So, in honor of my 30th birthday, I decided I would make a soundtrack that fits my life right now, when I'm loving motherhood even more than expected, enjoying my husband with whom I have a growing history, living among a community of friends and family that make me a better person, dreaming of what's next, reminiscing about who helped me get here and wanting to embrace the ordinary moments that truly make life wonderful.
In no particular order, here are the songs, some lyrics and a few notes ...
1. "It Won't Be Like This For Long" by Darius Rucker
It wont be like this for long/One day soon that little girl is gonna be/All grown up and gone/Yeah this phase is gonna fly by/He's try'n to hold on/It wont be like this for long
2. "Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band
And its funny how it's the simple things in life that mean the most/Not where you live or what you drive or the price tag on your clothes/There's no dollar sign on a piece of mind this I`ve come to know
3. "All We Are" by Matt Nathanson
I went broke believing/That the simple should be hard/All we are we are/All we are we are/And every day is a start of something beautiful
{I was introduced to Matt Nathanson with this song on "Private Practice."}
4. "The Wood Song" by Indigo Girls
No way construction of this tricky plan/Was built by other than a greater hand/With a love that passes all out understanding/Watching closely over the journey/Yeah but what it takes to cross the great divide/Seems more than all the courage I can muster up inside/Although we get to have some answers when we reach the other side/The prize is always worth the rocky ride
{Probably my favorite lyrics in a song, ever ...}
5. "Rosemary's Granddaughter" by Sara Evans
Sometimes I am foolish and I am clumsy/But I have friends that love me /And they know just where I stand/It is all apart of me and that is who I am
6. "A Page is Turned" by Bebo Norman
Where the God of second chance/Will pick them up and he'll let them dance/Through a world that is no kind/And all this time, they're sharing with the one/That holds them up when they come undone/Beneath the storm, beneath the sun/And once again, here you stand
{A beautiful song that was included in our wedding ceremony 6, almost 7, years ago, thanks to some talented friends.}
7. "Crush" by Dave Matthews Band
It's crazy I'm thinking, just knowing that the world is round/I'm here I'm dancing on the ground/Am I right side up or upside down?/Is this real, oh Lord, or am I dreaming?
{The all-time best driving song.}
8. "My List" by Toby Keith
Wouldn't change the course of fate but cuttin' the grass just had to wait/'Cause I've got more important things like pushin' my kid on the backyard swing/I won't break my back for a million bucks I can't take to my grave/So why put off for tomorrow what I could get done today/Like go for a walk, say a little prayer/Take a deep breath of mountain air/Put on my glove and play some catch/It's time that I make time for that/Wade the shore and cast a line/Look up a long lost friend of mine/Sit on the porch and give my girl a kiss/Start livin', that's the next thing on my list
9. "Accidentally in Love" by Counting Crows
Well baby I surrender to the strawberry ice cream/Never ever end of all this love/Well I didn't mean to do it/But there's no escaping your love
10. "Love is Different" by Caedmon's Call
'Cause love is different than you'd think/It's never in a song or on a TV screen/And love is harder than a word/Said at the right time and everything's alright/Love is different than you think
11. "The Riddle" by Five for Fighting
There are secrets that we still have left to find/There have been mysteries from the beginning of time/There are answers we're not wise enough to see/... I guess we're big and I guess we're small/If you think about it man you know we got it all/Cause we're all we got on this bouncing ball/And I love you free/I love you freely
{SIDE NOTE: Five for Fighting earns the Best Band Name in my book, and I'm not even a hockey fan.}
12. "Creed" by Third Day
And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am/I did not make it, no it is making me
13. "All Will Be Well" by Gabe Dixon Band
{Again, thanks TV. I learned about this song courtesy "What About Brian."}
14. "Name" by Goo Goo Dolls
Scars are souvenirs you never lose/The past is never far/Did you lose yourself somewhere out there/Did you get to be a star/And don't it make you sad to know that life/Is more than who we are
15. "Life Ain't Always Beautiful" by Gary Allan
Life ain't always beautiful/But it's a beautiful ride
16. "In the Middle" by Mat Kearney
I meant it all and every part/and every word right from the start/I’ll never let this love fall in the middle/through it all
17. "When I Get Where I'm Going" by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton
Yeah when I get where I'm going/there'll be only happy tears/I will shed the sins and struggles/I have carried all these years/And I'll leave my heart wide open/I will love and have no fear
18. "Beautiful Life" by Fisher
Leave all your cares behind you/The sun is rising/Turn around - it's right in front of you/and it's a beautiful life/and it's a beautiful time/to be here, to be here, to be here
{This song makes me want to dance, and I don't dance.}
19. "A Perfect Day" by Matt Hires
So let's not walk away/From the one thing we know is great/Life can trip you up on a perfect day/And let's not run and hide from the truth we know inside/Life can trip you up on a perfect day
{Gotta love TV. Credit to "Private Practice" for this one.}
20. "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol
I need your grace/To remind me/To find my own/If I lay here/If I just lay here/would you lie with me and just forget the world?
{Yes, once again, TV -- "Grey's Anatomy" in particular -- introduced me to this band.}
21. "All I Want is You" by U2
But all the promises we make/From the cradle to the grave/When all I want is you
22. "You're My Better Half" by Keith Urban
And you look at me/And give me that come-here-baby smile/It's all gonna be alright/You take my hand/You pull me close and you hold me tight/And it's the sweet love that you give me to me/That makes me believe we can make it through anything
23. "The Best Day" by Taylor Swift
And now I know why the all the trees change in the fall/I know you were on my side even when I was wrong/And I love you for giving me your eyes/For staying back and watching me shine/And I didn't know if you knew, so I'm takin' this chance to say/That I had the best day with you today
{I really can't get enough of her right now.}
24. "Free and Easy Down the Road I Go" by Dierks Bentley
I could make a million or wind up broke/Free and easy down the road I go/Can't take it with you when you go so/Free and easy down the road I go/Someday I know it's gonna take me home so/Free and easy down the road I go
25. "Trouble Me" by 10,000 Maniacs
Trouble me, disturb me with all your cares and you worries/Trouble me on the days when you feel spent/... Speak to me, why are you building this thick brick wall to defend me when your silence is my greatest fear?/Why let your shoulders bend underneath this burden when my back is sturdy and strong?/Speak to me/ ... Let me know where the hurt is and how to heal/Spare me? Don't spare me anything troubling/Trouble me, disturb me with all your cares and you worries/Speak to me and let our words build a shelter from the storm/Lastly, let me know what I can mend/There's more, honestly, than my sweet friend, you can see/Trust is what I'm offering if you trouble me
26. "The Chasing Song" by Andrew Peterson
I realize that falling down ain't graceful/But I thank the Lord that falling's full of grace
27. "Stronger Woman" by Jewel
Well from now on I’m gonna be/The kind of woman I want my daughter to be/I’m gonna love myself/More than anyone else/Believe in me/Even if someone can’t see/A stronger woman in me/I’m gonna be my own best friend/Stick with me till the end/Won’t lose myself again/Never, no/Cause there’s a stronger woman
28. "Faith Like a Child" by Jars of Clay
They say that love can heal the broken/They say that hope can make you see/They say that faith can find a savior/If you would follow and believe/With faith like a child
29. "Breathe (2 a.m.)" by Anna Nalick
If I get it all down on paper, it's no longer inside of me/Threatening the life it belongs to/And I feel like I'm naked front of the crowd/'Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud/And I know that you'll use them, however you want to
30. "Unlike Me" by Kate Havnevik
There are no guarantees in life/Not for the present/Nor for the future/All I know is/That I'm here/Don't know for how long/I love the way/You live so intensely/Enjoy every minute of life/With space to swing/Your arms around/Laughing loudly
{Thanks again, "Grey's."}
Looks like you've had a ton of celebrating in some great ways! I think the song post would be a great LO AND AND AND make a cd and include it on the page so later on you can listen to those songs... oh makes me want to do one now!
ReplyDeleteI am very impressed with your list--how diverse! I love a lot of the same lyrics--especially anything by Dierks Bentley! That's how I found you! Your list has inspired me to check out some of the other artists you have chosen! Thank you!
ReplyDelete~Ronna
I LOVE this! I may steal it for my 30th coming up too.
ReplyDeleteVery neat idea - music speaks to me in so many ways too and says what is in my heart and head that I can't make into words sometimes.