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Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sound Bite Sunday

I hate that in life, so many songs just seem to be about heartache or a bad break up. Or at least those seem to be the times when songs strike a chord and hit home. When I was a freshman/sophomore in college, I was in a pretty bad relationship. In hindsight, we just weren't good for each other, and I know he has matured and grown and gotten married and is expecting his second child. And I am happy for him. But that doesn't mean that, at the time, my 19 year old heart wasn't broken and torn apart, time and time again, when he cheated on me (to be fair, I cheated on him too) and when he ultimately left me for a girl who posted pictures of herself on the internet while only wearing a thong. (She kinda reminds me of The Slutasian!)
 
But during the summer of 2001, while working the most kickass internship ever, and meeting one of my best friends (Truck Stop Lizard - he gets a nickname because he asked politely), the band Journey released the album, "Arrival." And from one song to the next, it took me from songs of love to songs of break up to songs of renewed passion and joy for life. I know, without a doubt, I would not have gotten through that entire nasty relationship and subsequent depression, had it not been for that little piece of me who can latch on to other's words and see the meaning behind them. No, those words didn't come from someone in the church or a family member. No, the words that helped me heal came from a rock band. And for those of you who truly know me, you would never expect anything different.
 
To Be Alive Again by Journey (post Steve Perry)
 
Doin' time... where it takes you
You know it's time that can break you
We get caught in a moment...
Just steep walkin' most of our lives

In your mind (when you need it)
With a song (to help you believe it)
You can reinvent your world
Anytime you like

To be alive again...
Wakin' up from where you been
Younger now than you were then
You're comin' 'round again
Do you remember when...
Life was so much simpler then
Like summer nights that never end

To be alive again

Find the smile...
You've been missin'
There's someone that you could be kissin'
So open your eyes and you'll see
What's been there all along

Letting go (of your feelings)
With doubt and fear (you don't need it)
Break the chains on the heart of the soul
That's been waiting so long

To be alive again...
Wakin' up from where you been
Younger now than you were then
You're comin' 'round again
Do you remember when...
Life was so much simpler then
Like summer nights that never end

To be alive again

You're not among the walkin' wounded anymore
There's a time to fall
There's a time to rise above it all

To be alive again...
Wakin' up from where you been
Younger now than you were then
You're comin' 'round again
Do you remember when...
Life was so much simpler then
Like summer nights that never end

To be alive again

(The lines above that I bolded are some of the most poignant in all of music to me. Even though I'm happily married now, part of me will always hold on to that.)

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