Songs I Love, Episode 4

I don't sleep at night anymore...I just sit in bed, wishing I felt tired. I've been going through my iTunes library lately, because there's no reason to have so much music I never listen to. And I've been writing a lot, mostly due to an attempt at self-therapy. It's amazing how much one page in a journal can tell you about yourself. Self-discovery, people - it's a grand thing!

Anyway, my friend Austin shared this song with me the other day. It's sort of techno, and spoken rather than sung, but the lyrics are incredible. I love them so much I'm just going to give them to you:

Because I always feel like running
Not away, because there is no such place
Because if there was I would have found it by now
Because it's easier to run,
Easier than staying and finding out you're the only one... who didn't run
Because running will be the way your life and mine will be described
As in "the long run"
Or as in having given someone a "run for his money"
Or as in "running out of time"
Because running makes me look like everyone else, though I hope there will never be cause for that
Because I will be running in the other direction, not running for cover
Because if I knew where cover was, I would stay there and never have to run for it
Not running for my life, because I have to be running for something of more value to be running 
And not in fear
Because the thing I fear cannot be escaped, eluded, avoided, hidden from, protected from, gotten away from,
Not without showing the fear as I see it now
Because closer, clearer, no sir, nearer
Because of you and because of that nice that you quietly, quickly be causing
And because you're going to see me run soon and because you're going to know why I'm running then
You'll know then
Because I'm not going to tell you now

Trust me, it's even more mind-blowing when you listen to it.  Running - Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx

Enjoy!

Songs I Love, Episode 3

I'm baaaaaaaack! I have so many stories to tell that are much more important than this song, but I haven't felt up to putting recent experiences into words yet. So here it is... another song I love. I'm really digging this one tonight. Lately I've loved Stars in general, actually. They are one of those bands I forget about for awhile, then fall in love with all over again. Set Yourself on Fire is a great album overall, and this song is fantastic! The last verse is my favorite:

There's one thing I want to say, so I'll be brave
You were what I wanted
I gave what I gave
I'm not sorry I met you
I'm not sorry it's over
I'm not sorry there's nothing to save

Buy it! Buy the whole album! But if you don't feel like it, here's a YouTube video so you can listen to it for free. Goodnight friends!

Songs I Love, Episode 1

After a few friends told me they've been buying music I suggested here, I thought I'd start a new feature. In yet another brilliant stroke of creativity, I've decided to name it "Songs I Love". I don't know how often I'll post one or anything, but here's the first one.

I figured the inaugural song should be a classic - something by an artist I will never grow tired of. I'm in a revolutionary type of mood tonight, so here it is... The Times They Are A-Changin'. I love every word of this song, and the context in which Dylan wrote it was a little different than the big issues we're facing today, but it's still completely relevant. "Come senators, congressman, please heed the call / Don't stand in the doorways, don't block up the hall". And my favorite line: "And don't criticize what you can't understand." Ahhh! Ol' Bobby gets me every time. I've listened to this record a hundred times and every single time, his wonderfully mediocre voice and ridiculously simple strum pattern pour out of my turntable and absolutely flood my soul with emotion. Inexplicable emotion. Something like simultaneous hope and despair. Oh, the things this man has seen in his life! And the precious words he's given us! There are no words to communicate to you how much I love this man and his music...


So now that I've gotten all worked up, I'll leave you to be moved by this beautiful song.


I'm not sure, but this link might play the full song for you.