Music Update

I decided that my sidebar hasn’t been updated in awhile. I update the books (semi) regularly. I update my blogroll about as often, with new blogs I’ve found, and sometimes getting rid of blogs that no longer speak to me. But the TV part was boring, so I got rid of that. And the music part? Unchanged. Boring. Time for a change. So, I updated my lyrics, which I suspect no one ever looks at, and means nothing to anyone but me. But it does mean something to me. Music isn’t as big a part of my life as it is to Ted…music is his back-beat, his soundtrack, and he likes to have it going most of the time. I sometimes want a soundtrack, and I sometimes want to have quiet…birds, wind, whatever. One thing I’ve noticed that’s a bit different between us, though, is that for Ted, a lot of music is the overall sound, the beat, the rhythm. He’s very interested in what songs will sound good together, in the mix, as they say. For me, it’s more about the words. Maybe that’s because I’m more of a writer, and he’s more of a musician? That doesn’t make sense to me, because I don’t know that I’m more of a writer than he is. He’s certainly written a hell of a lot more than I ever have, from academic papers to screenplays to book and movie reviews, and of course, blogging. But for me, the lyrics of a song mean so much. Not in a doo-wop song, because there’s not much there, but in a lot of music, the stuff written by the poets, like Dire Straits, Simon and Garfunkel, even Jewel. Anyway, perhaps I’m losing my focus here. I wanted to alert you to the update on my sidebar, if you give a crap about such things, and give you a listen as well. So, here are three of the songs I added. Click the links to listen to some great stuff.

Sweet Fire of Love
Robbie Robertson, with U2

I love this song. Ted put it on a mix tape for me way back in those early days…I’m not sure if I had heard it before that. The lyrics are powerful, and they speak to something inside of me. They speak to the part that wants to do something for the world, that wants my actions, my heart, my feelings, to matter. To mean something. I suspect that the ‘sweet fire of love’ they’re talking about is Jesus, though it seems that it shouldn’t be limited to that one interpretation.

Didn’t we shine like silver
Didn’t we bear the cross
(Didn’t we) bring down the hammer
(Didn’t we) beat on the drum
(Didn’t we?)

(Days on the run)
Here she comes
a-shining like a light
(Nights in hiding)
Here she comes
salvation in the night
(Hoping that you were)
I’m giving up the ghost
(The healing inside me)
I’m giving up the ghost

(Breathe in the sweet fire of love)
I’m not afraid anymore
(Sweet, sweet fire)
I’m not alone
(Breathe in the sweetest fire of love)
I’m not the same anymore
(Sweet, sweet fire)
Sweet fire of love

Breathe (2AM)
Anna Nalick: Wreck of the Day

I know, this song is totally overplayed, but still, I love it. And with my current situation, trying to help my mom, trying to figure out the whole letting her help herself, while still helping as much as I can with those things that are out of her control…the whole, letting go of that feeling of being in charge, of being able to fix it for her…well, the song speaks to that for me. It speaks to living your life without regret and remorse. Plus, it sure seems like I need to be reminded lately to breathe.

There’s a light at each
end of this tunnel,
You shout ’cause you’re just
as far in as you’ll ever be out
And these mistakes you’ve made,
you’ll just make them again
If you only try turning around.

2 AM and I’m still awake,
writing a song
If I get it all down on paper,
it’s no longer inside of me,
Threatening the life it belongs to

And I feel like I’m naked in front of the crowd
Cause these words are my diary,
screaming out loud
And I know that you’ll use them, however you want to

But you can’t jump the track,
we’re like cars on a cable,
And life’s like an hourglass,
glued to the table
No one can find
the rewind button now
Sing it if you understand.
and breathe, just breathe

Now I Can’t Find the Door
Sam Phillips: Cruel Inventions

I remember being really into this album when we moved to Philly in ’94. It wasn’t exactly new then, having come out in ’91, but I used to listen to it a lot in my car, and in my office. I remember with this album, as well as with Joan Osborne’s Relish, wishing I had been the one to write it. Wishing I were a musician, and a hot singer with a sexy voice. Not that I truly want to be someone that I’m so completely not, but don’t we all have those moments sometimes? Moments when we pine for talents and gifts that are not ours? I know I do, most often with painting, music, and writing. That’s enough, right?

Germany and Japan
Make me feel so poor
Like seeing some new movie star
In a dress I wore
You’ll notice that
I changed the subject
‘Cause I’m afraid of you
There must be some back way or window
I can climb out through

But now I can’t find the door
Love is what I leave for
I can’t find the door
Away from you, Comrade
Away from you, Darlin’
Away from you

Unlock this dark room
Last time I knocked down the door
I’ve cornered fear with keys
From whispered core

But now I can’t find the door
Love is what I leave for
I can’t find the door
Away from you, Comrade
Away from you, Baby
Away from you
Away from you