So I woke up with this song playing in my head. Not sure why as I haven't listened to Matchbox Twenty in years. Perhaps I caught a few notes on someone's radio as I walked by yesterday? Anywho, the lyrics are good for me:
--------------------------------------
"BURN"
I thought about leaving but I couldn't even get outta bed.
I'm hangin' cause I couldn't get a ride outta town.
Now anyone who really wanted me to be down, Come 'round.
Thought about singin' but I couldn't remember all of the words.
Breakin' but I couldn't get the pieces apart.
Laughin' never knowing what the joke was about.
Now I'm down.
And I wonder how I never got the burn,
And if I'm ever gonna learn
How lonely people make a life
One strain at a time.
Forgot about everything and everyone I needed before.
Tryin' to get a handle on a reason to shine.
Pickin' up the pieces that are falling behind takes time.
So I wonder how I never got the burn
And if I'm ever gonna learn
How lonely people make a life
One strain at a time and still shine
(Chorus repeats)
------------------------------
So there's that...
I've had a fairly productive week. I went to get my eyes checked yesterday and ordered new glasses!!! I can't find a picture of them online anywhere so you'll just have to wait until they're on my face and I take a picture. I CAN'T WAIT!! I hope I didn't make a hasty decision with them. But they just fit me, so I couldn't say no. Anyway, that feels like a huge weight off my shoulders. I'm so excited!!!
Guess that's all the news I have. What are you up to?
EDIT: They called around 2 to say my glasses were ready. So guess what I'm wearing now.... ??
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Life is not RED, unless you are having a case of the Mean Reds with Holly
"Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say I love you right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
Ive looked at life that way
Well somethings lost, but somethings gained
In living every day.
I've looked at life from both sides now."
-Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now
Yes, Joni. I've looked at life from both sides now. From up and down. Well, I haven't died and come back to life or anything so dramatic. In a way, however, I feel on top of things that I used to feel I was drowning in. There's something freeing about praying over your to-do list and for ONCE getting it done. I don't like praying over my to do lists or my goals for the day or week. It feels cheesy. It feels like I'm bugging God and asking her to help me with things I should be capable of all on my own.
Then again, it works...
I don't know what exactly it is. I have more focus. When I start to listen to music or do something random, my thoughts shift back to the task on hand. Normally at that point I would simply give up and say, "eh." I am the queen of procrastination. I've got it down. And despite how many people are diagnosed and misdiagnosed with A.D.D., I really think we've all got a little bit of it. It's human. We get distracted!
But I've actually been calling places. I'm getting my eyes checked tomorrow and hopefully figuring out some new glasses soon. I called my future (hopefully) CPE site. I'm working on the application. I did laundry. I went grocery shopping. And I even wrote a note to my old landlord. It feels good to be productive!! I had forgotten....
So, thanks for listening. I'm going to go eat some chicken casserole that I made today (yes, that grocery shopping thing is amazing) and read before class. :)
*Hugs*
To say I love you right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
Ive looked at life that way
Well somethings lost, but somethings gained
In living every day.
I've looked at life from both sides now."
-Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now
Yes, Joni. I've looked at life from both sides now. From up and down. Well, I haven't died and come back to life or anything so dramatic. In a way, however, I feel on top of things that I used to feel I was drowning in. There's something freeing about praying over your to-do list and for ONCE getting it done. I don't like praying over my to do lists or my goals for the day or week. It feels cheesy. It feels like I'm bugging God and asking her to help me with things I should be capable of all on my own.
Then again, it works...
I don't know what exactly it is. I have more focus. When I start to listen to music or do something random, my thoughts shift back to the task on hand. Normally at that point I would simply give up and say, "eh." I am the queen of procrastination. I've got it down. And despite how many people are diagnosed and misdiagnosed with A.D.D., I really think we've all got a little bit of it. It's human. We get distracted!
But I've actually been calling places. I'm getting my eyes checked tomorrow and hopefully figuring out some new glasses soon. I called my future (hopefully) CPE site. I'm working on the application. I did laundry. I went grocery shopping. And I even wrote a note to my old landlord. It feels good to be productive!! I had forgotten....
So, thanks for listening. I'm going to go eat some chicken casserole that I made today (yes, that grocery shopping thing is amazing) and read before class. :)
*Hugs*
Monday, October 20, 2008
Country Music tagged as cure for depression
So you may have realized that last week I was depressed. Missing home. Feeling a little heart broken. Behind on homework. The week just was not fabulous.
I couldn't tell you exactly what cured me... what liberated me from my funk. I did get to dance a little bit. I socialized. I turned in some homework. I got over my broken heart. I got mail.
...and I listened to country music.
I don't know what it is exactly about country music but I feel like it gets me. I'm not saying I love it all. Some of it ridiculous, twangy, and trite. But there's so much more to it than that. Sometimes, you need a little corny in your life. You need someone crooning at you and telling you that love is possible, believing in God is possible, and holding onto who you are is possible. Life is possible. "Every heartache makes you stronger! But it won't last much longer. You'll find love, you'll find peace, and the you you are meant to be. I know that's not the way you feel right now, but one day you will...." That'd be Lady Antebellum. Whitney sent me their cd. (God bless you, Whit.)
I'm not sure why I feel so at home listening to country music. It could merely be the attachment to Nashville and Tennessee that I will always have. Is country music just a piece of that? Well, you could argue that, I guess. But sometimes, those cheesy country lyrics and twang are just EXACTLY what I need to get through the day. I realize I'm a girl... and I'm a word person that loves lyrics... and my love language is words of affirmation.... but country music gets me.
Sort of like bad poetry? Sometimes you don't have the energy to see the depths and nuances of really amazing poetry. Sometimes you need simple straightforward words that say that roses are red and violets are blue. I love country music, how about you?
I couldn't tell you exactly what cured me... what liberated me from my funk. I did get to dance a little bit. I socialized. I turned in some homework. I got over my broken heart. I got mail.
...and I listened to country music.
I don't know what it is exactly about country music but I feel like it gets me. I'm not saying I love it all. Some of it ridiculous, twangy, and trite. But there's so much more to it than that. Sometimes, you need a little corny in your life. You need someone crooning at you and telling you that love is possible, believing in God is possible, and holding onto who you are is possible. Life is possible. "Every heartache makes you stronger! But it won't last much longer. You'll find love, you'll find peace, and the you you are meant to be. I know that's not the way you feel right now, but one day you will...." That'd be Lady Antebellum. Whitney sent me their cd. (God bless you, Whit.)
I'm not sure why I feel so at home listening to country music. It could merely be the attachment to Nashville and Tennessee that I will always have. Is country music just a piece of that? Well, you could argue that, I guess. But sometimes, those cheesy country lyrics and twang are just EXACTLY what I need to get through the day. I realize I'm a girl... and I'm a word person that loves lyrics... and my love language is words of affirmation.... but country music gets me.
Sort of like bad poetry? Sometimes you don't have the energy to see the depths and nuances of really amazing poetry. Sometimes you need simple straightforward words that say that roses are red and violets are blue. I love country music, how about you?
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Words are GOLD, so are Patens
On another note, you know how you hear a word once that you've never heard before and then you hear it two or three more times within about a week?
Word of the Week: ** PATEN ** (no, not a patent)
Who's heard of it? Yeah, I hadn't either. Until this week. Then it was woah.
1st occurrence: I was listening to Alela Diane's song, "Rifle" (that I've been listening to on repeat and missing my brother because of it). She's got this line, "Brother I'm so sorry that you watched the Patens burn. I've been holding onto the gold when letting go would free my hands." I figured she was saying "painting" with an accent, like "paintin's" or similar. Then the gold would be the frame on a painting. Right? Well, I looked up the lyrics and it says "patens" with a capital P. Odd, huh?
2nd occurrence: Today, in church. I don't remember exactly when I saw the word but I chuckled at seeing this random word for a second time.
3rd occurrence: Okay, I'm cheating by calling it the third occurance because I really just came home and looked it up on wiki. According to wiki, "A paten, or diskos, is a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold Eucharistic bread which is to be consecrated." So it is the little plate that we put the bread on during communion. Sweet.
In the eastern church, however, it is far more fascinating. "For Christians of the East, the diskos symbolises the Virgin Mary, who received Christ into her womb, and gave him birth; and also the Tomb of Christ which received his body after the Crucifixion, and from which he resurrected."
Wiki also says that "During the Divine Liturgy it is not only the Lamb (Host) that is placed on the diskos, but also particles to commemorate the Theotokos, the Saints, the living and the departed. Thus, on the diskos is represented the entire Church: the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant, arrayed around Christ." In non-Jesus-talk, the entire church (Jesus, his mother, the saints, the living members of the church, and those already dead) is atop that paten.
So how much cooler did the song just get? A LOT COOLER.
==> Brother, I'm so sorry that you had to watch the entire church burn. But I'm holding onto it when it'd be so much easier to let it go.
Woah.
Word of the Week: ** PATEN ** (no, not a patent)
Who's heard of it? Yeah, I hadn't either. Until this week. Then it was woah.
1st occurrence: I was listening to Alela Diane's song, "Rifle" (that I've been listening to on repeat and missing my brother because of it). She's got this line, "Brother I'm so sorry that you watched the Patens burn. I've been holding onto the gold when letting go would free my hands." I figured she was saying "painting" with an accent, like "paintin's" or similar. Then the gold would be the frame on a painting. Right? Well, I looked up the lyrics and it says "patens" with a capital P. Odd, huh?
2nd occurrence: Today, in church. I don't remember exactly when I saw the word but I chuckled at seeing this random word for a second time.
3rd occurrence: Okay, I'm cheating by calling it the third occurance because I really just came home and looked it up on wiki. According to wiki, "A paten, or diskos, is a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold Eucharistic bread which is to be consecrated." So it is the little plate that we put the bread on during communion. Sweet.
In the eastern church, however, it is far more fascinating. "For Christians of the East, the diskos symbolises the Virgin Mary, who received Christ into her womb, and gave him birth; and also the Tomb of Christ which received his body after the Crucifixion, and from which he resurrected."
Wiki also says that "During the Divine Liturgy it is not only the Lamb (Host) that is placed on the diskos, but also particles to commemorate the Theotokos, the Saints, the living and the departed. Thus, on the diskos is represented the entire Church: the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant, arrayed around Christ." In non-Jesus-talk, the entire church (Jesus, his mother, the saints, the living members of the church, and those already dead) is atop that paten.
So how much cooler did the song just get? A LOT COOLER.
==> Brother, I'm so sorry that you had to watch the entire church burn. But I'm holding onto it when it'd be so much easier to let it go.
Woah.
Kiss his hand, receive bread.
I heart the Greek Orthodox church.
The visit this morning was fabulous. I absolutely loved the Priest. The service was long and mostly in Greek... and we stood for a lot of it, but it was all so beautifully worded ("the mercy of grace") and the building itself had all these gorgeous icons on the wall and the canting.... *sigh*
Maybe I just missed church. I haven't been for a few Sundays. I always forget that when I go there I feel at home. It doesn't even matter if it is an entirely different tradition than my own. There's something about prayer that feels right within me.
That, and since I am learning Greek, it was amazing to sit and listen to it being read/sung by these beautiful voices. It was so rewarding to recognize Greek words and to see them in use. I loved it...
I've also been listening to Josh Groban all day. So mix a little sentimental Josh Groban music with a little Greek canting and you have a day that feels like sunset. :)
"Through darkness, don't you ever stop believing. With love alone, with love you'll find your way." -JG
The visit this morning was fabulous. I absolutely loved the Priest. The service was long and mostly in Greek... and we stood for a lot of it, but it was all so beautifully worded ("the mercy of grace") and the building itself had all these gorgeous icons on the wall and the canting.... *sigh*
Maybe I just missed church. I haven't been for a few Sundays. I always forget that when I go there I feel at home. It doesn't even matter if it is an entirely different tradition than my own. There's something about prayer that feels right within me.
That, and since I am learning Greek, it was amazing to sit and listen to it being read/sung by these beautiful voices. It was so rewarding to recognize Greek words and to see them in use. I loved it...
I've also been listening to Josh Groban all day. So mix a little sentimental Josh Groban music with a little Greek canting and you have a day that feels like sunset. :)
"Through darkness, don't you ever stop believing. With love alone, with love you'll find your way." -JG
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Creation parties are RED, sure. They're also filled with fruit.
No thoughts? Well, I guess I'll just give you a random assortment of mine.
Went to IKEA today and got my roommate a new foam mattress. Hopefully she is sleeping contently on that new bed. I got new sheets for my bed and a rug for my squeaky floor. It doesn't really make a difference, but I prefer stepping on it in bare feet than I do the hard wood. It is a beautiful navy color and it matches my curtains. Yay!!
Had a lovely visit with my cousin. Toured campus. Had some amazing breakfast food at Mellow Yellow on 53rd. Then chilled and talked and watched a MI:III (though it skipped part way through for no good reason and I wanted to cry). We had a good time not stressing about going to museums and such.
Went with my Jen friend to Wrigleyville last night to meet some of her friends. I successfully rode the trains!! Well, just the Red Line. STILL, I am a proud owner of a CTA card and I know where to swipe it, etc. Yes, I am taking over Chicago, one public transit system at a time.
The downside was that when we came back by train at 1:30am, we had to wait until around 2am for the bus that runs to take us the rest of the way. At least I had Jen. There's no way I'd ever do that alone. Hello taxi!!
Went to a creation party tonight. Some random group of scientists decided that the world was finished being created by GOD on October 18th at 8:36pm. So we celebrated their idiocy by dressing up and having a party. I went as darkness. Kendra went as light. There was an adam, a bunch of grapes (fruit of the tree...), Lilith, "the lesser light," and various people with leafy contraptions or nature like elements and those in regular clothing. Quite fun. I love us.
So that's what I know. I'm going to an Eastern Orthodox service tomorrow. Partly to experience it, and partly to write a reflection paper for one of my classes (we have options on what to do the paper on, I chose this as one of mine). So, I'm really excited about that. There's a little group of us going. So, when I'm avoiding cleaning the apartment tomorrow, expect a blog about that!
*HUG*
p.s. I let the word out that I like hugs and now I have people that I hug (or get hugged by) every time I see them. It is QUITE fabulous. Thanks Sally. Thanks David. Keep 'em coming.
Went to IKEA today and got my roommate a new foam mattress. Hopefully she is sleeping contently on that new bed. I got new sheets for my bed and a rug for my squeaky floor. It doesn't really make a difference, but I prefer stepping on it in bare feet than I do the hard wood. It is a beautiful navy color and it matches my curtains. Yay!!
Had a lovely visit with my cousin. Toured campus. Had some amazing breakfast food at Mellow Yellow on 53rd. Then chilled and talked and watched a MI:III (though it skipped part way through for no good reason and I wanted to cry). We had a good time not stressing about going to museums and such.
Went with my Jen friend to Wrigleyville last night to meet some of her friends. I successfully rode the trains!! Well, just the Red Line. STILL, I am a proud owner of a CTA card and I know where to swipe it, etc. Yes, I am taking over Chicago, one public transit system at a time.
The downside was that when we came back by train at 1:30am, we had to wait until around 2am for the bus that runs to take us the rest of the way. At least I had Jen. There's no way I'd ever do that alone. Hello taxi!!
Went to a creation party tonight. Some random group of scientists decided that the world was finished being created by GOD on October 18th at 8:36pm. So we celebrated their idiocy by dressing up and having a party. I went as darkness. Kendra went as light. There was an adam, a bunch of grapes (fruit of the tree...), Lilith, "the lesser light," and various people with leafy contraptions or nature like elements and those in regular clothing. Quite fun. I love us.
So that's what I know. I'm going to an Eastern Orthodox service tomorrow. Partly to experience it, and partly to write a reflection paper for one of my classes (we have options on what to do the paper on, I chose this as one of mine). So, I'm really excited about that. There's a little group of us going. So, when I'm avoiding cleaning the apartment tomorrow, expect a blog about that!
*HUG*
p.s. I let the word out that I like hugs and now I have people that I hug (or get hugged by) every time I see them. It is QUITE fabulous. Thanks Sally. Thanks David. Keep 'em coming.
Friday, October 17, 2008
apology and request
This is my official apology for my lack of posts lately. I simply don't know what to write about. So I'm asking you... what would you like to hear? More about classes? Thoughts on my heart being stretched? Friends? Visits?
As an aside, my cousin from MN is coming to visit today!!! YAY!!! And then I have to go grocery shopping. I have been unfreezing bagel halves and making pb and jelly with almost moldly/stale bread from last week. It's a sad state.
As an aside, my cousin from MN is coming to visit today!!! YAY!!! And then I have to go grocery shopping. I have been unfreezing bagel halves and making pb and jelly with almost moldly/stale bread from last week. It's a sad state.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
My Political Rant is most certainly about the RED and BLUE - Feel free to ignore... or comment!
Someone told me the other day that the crazies are coming out of the wood work. People actually chanting bad things about Obama at a republican convention?? I try not to watch too much news because it essentially depresses me to a point where I can do nothing but feel outraged (which is perhaps the point, I realize - but I'm at seminary, this is my little contribution to the shit the world finds itself in). I have to say, though, that I am frustrated.
Got a ridiculous email from a friend down in TN about how someone was going to be on the news to tell the TRUTH about Obama. Yup, the truth. Here's a selection for your amusement:
"HANNITY IS GOING BACK TO OBAMA'S EARLIER DAYS, SHOWING EVEN THEN HIS TIES TO RADICAL PROFESSORS, FRIENDS, SPIRITUAL ADVISERS, Etc., HE STATED THIS EVENING THAT HE WILL SHOW IN DETAIL HIS TIES TO REV. WRIGHT FOR 20+ YRS (which we all know) HOW HE WAS PARTICIPATING WITH THIS MAN, AND NOT FOR THE REASONS HE STATES!"
Yup. All caps. The entire email.... One last tidbit for you: "THIS IS SERIOUS,EVERYONE."
Really? I didn't think the election of the next president was serious. I thought it was a game in which I could pretend to be an absolute idiot and know nothing about the candidate I support.
Then my Whit sent an article that made me smile, finally. Someone outraged and more eloquent than I. Here, go read then come back to me. Go. Read.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-cumming/why-is-america-so-content_b_134325.html
Now I know that if you are a republican reading that, you were most likely offended. And for that, I'm sorry. I know Republicans think I'm blind, though. People keep telling me stories about Obama, 1) expecting me to believe them, 2) expecting me to believe that they make a difference in his ability to be president, and 3) expecting to change my vote. Nope. Sorry.
I am voting for Obama. You vote for whomever you want to. I promise I'll still be your friend. :)
What's worse? I assure you there are people who have no idea there is an election coming up or who the candidates are. Don't believe me? Journey back with me to Tuesday. I am out with my cousins and my new lil' 2nd cousin (or is he once removed?). So we journey into the eye store to check out new frames (yes, I am getting new glasses soon!!). Nate casually jokes that we should find ourselves a pair of Sarah Palin glasses. The clerk/attendant who is assisting our selection process says, "Oh, I don't know who that is. I don't watch much tv." She later adds, "Is she a designer? Or a model or something?" T, Nate, and I exchange glances. Who's going to tell this woman that she's not a designer but a VP nominee for the future president of the country YOU LIVE IN...? I think I finally mumbled something about her being the Republican VP candidate. The girl said "Oh..." but we aren't confident she had any clue who we were talking about.
It made me want to cry. At least my Republican friends have done their research and KNOW who Sarah Palin is and who her running mate is... even if they don't know her glasses. Ha. ;) (WINK!)
So my point? Let's agree to disagree. That's the whole point of elections. Just stop the bullshit slinging and go vote.
*Sigh*
Got a ridiculous email from a friend down in TN about how someone was going to be on the news to tell the TRUTH about Obama. Yup, the truth. Here's a selection for your amusement:
"HANNITY IS GOING BACK TO OBAMA'S EARLIER DAYS, SHOWING EVEN THEN HIS TIES TO RADICAL PROFESSORS, FRIENDS, SPIRITUAL ADVISERS, Etc., HE STATED THIS EVENING THAT HE WILL SHOW IN DETAIL HIS TIES TO REV. WRIGHT FOR 20+ YRS (which we all know) HOW HE WAS PARTICIPATING WITH THIS MAN, AND NOT FOR THE REASONS HE STATES!"
Yup. All caps. The entire email.... One last tidbit for you: "THIS IS SERIOUS,EVERYONE."
Really? I didn't think the election of the next president was serious. I thought it was a game in which I could pretend to be an absolute idiot and know nothing about the candidate I support.
Then my Whit sent an article that made me smile, finally. Someone outraged and more eloquent than I. Here, go read then come back to me. Go. Read.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-cumming/why-is-america-so-content_b_134325.html
Now I know that if you are a republican reading that, you were most likely offended. And for that, I'm sorry. I know Republicans think I'm blind, though. People keep telling me stories about Obama, 1) expecting me to believe them, 2) expecting me to believe that they make a difference in his ability to be president, and 3) expecting to change my vote. Nope. Sorry.
I am voting for Obama. You vote for whomever you want to. I promise I'll still be your friend. :)
What's worse? I assure you there are people who have no idea there is an election coming up or who the candidates are. Don't believe me? Journey back with me to Tuesday. I am out with my cousins and my new lil' 2nd cousin (or is he once removed?). So we journey into the eye store to check out new frames (yes, I am getting new glasses soon!!). Nate casually jokes that we should find ourselves a pair of Sarah Palin glasses. The clerk/attendant who is assisting our selection process says, "Oh, I don't know who that is. I don't watch much tv." She later adds, "Is she a designer? Or a model or something?" T, Nate, and I exchange glances. Who's going to tell this woman that she's not a designer but a VP nominee for the future president of the country YOU LIVE IN...? I think I finally mumbled something about her being the Republican VP candidate. The girl said "Oh..." but we aren't confident she had any clue who we were talking about.
It made me want to cry. At least my Republican friends have done their research and KNOW who Sarah Palin is and who her running mate is... even if they don't know her glasses. Ha. ;) (WINK!)
So my point? Let's agree to disagree. That's the whole point of elections. Just stop the bullshit slinging and go vote.
*Sigh*
Monday, October 13, 2008
My journal is not RED, but it is AWESOME
Retail Therapy with Sasha:
My new favorite book.
A link to the website since you can't really open the book. Oh wait, you can on amazon.
Opening up to a random page, it tells me to fill the page with circles. Another page says to collect my pocket lint and glue it to the page.
This is so my kind of book. A little chance to break all the rules... all contained within the wonder of a little journal.
*Sigh*
My heart is better. How's yours? Who would have thought it possible that a Monday cured the terribleness of the weekend??!! :)
Examples: One of my teachers today wore a black button up shirt. I went for a walk. I listened to James Taylor. I vented with Sasha. We went to Dunkin Donuts (guilty pleasure, yes). Then I did something new - I volunteered at the Living Room Cafe. I loved it!! I think I've had the thought before that serving others generally always cures me of my funk. I don't know what it is about it. But it does. So I leave you with that. Feel free to mail additions to my journal and I will promptly paste them inside with love.
My new favorite book.
A link to the website since you can't really open the book. Oh wait, you can on amazon.
Opening up to a random page, it tells me to fill the page with circles. Another page says to collect my pocket lint and glue it to the page.
This is so my kind of book. A little chance to break all the rules... all contained within the wonder of a little journal.
*Sigh*
My heart is better. How's yours? Who would have thought it possible that a Monday cured the terribleness of the weekend??!! :)
Examples: One of my teachers today wore a black button up shirt. I went for a walk. I listened to James Taylor. I vented with Sasha. We went to Dunkin Donuts (guilty pleasure, yes). Then I did something new - I volunteered at the Living Room Cafe. I loved it!! I think I've had the thought before that serving others generally always cures me of my funk. I don't know what it is about it. But it does. So I leave you with that. Feel free to mail additions to my journal and I will promptly paste them inside with love.
James Taylor is not RED, he is blue, but a happy blue
There has ALWAYS been something about James Taylor's songs and his voice that give me indescribable comfort. I've been saying for years that because of his song, "Sweet Baby James," I would name my own son James. I don't even think I realized when I was younger that the artist who sings Sweet Baby James was named James. It's a song about his nephew, I do believe. An amazing country cowboy lullaby that I will always love.
But there's so much more. And as I've grown up, James Taylor has stayed with me.
"We had to close our eyes. To cut up our losses into doable doses; ration our tears and sighs." That's from Never Die Young which I think is about true love. Actually, I think all of James' songs have something to do with true love, even if the truth of it is that it hurts. "There aint no doubt it no ones mind / That loves the finest thing around." Whether he is seeing some other couple in love, he himself is in love, or he's talking about home.
Then there's the Frozen Man which I originally thought was a silly subject for a song. But it celebrates life. One man's life. His story.
"I said angel of mercy I'm alive or am I dead?
My name is William James McPhee. I was born in 1823.
Raised in Liverpool by the sea, but that ain't who I am.
Lord have mercy on the frozen man..."
That's beautiful! Profound!
And from Carolina in my Mind, he speaks to my situation now:
"With a holy host of others standing round me,
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon.
And it seems like it goes on like this forever.
You must forgive me if I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind."
Except replace Carolina with Tennessee. I REALLY miss Tennessee. Home.
And on days when the soul sits low, there's classic Fire and Rain,
"Won't you look down upon me Jesus
You got to help me make a stand
You just got to see me through another day
My body's achin' and my time is at hand
I won't make it any other way."
Or simply this one liner that breaks your heart: "Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground."
Then Copperline is another one about Carolina. About the unique nature of our homes. The traditions that no one can explain. Memories of firsts. And the great romantic James is, he sings, "First kiss ever I took / Stole a page from a romance book / The sky opened and the earth shook / Down on Copperline." Love it! Love him. And this line about home: "Tried to go back, as if I could."
What else? Ah, yes. A song that I only recently discovered by James. Starbucks decided to sell James Taylor's live concert album. A CD and DVD combo that I purchased for my Daddy for Christmas last year. The song is "You Can Close Your Eyes" and the words are incredible. I will leave you with them. Peace.
"Well, the sun is slowly sinking down, the moon is surely rising. This old world must still be spinning round, and I still love you.
So close your eyes. You can close your eyes it's alright. I don't know no love songs. I can't sing the blues anymore, but I can sing this song, and you can sing this song when I'm gone.
Well, it won't be long before another day, and we're gonna have a good time. No one's gonna take that time away, and you can stay as long as you like.
So close your eyes. You can close your eyes it's alright. I don't know no love songs. I can't sing the blues anymore, sure but I can sing this song, yes, and you can sing this song when I'm gone."
BONUS: He and Carly performing this song.
But there's so much more. And as I've grown up, James Taylor has stayed with me.
"We had to close our eyes. To cut up our losses into doable doses; ration our tears and sighs." That's from Never Die Young which I think is about true love. Actually, I think all of James' songs have something to do with true love, even if the truth of it is that it hurts. "There aint no doubt it no ones mind / That loves the finest thing around." Whether he is seeing some other couple in love, he himself is in love, or he's talking about home.
Then there's the Frozen Man which I originally thought was a silly subject for a song. But it celebrates life. One man's life. His story.
"I said angel of mercy I'm alive or am I dead?
My name is William James McPhee. I was born in 1823.
Raised in Liverpool by the sea, but that ain't who I am.
Lord have mercy on the frozen man..."
That's beautiful! Profound!
And from Carolina in my Mind, he speaks to my situation now:
"With a holy host of others standing round me,
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon.
And it seems like it goes on like this forever.
You must forgive me if I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind."
Except replace Carolina with Tennessee. I REALLY miss Tennessee. Home.
And on days when the soul sits low, there's classic Fire and Rain,
"Won't you look down upon me Jesus
You got to help me make a stand
You just got to see me through another day
My body's achin' and my time is at hand
I won't make it any other way."
Or simply this one liner that breaks your heart: "Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground."
Then Copperline is another one about Carolina. About the unique nature of our homes. The traditions that no one can explain. Memories of firsts. And the great romantic James is, he sings, "First kiss ever I took / Stole a page from a romance book / The sky opened and the earth shook / Down on Copperline." Love it! Love him. And this line about home: "Tried to go back, as if I could."
What else? Ah, yes. A song that I only recently discovered by James. Starbucks decided to sell James Taylor's live concert album. A CD and DVD combo that I purchased for my Daddy for Christmas last year. The song is "You Can Close Your Eyes" and the words are incredible. I will leave you with them. Peace.
"Well, the sun is slowly sinking down, the moon is surely rising. This old world must still be spinning round, and I still love you.
So close your eyes. You can close your eyes it's alright. I don't know no love songs. I can't sing the blues anymore, but I can sing this song, and you can sing this song when I'm gone.
Well, it won't be long before another day, and we're gonna have a good time. No one's gonna take that time away, and you can stay as long as you like.
So close your eyes. You can close your eyes it's alright. I don't know no love songs. I can't sing the blues anymore, sure but I can sing this song, yes, and you can sing this song when I'm gone."
BONUS: He and Carly performing this song.
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