Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Sometimes it's like someone took a knife baby Edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley Through the middle of my soul

Artist- Bruce Springsteen
Song of the day- I'm on fire

I had totally forgotten about this song till a few months ago when hearing a wicked bluegrass cover of it at a local farmers market, and then several other covers since then. Though all pretty amazing, there's nothing like the whispery haunting voice of Springsteen with that distinct guitar rolling sound my ears perk up and recognize the moment it starts. It's an excellent wee hour of the morning song for those times of walking at dawn before the rest of the world awakens, which is ware I currently exist. And also reminds me (as if i'd forget) just how magnificent Bruce Springsteen really is. He even knows how to make creepy stalking seem cool in this video! So for those walking in the dark on fire, this one's for you.



Hey little girl is your daddy home
Did he go and leave you all alone
I got a bad desire
Oh-oh-oh, I'm on fire

Tell me now baby is he good to you
Can he do to you the things I don't do
I can take you higher
Oh-oh-oh, I'm On Fire I'm on fire

Sometimes it's like someone took a knife baby
Edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley
Through the middle of my soul

At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet
And a freight train running through the
Middle of my head
Only you can cool my desire
Oh-oh-oh, I'm on fire

Monday, September 29, 2014

There's a little bit of magic, everybody has it There's a little bit of sand left in the hourglass

Artist- Jenny Lewis
Song of the day- Head Underwater

I know I can't believe it took me a whole week to get to Jenny Lewis' new album either, but really I held out as long as I could. After working 9 days straight and being told by multiple co-workers  and patients that my self medicating ben-gay body balm scent was a little too overpowering all my muscles have wanted to do was relax. And like an annoying old friend you can't get rid of, insomnia knows the perfect time to rear it's ugly head. As I lied awake at 3am counting the minutes till I had to be on my feet again, I felt a little less alone humming this song in my head.

I won't bore you with another repetitive rant on why Jenny Lewis is pretty much the best and all the reasons why she is the forefront voice of pretty much every woman you encounter (at least the cool ones) even if they don't know it. Mostly because I'm too tired to make a deserving compelling argument. But I will just say she is a hell of a song writer and can make even the worst times of our lives a little more groovy. Here's a little pick me up to start your week the only right way I know how. Thanks Lewis.



I've been wearing all black since the day it started
When I stopped and looked back as my mind departed
I've been losing sleep and I cannot sit still
I'm not the same woman that you were used to
I put my head underwater baby, I threw my clothes away in the trash
I stood barefoot on the blazing concrete, I was waiting for the gut of the thunder
I don't wanna bore you with how I feel,
but when the walls came down, the shit got real
I never thought I would ever be here,
looking out on my life as if there was no there
I messed around with something I always hated
I took a blanket into the bath
Opened my eyes and hallucinated,
I took a nap and woke up in the grass
There's a little bit of magic, everybody has it
There's a little bit of sand left in the hourglass
My own mortality, I contemplated
Down in the valley i got hypnotized
It left a mark that hasn't faded
That's when I realized
There's a little bit of magic, everybody has it
There's a little bit of sand left in the hourglass
There's a little bit of magic, everybody has it
There's a little bit of fight left in the end
I put my head underwater baby, I held my breath until it passed
Crossed my fingers and concentrated
I closed my eyes and I was free at last

Friday, September 26, 2014

When you lift me up, I jump

Artist- Willy Mason
Song of the day- Talk me down

I'd like to think I've developed pretty thick skin in my years of ER nursing and find I can deal relatively well with death, poop, spitting, fighting, screaming, you name it I've seen it type people. But you give me a someone cruel and I shatter my fragile outer shell. And in the same vein, kindness can make the worst situations not just bearable but memorable. It's a simple theory but completely accurate in today's song. Plus Mason's voice has a way to melt any hard heart to butter. If you need some melting or  some jumping, this one's for you.





When you talk me down,
I go down, I go down, I go down
When you talk me down, I go down

When you lift me up,
I jump, I jump, I jump,
When you lift me up, I jump

When the road goes on,
You sail, you sail, you sail
When the road goes on, you sail

When it cracks and burns,
You bail, you bail, you bail,
When it cracks and burns, you bail

But it's just a passing phase,
Oh my days, oh my days,
My foundation's started to shake,
Scared that it might break

How did I come this way,
Come this way, come this way
But it's just another page,
My book will have it's day

Why can't I see when you're talking to me?
Why can't I see when you're talking to me?
Why can't I see when you're talking to me?
Why can't I see when you, see when you

Talk me down,
I go down, I go down, I go down,
When you talk me down, I go down

When you lift me up,
I jump, I jump, I jump
When you lift me up, I jump

When the road goes on,
You sail, you sail , you sail
When the road goes on, you sail

When it cracks and burns,
You bail, you bail, you bail,
When it cracks and burns, you bail

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Crawling back to you

Artist- Chvrches
Song of the day- Do I wanna know?

 I know what you're thinking. It has been 4 days since you restarted your blog, where is the dancy music? Today is your day. So I was slightly late (only slightly) on my discovery of Chvrches and it was actually through today's cover song I realized the brilliance that is Chvrches. I'm obsessed with good covers and have discovered many gems through Australian radio's "like a version" series. Now I know I should appreciate Arctic Monkeys far more than I do, but what I like about a cover is sometimes it uncovers (a zing!) total greatness of a song I had at first not appreciated. The melody and lyrics are flawless and perhaps just needed a pixie girl and synth for me to see it. (Sorry die hard AM fans.) But it's such a universal concept of being happy in liking someone and not sure if you want to stay in that blissful one sided crush fantasy world or making it a reality and risking losing that perhaps fake but still true filling of glee. And alas, I am president of safe fantasy living world. So far all those in the running for vice-president and the ones who brave reality. This dance jam is for you.
Have you got color in your cheeks' Do you ever get the feeling that you can't shift the tide That sticks around like something's in your teeth And some aces up your sleeve I had no idea that you're in deep I dreamt about you near me every night this week How many secrets can you keep' 'Cause there's this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow When I play it on repeat Until I fall asleep Spilling drinks on my settee (Do I wanna know?) If this feeling flows both ways (Sad to see you go) Was sorta hoping that you'd stay (Baby we both know) That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day Crawlin' back to you. Ever thought of calling when you've had a few? 'Cause I always do Maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new Now I've thought it through Crawling back to you So have you got the guts? Been wondering if your heart's still open and if so I wanna know what time it shuts Simmer down and pucker up I'm sorry to interrupt it's just I'm constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you I don't know if you feel the same as I do But we could be together, if you wanted to (Do I wanna know?) If this feeling flows both ways (Sad to see you go) Was sorta hoping that you'd stay (Baby we both know) That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day Crawling back to you Ever thought of calling when you've had a few? (calling when you've had a few) 'Cause I always do ('cause I always do) Maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new Now I've thought it through Crawling back to you, (do I wanna know?) If this feeling flows both ways (Sad to see you go) Was sorta hoping that you'd stay (Baby we both know) That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day (Do I wanna know?) Too busy being yours to fall (Sad to see you go) Ever thought of calling darling? (Do I wanna know) Do you want me crawling back to you?

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Gonna open my heart Right at the scars Listen up

Artist- Kings of Leon
Song of the day- Wait for me

Though, as my friend Travis likes to say, "I love my divas", and would usually rather a dance break over a guitar solo any day, I have a soft spot for a few (or many) real rock bands. Kings of Leon often topping the list. Though they may be known for their drama often over their music, they know what guitar riffs shake my musical loins...that sounded gross but probably accurate. After watching their overly revealing documentary tonight "Talihina Sky" (fascinating), their story of religion, poverty, heartbreak, ego, drugs and guilt come alive in their music. Over the polished tones, something else lives in there. The human story of true soul searching, of falling, and trying, of loving the dark and struggling to get out from under it, always play a part in their albums. Today's song is the epitome of this from their latest record and I have been listening to it at least once a day. Obsessed. It's our constant striving to be better and our inability of perfection that may drive us mad or make beautiful music.

the story


the song


Gonna open my heart
Right at the scars
Listen up
Gonna do what I'm told
Go where I'm told
And listen up
Take a shot in the rain
Walk for the pain
And listen up

I tried all the way...
Wait for me, wait for me
It's all better now, it's all better now
Wait for me, wait for me

Gonna soften the blow
Soften the blow
And give it up
I saw the surprise
The look in your eyes
I gave it up
Gonna be who I am
Be who I am
And give it up

I tried all the way...
Wait for me, wait for me
It's all better now, it's all better now
Wait for me, wait for me
Ah, it's all better now, it's all better now
Wait for me, wait for me
Ah, it's all better now, it's all better now
Wait for me, wait for me

It's all better now, it's all better now
Wait for me, wait for me
Ah, it's all better now, it's all better now
Wait for me, wait for me
Oh, it's all better now, it's all better now
Wait for me, wait for me
Oh, it's all better now, it's all better now
Wait for me, wait for me

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Gonna break my rusty cage and run

Artist- Johnny Cash
Song of the day- Rusty Cage

Having been a troubadour for over a year, it's hard to remember how to settle down in a new place. Though much of me was tired of moving every three months or more and longed for a place of my own, the non committal, road hungry side of me still wonders how I'm going to get out of this and fit all the new furniture I just accumulated into my car and keep moving. I'm not quite sure if this is out of habit or the deeper runner inside of me. But sitting in hour long orientations deciding my pension future, 401ks, work compliance, and a bunch of other paperwork sounding words, I keep hearing Johnny Cash singing to me about Rusty Cages. Sure it's time to grow up and plan for my future but there's something about direct deposit that sounds a whole lot less cooler than burning diesel and riding a pack of dogs out of town. For all our rusty cages, this ones for you.



You wired me awake,
And hit me with a hand of broken nails.
You tied my lead and pulled my chain,
To watch my blood begin to boil.

But I'm gonna break,
I'm gonna break my,
Gonna break my rusty cage and run.
I'm gonna break,
I'm gonna break my,
Gonna break my rusty cage and run.

Too cold to start a fire,
I'm burning diesel, burning dinosaur bones.
I'll take the river down to still water,
And ride a pack of dogs.

I'm gonna break,
I'm gonna break my,
Gonna break my rusty cage and run.
I'm gonna break,
I'm gonna break my,
Gonna break my rusty cage and run.

When the forest burns along the road,
Like God's eyes in my headlights.
When the dogs are lookin' for their bones,
And it's rainin' icepicks on your steel shore,

I'm gonna break,
I'm gonna break my,
I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run.
I'm gonna break,
I'm gonna break my,
Gonna break my rusty cage and run.

I'm gonna break,
I'm gonna break my,
Gonna break my rusty cage and run.
I'm gonna break,
I'm gonna break my,
Gonna break my rusty cage and run. 

Monday, September 22, 2014

You got the music in you, don't you

Artist- Lana Del Rey
Song of the day- West Coast

Alright let's try this again. I had recently been feeling like I've been missing something in my life, and sure some could argue as a travel nurse that could have been shelter or companionship or somewhere  everyone knows my name. But I've decided it was music or at the very least music would, as it has always done, brought me where I'm supposed to go...or soundtracked that journey. And as I start yet another new chapter in my life I though why not challenge myself yet again with musical daily themes. After all we all need a little pick me up.

Today's song seems fitting as I plant my residential flag yet again on the west coast. Similarly to my feelings for Lana Del Rey, I can't seem to not love the west coast even if I try to. It lures you in with promises of fame and an exciting life where anything can happen but is also  kinda sad and dark and may corrupt you instead of save you but also has something about it that could hold the key to everything. And has something about it worth saving, and worth continually falling in love with. Here's to the west coast and here's to the music in you.



Down on the West Coast they got a sayin'
"If you're not drinkin' then you're not playin'."
But you've got the music, you've got the music in you, don't you?

Down on the West Coast I get this feeling
Like it all could happen that's why I'm leaving
You for the moment, you for the moment, Boy Blue, yeah, you

You're falling hard, I push away, I'm feelin' hot to the touch
You say you miss me, and I say I miss you so much
But something keeps me really quiet, I'm alive I'm a lush
Your love, your love, your love

I can see my baby swingin'
His Parliament's on fire and his hands are up
On the balcony and I'm singing
Ooh, baby, ooh, baby, I'm in love

I can see my sweet boy swayin'
He's crazy y Cubano como yo, my love
On the balcony and I'm saying
Move baby, move baby, I'm in love

I'm in love (I'm in love)
I'm in love (I'm in love)

Down on the West Coast, they got their icons
Their silver starlets, their Queens of Saigons
And you've got the music, you've got the music in you, don't you?

Down on the West Coast, they love their movies
Their golden gods, and rock and roll groupies
And you've got the music, you've got the music in you, don't you?

You push it hard, I pull away, I'm feeling hotter than fire
I guess that no one ever really made me feel that much higher
Te deseo, cariƱo, boy, it's you I desire
Your love, your love, your love

I can see my baby swingin'
His Parliament's on fire and his hands are up
On the balcony and I'm singing
Ooh, baby, ooh, baby, I'm in love

I can see my sweet boy swayin'
He's crazy y Cubano como yo, my love
On the balcony and I'm saying
Move baby, move baby, I'm in love

I can see my baby swingin'
His Parliament's on fire and his hands are up
On the balcony and I'm singing
Ooh, baby, ooh, baby, I'm in love

I can see my sweet boy swayin'
He's crazy y Cubano como yo, my love
On the balcony and I'm saying
Move baby, move baby, I'm in love
I'm in love
I'm in love