Life's Lyrics

As some of you know, I am a scrapbooker.  Not by trade, unfortunately (I am amazed how those people have turned their passion into a money maker) but I think if I had to do it as a job, maybe I would lose the passion for it...maybe...

Anyway, back to my brain flow...for one of the classes I took I had to choose 12 songs that reflected parts of my life.  Seems easy, right? Take a few minutes to think about it.  Which songs bring back memories for you?  Can a simple melody remind you of a happy time, or even a sad time?  Once I started thinking about it, I couldn't stop. I was having way too much fun and there were only so many pages available in my project. So I limited myself to Beatles songs (go figure) and made a list of my favorites.  Then I matched up the pictures to the songs, either by titles or lyrics.  Granted, I haven't finished the album yet but it's a work in progress.

But I wanted to share the other songs that mean so much to my life, and why:

"Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" - by Journey.  When I was growing up, after my parents' divorced, my mom was rediscovering her youth, we'll say.  And this song was one of her party themes.  I can remember sitting in the backseat of her Datsun 210, with all of our arms hanging out the window, weaving to the beat of the music.

"Mercedes Benz" - by Janis Joplin.  Again, reminds me of my mom.  Any Janis, actually.  One of my favorite conversations with her.
Me, about 13 yrs old, "Mom, where where you when John Kennedy died?"
Mom " In school.  Devastated".
Me, "And where were you when Elvis died?"
Mom, "Living on base in Ft. Cambell, chasing you and your sister around".
Me, "And when Janis died?"
Mom, "Don't remember. Probably passed out somewhere with a case of beer and a fifth of Jack".   If you knew my mom, you'd be laughing your asses off right now because that is SO her.

"Rock Lobster" - the B52s.  It was my introduction into Alternative music.  
"Add it Up"  - Violent Femmes.  Same...I was shocked by the language but loved the song.  These two songs were the "gateways" into an alternative lifestyle, which at the time meant that my hair was dyed black, I wore black (always) and listened to weird music.  It did not mean that I was a lesbian as the term connotes today. I was the predecessor to EMO (at least that's what my kid tells me).

"Kick" by INXS.  It was the most popular album at the time I had my first real boyfriend. I can remember him changing the lyrics to "Now slide over here, and give me a beer"... 

The Globe Sessions - the ENTIRE album by Sheryl Crow.  The first time my heart was broken as an adult. I fell to pieces when the man I thought I was going to marry dumped me.  Long story but turned out that he already had a wife.  Couldn't have told me that in the 18 months we dated??? 

"Cruisin'" - Smokey Robinson.  I hear this song and sing as loud as I can for the first few bars.  Then my emotions win out and I start to tear up because it makes my think of my husband, and how much I love him. While there are many songs out there that remind me of him, including the songs played at our wedding, this is the one that gets me in the gut. Or heart, as it were...

"Here Comes my Girl " - Tom Petty.  Makes me think of my baby. My oldest baby.  For many years, it was just her and I.  She was my reason for getting through each day, taking crappy jobs with crappy pay, just to get by.  She was my girl.  And she still is. Except now she's taller than me.

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" - Mitch Miller.  My grandparents played this album over and over to my sister and I, every summer when we'd come out to visit.  And we'd all sing together.  Loudly.  They've both been gone for several years now, but I still remember these days.  And I still remember the words.  All of them.

I could keep going on and on.  Music is such an important part of my life.  No, I don't play an instrument and can't read a note but it evokes such strong feelings in me, both good and bad. It reminds me that I woke up today and that is beautiful. And it is everywhere, in the wind, the little critters talking to each other. And that is beautiful.  And it reminds me that to someone, I am beautiful.  Even if that someone is me.

Go home and turn on your cd player or your ipod, find your song, crank it up, and DANCE YOUR ASS off.  You'll thank me tomorrow!