Musical Markers Of My Life

Not just a youtube playlist, but a journey made of music spanning  the 1960’s to the 2020’s

Live – Lightning Crashes

1994

Lyrics
Lightning crashesA new mother cries
Her placenta falls to the floor
The angel opens her eyesThe confusion sets inBefore the doctor can even close the door
Lightning crashesAn old mother dies
Her intentions fall to the floor
The angel closes her eyesThe confusion that was hersBelongs now, to the baby down the hall
Oh, now feel it coming back againLike a rolling thunder chasing the windForces pulling from the center of the Earth againI can feel it
Lightning crashesA new mother criesThis moment she’s been waiting for
The angel opens her eyesPale blue colored iris, presents the circleAnd puts the glory out to hide, hide
Oh, now feel it comin’ back againLike a rollin’ thunder chasing the windForces pullin’ from the center of the Earth againI can feel itI can feel it
I can feel it coming back againLike a rolling thunder chasing the windForces pulling from the center of the Earth againI can feel itI can feel it coming back againLike a rolling thunder chasing the windForces pulling from the center of the Earth againI can feel itI can feel it coming back againLike a rolling thunder chasing the windForces pulling from the center of the Earth againI can feel itI can feel itI can feel it

Creed – One Last Breath

2001

I had the pleasure of seeing Creed perform this song in person. I was dating a gal at the time who was a Sunday school teacher and an accountant. That experience taught me how challenging it could be to be in a long distant relationship.

Lyrics
Please come now I think I’m fallingI’m holding on to all I think is safeIt seems I found the road to nowhereAnd I’m trying to escapeI yelled back when I heard thunderBut I’m down to one last breathAnd with it let me say, let me say
Hold me nowI’m six feet from the edge and I’m thinkingMaybe six feet ain’t so far down
I’m looking down now that it’s overReflecting on all of my mistakesI thought I found the road to somewhereSomewhere in His graceI cried out heaven save me (save me)But I’m down to one last breathAnd with it let me say, let me say
Hold me nowI’m six feet from the edge and I’m thinkingMaybe six feet ain’t so far down
Hold me nowI’m six feet from the edge and I’m thinkingMaybe six feet ain’t so far down, I’m so far down
Sad eyes follow meBut I still believe there’s something left for meSo please come stay with me‘Cause I still believe there’s something left for you and meFor you and me for you and me
Hold me nowI’m six feet from the edge and I’m thinking
Hold me nowI’m six feet from the edge and I’m thinkingMaybe six feet ain’t so far down
Hold me nowI’m six feet from the edge and I’m thinkingMaybe six feet ain’t so far down
Please come now I think I’m fallingI’m holding on to all I think is safe
Lyrics
Standing in line, marking timeWaiting for the welfare dime‘Cause they can’t buy a jobThe man in the silk suit hurries byAs he catches the poor old lady’s eyesJust for fun he says, “Get a job”
That’s just the way it isSome things will never changeThat’s just the way it isAh, but don’t you believe them
Said hey, little boy, you can’t go where the others go‘Cause you don’t look like they doSaid hey, old man, how can you stand to think that way?Did you really think about it before you made the rules?He said, son
That’s just the way it isSome things will never changeThat’s just the way it isAh, but don’t you believe themMm, yeah
Well, they passed a law in ’64To give those who ain’t got a little moreBut it only goes so farBecause the law don’t change another’s mindWhen all it sees at the hiring timeIs the line on the color bar, no
That’s just the way it isSome things will never changeThat’s just the way it isThat’s just the way it is, it is, it is, it is

Bruce Hornsby, The Range – The Way It Is

1986

Living in the bay area as an idealist, it was easy to relate to the message of this song. Happy in the belief I cared about the world for all the right reasons.

They say if you are young and not liberal, you have no heart, and if you’re old and not conservative, you have no brain. I find there is a grain of truth to that.

The Bravery – Time Won’t Let Me Go

2007

As I recall this time in my life was spent deeply reflecting on my choices that got me where I was. Divorced twice, raising a 7 yr old daughter and 11 year old son. I think my biggest priority at the time was never making the same mistakes with relationships I had in the past.

This song resonated with my journey at the time. I’m not sure how much I got from it, but it had an impact on my sense of growth.

Lyrics
Whenever I look backOn the best days of my lifeI think I saw them all on T.V.I am so homesick now forSomeone that I never knewI am so homesick forSomeplace I will never be
 
Time won’t let me goTime won’t let me goIf I could do it all againI’d go back and change everythingBut time won’t let me go
 
I never had a ‘Summer of 69’Never had a Cherry Valance of my ownAll these precious momentsYou promised me would come in timeSo where was I when I missed mine?
 
Time won’t let me goTime won’t let me goIf you gave me back those yearsI’d do it all better I swearTime won’t let me go
Ba ba ba ba ba…Ba ba ba ba ba…Ba ba ba ba ba…Ba ba ba ba ba…
 
If I could go back once againI would change everything, yeahIf I could go back once againI’d do it all so much better
Time won’t let me goTime won’t let me goIf I could do it all againI’d go back and change everythingBut you won’t ever let me go
Ba ba ba ba ba…Ba ba ba ba ba…Ba ba ba ba ba…Ba ba ba ba ba…
Lyrics
A lovestruck Romeo sang the streets a serenadeLaying everybody low with a love song that he madeFinds a streetlight, steps out of the shadeSays something like, “You and me, babe, how about it?”
Juliet says, “Hey, it’s Romeo, you nearly gave me a heart attack”He’s underneath the window, she’s singing, “Hey, la, my boyfriend’s backYou shouldn’t come around here singing up at people like thatAnyway, what you gonna do about it?”
“Juliet, the dice was loaded from the startAnd I bet, and you exploded into my heartAnd I forget, I forget the movie songWhen you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?”
Come up on different streets, they both were streets of shameBoth dirty, both mean, yes, and the dream was just the sameAnd I dreamed your dream for you and now your dream is realHow can you look at me as if I was just another one of your deals?
When you can fall for chains of silver you can fall for chains of goldYou can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they holdYou promised me everything, you promised me thick and thin, yeahNow you just say “Oh, Romeo, yeah, you know I used to have a scene with him”
“Juliet, when we made love, you used to cryYou said ‘I love you like the stars above, I’ll love you ’til I die’There’s a place for us, you know the movie songWhen you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?”
I can’t do the talks like they talk on the TVAnd I can’t do a love song like the way it’s meant to beI can’t do everything but I’ll do anything for youI can’t do anything except be in love with you
And all I do is miss you and the way we used to beAll I do is keep the beat, the bad companyAll I do is kiss you through the bars of OrionJulie, I’d do the stars with you any time
“Juliet, when we made love you used to cryYou said ‘I love you like the stars above, I’ll love you ’til I die’There’s a place for us you know the movie songWhen you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?”
And a lovestruck Romeo, he sang the streets a serenadeLaying everybody low with a love song that he madeFind a convenient streetlight, steps out of the shadeHe says something like, “You and me, babe, how about it?”
“You and me, babe, how about it?”

Romeo and Juliet · Dire Straits

1980

1980, the year I moved down to San Diego to pursue love. The girl I was dating and living with moved there to go to SDSU and I shortly followed thereafter.

3 years later we married. But, when this song came out I was 18 years old with my whole life ahead of me, love in my heart and exploring a world that was completely new to me. New jobs, new sights and sounds. It was a wonderful time to be alive.

Grouplove – Tongue Tied

2011

A favorite memory of mine was singing with my mom as a very young child. As we do as parents, we pass down our cherished traditions, and I am no exception to that rule.

As a work from home dad, I had the pleasure of dropping and picking up my kids from school. This gave me ample driving time to listen to music and sing with my kids. I know this one is memorable to my daughter.

Lyrics
Oh (woo)
OhTake me to your best friend’s houseGoin’ ’round this roundabout, oh yeahTake me to your best friend’s houseI loved you then and I love you now, oh yeah
Don’t take me tongue-tiedDon’t wave no goodbyeDon’t break
Oh, take me to your best friend’s houseMarmalade, we’re making out, oh yeahOh, take me to your best friend’s houseI loved you then and I love you now
Don’t take me tongue-tiedDon’t wave no goodbyeDon’t break
One, two, three, fourDon’t leave me tongue-tiedLet’s stay up all nightI’ll get real highSlumber party, pillow fightMy eyes on your eyesLike Peter Pan up in the skyMy best friend’s house tonightLet’s bump the beats ’til beddy-bye
Don’t take me tongue tiedDon’t wave no goodbyeDon’t take me tongue-tiedDon’t kiss me goodnightDon’t, oh
Take me to your best friend’s houseRoll around this roundabout, oh yeahTake me to your best friend’s houseI loved you then and I love you now(All right, all right, all right)
Don’t leave me tongue-tied (don’t leave me)Don’t wave no goodbye (don’t wave bye)Don’t leave me tongue tied (don’t leave me)Don’tDon’t leave me tongue-tied (don’t leave me)Don’t wave no goodbye (don’t wave bye)Don’t leave me tongue-tied (don’t leave me)Don’t
Yeah, yeah, yeahYeah, yeahYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Lyrics
It’s looking like a limb torn offOr altogether just taken apartWe’re reeling through an endless fallWe are the ever-living ghost of what once was
 
But no one is ever gonna love you more than I doNo one’s gonna love you more than I do
 
And anything to make you smileIt is my better side of you to admireBut they should never take so longJust to be over then back to another one
 
And no one is ever gonna love you more than I doNo one’s gonna love you more than I doBut someoneThey could have warned youWhen things start splitting at the seams and nowThe whole thing’s tumbling downThings start splitting at the seams and nowIf things start splitting at the seams and nowIt’s tumbling downHard
 
And anything to make you smileYou are the ever-living ghost of what once wasI never want to hear you sayThat you’d be better offOr you liked it that way
 
 And no one is ever gonna love you more than I doNo one’s gonna love you more than I do
 
But someoneThey should have warned youIF things start splitting at the seams and nowThe whole thing’s tumbling downThings start splitting at the seams and nowIf things start splitting at the seams and nowIt’s tumbling downHard

Band Of Horses – No One’s Gonna Love You

2007

One in a series of discovered songs that came unexpectedly. 

A reminder that hard times are not without beautiful moments. Something that anchors us to moments, both good and bad.

Band of Horses – The Funeral

2006

For weeks following my son’s loss of his best friend he played this song over and over… I remember thinking how much like me he could be. I also obsess over music and play songs repeatedly. 

I’m not sure what that says about me, but do I really care? No, not really. If I like something, I generally tend to indulge myself, especially if it bring my heart joy or raises my sense of connectedness to the universe.

Lyrics
I’m coming up only to hold you underAnd coming up only to show you’re wrongAnd to know you is hard, we wonderTo know you all wrong, we were
Ooh, oohOoh, ooh
Really too late to call, so we wait forMorning to wake you is all we gotBut to know me as hardly goldenIs to know me all wrong, they were
At every occasion, I’ll be ready for the funeralAt every occasion once more, it’s called the funeralAt every occasion, oh, I’m ready for the funeralAt every occasion of one billion day funeral
I’m coming up only to you show you down forAnd coming up only to you show you’re wrongTo the outside, the dead leaves lay on the lawn‘Fore they died, and had trees to hang there upon
Ooh, oohOoh, ooh
At every occasion, I’ll be ready for the funeralAt every occasion once more, it’s called the funeralAt every occasion, oh, I’m ready for the funeralAt every occasion of one billion day funeral
Lyrics
And take a little walk when the worst is to comeWhen I saw you looking like I never thoughtAnd say you’re at a loss or forgotThat words can do more than harm
And the town is gonna talk,But these people do notSee things through to the very minimal.But what’s it gonna cost to be goneIf we see you like I hoped we never would?
My eyes can’t look at you any other way,Any other way, any other wayWhen eyes can’t look at you any other way,Any other way, any other way
So take it as a song or a lesson to learnAnd sometime soon be better than you wereIf you say you’re gonna go, then be carefulAnd watch how you treat every living soul
My eyes can’t look at you any other way,Any other way, any other wayWhen eyes can’t look at you any other way,Any other way, any other way

Band of Horses – Detlef Schrempf

2007

Band of Horses is a band I learned about through unfortunate circumstances. One of the hardest things I’ve delt with was the day I had to let my son know that his best friend had passed. 

He was devastated, and through his grief he played songs from Band of Horses. Come to find out they use to listen to them a lot. I certainly can understand why.

Although it was a bad thing that happened to bring me to their music, I am grateful to have discovered them.

The Fray – How to Save a Life

2005

I don’t have a moment that I remember that anchors this one in a particular way. I can say that the video made the song much more powerful to me though. It’s truly tragic that people can suffer so profoundly, so invisibly, so isolated.

It is a great reminder that you cannot tell what a person is dealing with just by looking at them. If they act angry, it’s generally because they are scared, hurt or disappointed. So, don’t take it personally. Take it as a chance to exercise compassion.

Lyrics
Step one, you say we need to talkHe walks, you say sit down, it’s just a talkHe smiles politely back at youYou stare politely right on throughSome sort of window to your rightAs he goes left, and you stay rightBetween the lines of fear and blameYou begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong?I lost a friendSomewhere along in the bitternessAnd I would have stayed up with you all nightHad I known how to save a life
Let him know that you know best‘Cause after all, you do know bestTry to slip past his defenseWithout granting innocenceLay down a list of what is wrongThe things you’ve told him all alongAnd pray to God he hears youAnd I pray to God he hears you
And where did I go wrong?I lost a friendSomewhere along in the bitternessAnd I would have stayed up with you all nightHad I known how to save a life
As he begins to raise his voiceYou lower yours and grant him one last choiceDrive until you lose the roadOr break with the ones you’ve followedHe will do one of two thingsHe will admit to everythingOr he’ll say he’s just not the sameAnd you’ll begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong?I lost a friendSomewhere along in the bitternessAnd I would have stayed up with you all nightHad I known how to save a life
Where did I go wrong?I lost a friendSomewhere along in the bitternessAnd I would have stayed up with you all nightHad I known how to save a life
How to save a lifeHow to save a life
Where did I go wrong?I lost a friendSomewhere along in the bitternessAnd I would have stayed up with you all nightHad I known how to save a life
Where did I go wrong?I lost a friendSomewhere along in the bitternessAnd I would have stayed up with you all nightHad I known how to save a life
How to save a lifeHow to save a life

Dave Brubeck – Golden Brown

1964

Let’s face it, the 60’s had some fantastic music, and Dave Brubeck was one of the coolest musicians of the day. I was only 2 when this came out, but remember living in the East Bay Area, where the music scene was Jazzy Motown heavy.

What surprises me about many early songs is how I could have lived over 50 years and still remember them and the lyrics when they had them.

Hope you enjoy this one!!

The Stranglers – Golden Brown

1981

Imagine, if you can, it’s 1981 and you’re a 19 year old with your whole life ahead of you. You hear this song and think, why does this sound so familiar? Not realizing immediately that it was a song you grew up with, but haven’t heard in years.

Remember, back in those days we listened to the radio for all our music. No social networks, youtube, or anything else. We could go years without hearing a song because we had a steady stream of new hits to enjoy each year and didn’t look back.

As kids, mom and dad controlled what we listened to, unless you had a transistor radio of your own. 

Lyrics
Golden brown, texture like sun
Lays me down, with my mind she runsThroughout the nightNo need to fightNever a frown with golden brown
Every time just like the lastOn her ship tied to the mastTo distant landsTakes both my handsNever a frown with golden brown
Golden brown, finer temptressThrough the ages she’s heading westFrom far awayStays for a dayNever a frown with golden brown
Never a frown (never a frown), never a frownWith golden brown (with golden brown), with golden brownNever a frown (never a frown), never a frownWith golden brown (with golden brown), with golden brownNever a frown (never a frown), never a frownWith golden brown (with golden brown), with golden brownNever a frown (never a frown), never a frownWith golden brown (with golden brown), with golden brown
Lyrics
Old man, look at my life
I’m a lot like you were
Old man, look at my life
I’m a lot like you were
Old man, look at my life
Twenty four and there’s so much more
Live alone in a paradise
That makes me think of two
Love lost, such a cost
Give me things that don’t get lost
Like a coin that won’t get tossed
Rolling home to you
Old man, take a look at my life, I’m a lot like you
I need someone to love me the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that’s true
Lullabies, look in your eyes
Run around the same old town
Doesn’t mean that much to me
To mean that much to you
I’ve been first and last
Look at how the time goes past
But I’m all alone at last
Rolling home to you
Old man, take a look at my life, I’m a lot like you
I need someone to love me the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that’s true
Old man, look at my life
I’m a lot like you were
Old man, look at my life
I’m a lot like you were

Neil Young – Old Man

1972

One of my favorite songs to sing. Reminds of a particularly turbulent time in my life, transitioning from home to home, family to family. It had no significant meaning to me from the point of view of being a lot like my father, since I didn’t know him, but I think the lyrics and melody were beyond needing to connect with it emotionally.

Having a son now though, I wonder how much of me he sees in himself. I see how much alike we are, and it both frustrates me and brings me joy. 

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Our House

1970

Although released I 1970, I really didn’t get into this song until around ’73. I was living in a group home with 11 other boys ranging 10 to 16 yrs old. I was one of the younger kids in that home. We travelled a lot from San Jose to Santa Cruz area, Felton more accurately. The parents rode horses and us boys were turned loose with a dollar each for food for the day and the creek to play in, roaring camp to explore and even some good ‘ol hippy music!

Lyrics
I’ll light the fireYou place the flowersIn the vaseThat you bought todayStaring at the fireFor hours and hoursWhile I listen to youPlay your love songsAll night long
For meOnly for me
Come to me now (come to me now)And rest your head for just five minutesEverything is doneSuch a cozy room (such a cozy room)The windows are illuminated by the eveningSunshine through themFiery gems
For youOnly for you
Our houseIs a very, very, very fine houseWith two cats in the yardLife used to be so hardNow everything is easy‘Cause of youAnd our
La-la, la-la-la, laLa, la-la, la, la, la-la, la-laLa, la-la-la-la, la-la, laLa, la-la, la, la-la-la-laLa-la, la-la-la, laLa, la-la, la, la, la-la, la-laLa, la-la-la-la, la-la, la
Our houseIs a very, very, very fine house (very, very fine house)With two cats in the yardLife used to be so hardNow everything is easy‘Cause of youAnd our
I’ll light the fireWhile you place the flowersIn the vaseThat you bought today
Lyrics
It was late last nightI was feeling something wasn’t rightThere was not another soul in sightOnly you, only you
So we walked alongThough I knew that there was something wrongAnd a feeling hit me, oh so strongAbout you
Then you gazed up at meAnd the answer was plain to see‘Cause I saw the lightIn your eyes (in your eyes)In your eyes (in your eyes)
Though we had our fling (we had our fling)I just never would suspect a thing (suspect a thing)‘Til that little bell began to ring (began to ring)In my head, in my head
But I tried to run (I tried to run)Though I knew it wouldn’t help me none (not help me none)‘Cause I couldn’t ever love no oneOr so I said
But my feelings for youWere just something I never knew‘Til I saw the lightIn your eyes (in your eyes)In your eyes (in your eyes)
But I love you bestIt’s not something that I say in jest‘Cause you’re different, girl, from all the restIn my eyes
And I ran out beforeBut I won’t do it anymoreCan’t you see the lightIn my eyes? (In my eyes)In my eyes (in my eyes)In my eyes (in my eyes)In my eyes (in my eyes)In my eyes (in my eyes)

Todd Rundgren – I Saw The Light

1972

Todd’s music was so freaking memorable! I was living in Milpitas, before the transitioning to my Cupertino family and my foster family had just moved into a new house. It had just been build and the rest of the neighborhood was still being developed. I remember the smell of new grass and fresh bark. I was fascinated by birds and insects and spent a good amount of time catching grasshoppers to spread their wings to look at the beautiful patterns hidden under their dull brown exterior. 

Isn’t that just like most things in life, where you have to look close to see all the beauty hidden behind the mundane facade?

Todd Rundgren – Hello It’s Me

1972

Another Todd Rundgren classic. And another song tied to Turriff way, where I lived with the Barrera’s. It was on the border of Milpitas in San Jose. I could be wrong, but the station that played this was KLIV. It was a station, coincidentally, that was located on the corner of the same street the old San Jose Children’s Center was at.

As I recall, I was really just becoming aware of my deep dislike of being bullied and started defending myself. Although by today’s standards, everyone should be sheltered from the harsh realities of competition, bullying or hurt feelings, I am sure you need those things to learn about your own resilience, value, and inner strength. These things build strong character, so is it really any surprise that as we remove these obstacles for kids they end up with no character?

Lyrics
Hello, it’s meI’ve thought about us for a long long timeMaybe I think too much but something’s wrongThere’s something here, doesn’t last too longMaybe I shouldn’t think of you as mine
Seeing you or seeing anything as much I do youI take for granted that you’re always thereI take for granted that you just don’t careSometimes I can’t help seeing all the way through
It’s important to meThat you know you are free‘Cause I never want to make you change for me
Think of meYou know that I’d be with you if I couldI’ll come around to see you once in a whileOr if I ever need a reason to smileAnd spend the night if you think I should
me(That you know you are free) free‘Cause I never want to make you change for me
Think of meYou, you know that I’d be with you if I couldCome around to see you once in a whileOr if I ever need a reason to smileAnd spend the night if you think I should

I am adding songs as I have time…Stay tuned, more to come!