wings (no, seriously!) Leaving’s Not Leaving ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/25 "2004-08-17T14:22:30Z")
There’s “Tenderness on the Block” by Warren Zevon: “I know how much it hurts to see her go She has a mind of her own, you know She’s all grown up She has a young man waiting She’s all grown up She has a young man waiting She was wide-eyed Now she’s street-wise To the lies And the jive talk She’ll find true love And tenderness on the block” Full lyrics [here](http://members.aol.com/zevonfan1/private/EXCITE.HTM#excite8). ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/26 "2004-08-17T14:39:37Z")
When I left home it was years after moving out of my parents’ house but I hadn’t quite cut the cord because I kept going back. So, when I finally decided to move from Kauai to Oahu, it was to the tune of “Jet Airliner” by Steve Miller Band. And I haven’t looked back since. But, oh how I miss them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/27 "2004-08-17T14:45:16Z")
Oh yeah, I like Beautiful (Carole King) a lot, but it makes me cry. It doesn’t hurt to remind someone who’s stepping out on their own that You’ve Got a Friend (Carole King’s rendition also on Tapestry is, IMO, a little more upbeat than James Taylor’s). It’s especially nice to be reminded that your mommy is the bestest friend you could ever have. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/28 "2004-08-17T15:16:09Z")
My mom made me a mix tape when I left home. She included… See Ya Later, Alligator - Bill Haley Hit The Road, Jack - Ray Charles Don’t Come Around Here No More - Tom Petty Changed The Locks - Lucinda Williams My Aim Is True - Elvis Costello ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/29 "2004-08-17T15:18:57Z")
**Sunshine on Leith** - The Proclaimers Van Morrison has a trio of good songs for the occasion (all on the Tupelo Honey CD): **Wild Night** - Van Morrison (sort of an uplifting “seize the day” song)(or “seize the night,” I guess) **Starting a New Life** - Van Morrison (like the title says) **Tupelo Honey** - Van Morrison **(What a) Wonderful World** - Louis Armstrong **Put the Message in the Box** - World Party (This one is perfect for the OP’s purpose- very upbeat, and it’s about going out into the world.) ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/30 "2004-08-17T15:21:47Z")
Blind Faith - _Can’t Find My Way Home_ What? Oh. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/31 "2004-08-17T16:20:04Z")
_Gonna Move_ - **Susan Tedeschi** One of my all-time favorite artistes… ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/32 "2004-08-17T16:23:53Z")
And then I saw **Marley23** had already mentioned it. Day late and $1 short… ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/33 "2004-08-17T16:37:27Z")
“Do Re Mi” - Nanci Griffith, _Other Voices, Other Rooms_ (This is not the _Sound of Music_ song!) “Listen to the Radio” - Nanci Griffith, _Wings to Fly and a Place to Be_ “Hammer and Nail” - Indigo Girls, _Nomads, Indians, Saints_ “I Feel Lucky” and “Bug”- Mary Chapin Carpenter, _Come On, Come On_ “I Be Your Water” - Sweet Honey in the Rock, _In This Land_ What a great idea, **Zoe**! She’s very lucky to have such a cool mom and grandma. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/34 "2004-08-17T17:49:38Z")
**Zoe** , I suggest you google for the lyrics on the songs you don’t know. Most of the suggestions above are good, but just a few strike me as wildly inappropriate for your purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/35 "2004-08-17T18:47:19Z")
Just thought of another one, a bluegrass number (which seems appropriate for a North Carolina girl). It’s the old Carter Family song entitled **You Are My Flower**. I recommend the version performed by **Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs** on their greatest hits compilation 'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered. \*So wear a happy smile and life will be worthwhile Forget your tears and don’t forget to smile You are my flower…\* etc. And then of course there’s **These Are the Days** by 10,000 Maniacs. Classic “seize the day” stuff. Also **You Are the Everything** by R.E.M. (from the Green CD). ---
**Author:** ![Jane\_D\_oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@Jane\_D\_oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_D_oh)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/36 "2004-08-17T20:39:41Z")
Memories of East Texas - Michele Shocked - Short Sharp Shocked Teach your Children - CSNY - So Far ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/37 "2004-08-17T22:09:42Z")
Sheryl Crow, “Soak up the Sun,” “Hole in My Pocket” ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/38 "2004-08-17T23:13:07Z")
Beautiful Day U2 Walk On U2 a second for You Gotta Be Des’ree The Pascagoula Run Jimmy Buffet That song from that Coke comercial that there was a thread about yesterday. Shadowland The Lion King B’way soundtrack Ok not exactly ‘happy’ but very powerful. If you are not familar with the broadway show, this song is sung by Nala and the rest of the women as she leaves the prideland because King Scar want her to bear his children and things in general suck. And where the journey may lead you let this prayer be your guide though it may take you so far away always remember your pride. It’s a powerful song from the show. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/39 "2004-08-17T23:26:26Z")
OH and Que Sara Sara by Doris Day ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172/40 "2004-08-18T03:31:43Z")
“Army” by Ben Folds Five (uses the ‘f’ word tho) “Redneck Past” by Ben Folds Five “These Boots Were Made for Walkin” by Nancy Sinatra [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upbeat-songs-for-a-young-woman-leaving-home/260172.md?page=3)