I took my youngest daughter to her first day of preschool today, and this song has been running through my mind all day. Not too many lyrics, but when paired with its wonderful melody, well... *sniff sniff*



Where are you going my little one, little one
Where are you going my baby my own
Turn around and you're two, turn around and you're four
Turn around and you're a young girl going out of the door
Turn around (turn around)
Turn around (turn around)
Turn around and you're a young girl
goin' out of the door

Where are you going my little one, little one
Dirndls and petticoats, where have you gone
Turn around and you're tiny, turn around and you're grown
Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own

Turn around and you're a young
Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own

Where are you going my little one, little one
Where are you going my baby my own
Turn around and you're two, turn around and you're four
Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door

I totally understand, Taesma! My 2 girls are both in school full time now, and I know that next time I turn around they'll be heading for college. Give her a big squeeze tonight.

That song makes me blue too, Taesma. Like Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler On the Roof -
it gets me every time whether I want it to or not.

I've been really getting into Anti-Flag lately and I especially love these lyrics from "Turncoat" as I couldn't agree more.

TURNCOAT! KILLER! LIAR! THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the law!

Go!

States lies dressed up as evening news
We're tired of lies we want the truth
Broadcast by corpses are courting you
We're tired of lies we want the truth
Most people they will never know
We're tired of lies we want the truth
With you or against you?
Then I am against you because you're a...

TURNCOAT! KILLER! LIAR! THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the law

TURNCOAT! KILLER! LIAR! THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the law

in your corner
Makes me wanna
douse myself in gasoline!
Civil servants fall in line for you
Too brainwashed to see the truth
You use anyone you can!

TURNCOAT! KILLER! LIAR! THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the law

TURNCOAT! KILLER! LIAR! THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the law

KILLER!

LIAR!

A TURNCOAT! and a THIEF!

Criminal with protection of the law!
The law!
Criminal with protection of the law

Tears on the sleeve of a man
Don't wanna be a boy today
Heard the eternal footman
Bought himself a bike to race
And Greg he writes letters
And burns his CDs
They say you were something in those formative years
Hold onto nothing
As fast as you can
Well still pretty good year

Maybe a bright sandy beach
Is going to bring you back
May not so now you're off
You're gonna see America
Well let me tell you something about america
Pretty good year
Some things are melting now
Well what's it gonna take
Till my baby's alright

And Greg he writes letters with his birthday pen
Sometimes he's aware that they're drawing him in
Lucy was pretty
Your best friend agreed
Still Pretty good year

"Partir c'est mourir un peau"....
I'm sure everybody has a piece of their heart/soul that left, at one certain point in time, with someone else, a piece we'll never get possession of again .

In the 'immortal' words of Backstreet Boys...

Empty spaces fill me up with holes
Distant faces with no place left to go
Without you within me I can't find no rest
Where I’m going is anybody’s guess

I tried to go on like I never knew you
I’m awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I’m going to be is incomplete

Voices tell me I should carry on
But I am swimming in an ocean all alone
Baby, my baby
It’s written on your face
You still wonder if we made a big mistake

I tried to go on like I never knew you
I’m awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I’m going to be is incomplete

I don’t mean to drag it on, but I can’t seem to let you go
I don’t wanna make you face this world alone
I wanna let you go (alone)

I tried to go on like I never knew you
I’m awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I’m going to be is incomplete

Funny. I had always dismissed this song as 'standing ovation' Broadway drivel. Until today...

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure,
measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In
inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you
measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of
love.

525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan. 525,600 minutes - how can you measure
the life of a woman or man?

In truths that she learned, or in times that he cried. In bridges he burned, or
the way that she died.

It's time now to sing out, tho the story never ends let's celebrate remember a year in the life of friends. Remember
the love! Remember the love! Remember
the love! Measure in love. Seasons of love! Seasons of love.

A personal favourite - Crucify by Tori Amos

every finger in the room
is pointing at me
i wanna spit in their faces
then i get afraid what that could bring
i got a bowling ball in my stomach
i got a desert in my mouth
figures that my courage
would choose to sell out now

i've been looking for a savior
in these dirty streets
looking for a savior
beneath these dirty sheets
i've been raising up my hands
drive another nail in
just what God needs
one more victim

why do we crucify ourselves
every day i crucify myself
nothing i do is good enough for you
crucify myself
every day
i crucify myself
and my heart is sick of being
in chains

got a kick for a dog
beggin' for love
i gotta have my suffering
so that i can have my cross
i know a cat named easter
he says will you ever learn
you're just an empty cage girl
if you kill the bird

i've been looking for a savior
in these dirty streets
looking for a savior
beneath these dirty sheets
i've been raising up my hands
drive another nail in
got enough guilt to start
my own religion

why do we crucify ourselves
every day i crucify myself
nothing i do is good enough for you
crucify myself
every day i crucify myself
and my heart is sick of being in chains

please be
save me
i cry

looking for a savior
in these dirty streets
looking for a savior
beneath these dirty sheets
i've been raising up my hands
drive another nail in
where are those angels
when you need them

why do we crucify ourselves
every day i crucify myself
nothing i do is good enough for you
crucify myself
every day i crucify myself
and my heart is sick of being
in chains

why do we
crucify ourselves
everyday

never going back again
crucify myself
again you know
never going back again to
crucify myself
everyday

Good call, mate. One of Tori's best.

I'm also a fan of BRIAN WILSON - Barenaked Ladies

Drove downtown in the rain nine-thirty on a Tuesday night,
just to check out the late-night record shop.
Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane;
but when I'm surrounded I just can't stop.

It's a matter of instinct, it's a matter of conditioning,
It's a matter of fact.
You can call me Pavlov's dog
Ring a bell and I'll salivate- how'd you like that?
Dr. Landy tell me you're not just a pedagogue,
cause right now I'm

[Chorus]
Lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did
Well I'm lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did.

So I'm lying here, just starting at the ceiling tiles.
and I'm thinking about what to think about.
Just listening and relistening to Smiley Smile,
and I'm wondering if this is some kind of creative drought
because I am

[Chorus]

And if you want to find me I'll be out in the sandbox,
wondering where the hell all the love has gone.
Playing my guitar and building castles in the sun,
and singing "Fun, Fun, Fun."

[Chorus]

I had a dream that I was three hundred pounds
and though I was very heavy,
I floated 'til I couldn't see the ground
I floated 'til I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me, I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me, I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me because I'm

[Chorus]

Drove downtown in the rain nine-thirty on a Tuesday night.
Just to check out the late-night record shop.
Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane;
but when I'm surrounded I just can't stop.

Been needing a bit of inspiration lately--this one by Stevie Wonder helps:

People keep on learnin'
Soldiers keep on warrin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long
Powers keep on lyin'
While your people keep on dyin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long
I'm so darn glad he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin'
Till I reach the highest ground
Teachers keep on teachin'
Preachers keep on preachin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long
Oh no
Lovers keep on lovin'
Believers keep on believin'
Sleepers just stop sleepin'
Cause it won't be too long
Oh no
I'm so glad that he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin'
Till I reach my highest ground...Whew!
Till I reach my highest ground
No one's gonna bring me down
Oh no
Till I reach my highest ground
Don't you let nobody bring you down (they'll sho 'nuff try)
God is gonna show you higher ground
He's the only friend you have around

I always think about my life when I am having troubled times and always say to myself "it could always be worse"!

"I'm a little boy with glasses, the one they call a geek
A little girl who never smiles cuz I got braces on my teeth
And I know how it feels to cry myself to sleep
I'm that kid on every playground who is always chosen last
A single teenage mother tryin to overcome her past
You don't have to be my friend if it's too much to ask

Chorus:
Don't laugh at me, don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same some day we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me

I'm a cripple on the corner
You pass me on the street
I wouldn't be out here begging if I had enough to eat
And don't think I don't notice that our eyes never meet
I lost my wife and little boy someone crossed that yellow line
The day we laid 'em in the ground was the day I lost my mind
Right now I'm down to holdin' this little cardboard sign

Chorus
I'm fat, I'm thin
I'm short, I'm tall
I'm deaf, I'm blind
Hey aren't we all"

This one for my two little granddaughters.

"Lullaby"

They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

I slip in bed when you're asleep
To hold you close and feel your breath on me
Tomorrow there'll be so much to do
So tonight I'll drift in a dream with you

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

As you wander through this troubled world
In search of all things beautiful
You can close your eyes when you're miles away
And hear my voice like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

; A winters day
In a deep and dark december;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
Ive built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
Its laughter and its loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

Dont talk of love,
But Ive heard the words before;
Its sleeping in my memory.
I wont disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

One of my dreary favourites in 7th grade, Stu. Good choice.

Blech . Brutally depressed this morning. Plugged in the music and listened hopefully. Is it ANY wonder that I venerate James Taylor? Whew! I can't count the number of times just the tone of that voice of his has found me like a lifeboat. So I offer...

Let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us,
All men and women
Living on the earth.
Ties of hope and love,
Sister and brotherhood...
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world become
A place in which our children
Can grow free and strong.
We are bound together
By the task that stands before us
And the road that lies ahead.
We are bound and we are bound.

There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist,
There is a hunger in the center of the chest.
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist,
And though the body sleeps the heart will never rest.

Shed a little light, oh Lord,
So that we can see
Just a little light, oh Lord.
Wanna stand it on up,
Stand it on up, oh Lord.
Wanna walk it on down ~
Shed a little light, oh Lord.

Can't get no light from the dollar bill,
Don't give me no light from a TV screen.
When I open my eyes
I wanna drink my fill
From the well on the hill...

(do you know what I mean? )

There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist,
There is a hunger in the center of the chest.
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist,
And though the body sleeps the heart will never rest

Oh, let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us,
All men and women
Living on the earth.
Ties of hope and love,
Sister and brotherhood...


[Sounds a bit "churchy", written down like that . Not exactly how I heard it, but it sounded right...]

A lovely choice, Gats. I've never heard that song before - those powerful lyrics are sure to bolster any thinking person up. Nothing churchy about that.

Well, Dave, I'm afraid this won't do anything for your mood:


It is complete now the two ends of time are neatly tied
A one-way street, she's walking to end of the line
And there she meets the faces she keeps in her heart and mind

They say 'good bye' tomorrow, Wendy, is going to die,
They say 'good bye' tomorrow, Wendy, is going to die,

Underneath the chilly gray November sky
We can make believe that Kennedy is still alive and
We're shooting for the moon and smiling Jackie's driving by and

They say 'good try'
Tomorrow Wendy is going to die
Tomorrow Wendy is going to die

I told the priest, Don't count on any second coming
God got his [censored] kicked the first time he came down here slumming
He had the balls to come, the gall to die and then forgive us
No, I don't wonder why, I wonder what he thought it would get us
Hey, hey, good bye
Tomorrow Wendy's going to die

Hey, hey, good bye
Tomorrow Wendy's going to die
Tomorrow Wendy's going to die

Only God says jump
So I set the time
'Cause if he ever saw her
It was through these eyes of mine
And if he ever suffered it was me who did his crying

Hey hey, good bye
Tomorrow Wendy's going to die

Well I came by your house the other day
Your mother said you went away
She said there was nothing that I could have done
There was nothing nobody could say
Me and you we've known each other ever since we were sixteen
I wished I would have known
I wished I could have called you
Just to say goodbye Bobby Jean

Now you hung with me when all the others turned away, turned up their nose
We liked the same music, we liked the same bands, we liked the same clothes
We told each other that we were the wildest
The wildest things we'd ever seen
Now I wished you would have told me
I wished I could have talked to you
Just to say goodbye Bobby Jean

Now we went walking in the rain talking about the pain that from the world we hid
Now there ain't nobody, nowhere nohow gonna ever understand me the way you did
Maybe you'll be out there on that road somewhere, in some bus or train traveling along,
In some motel room there'll be a radio playing and you'll hear me sing this song
Well, if you do, you'll know I'm thinking of you and all the miles in between and
I'm just calling one last time
Not to change your mind, but just to say I miss you baby, good luck, goodbye Bobby Jean

Love that one Stu!
Brings to mind lost friends.

Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve
Had to listen had no choice
I did not believe the information
(I) just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom boom boom
"Son," he said "Grab your things,
I've come to take you home."

To keep in silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day
Tho' my life was in a rut
"Till I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut
I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey" he said "Grab your things
I've come to take you home."

When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me
Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey" I said "You can keep my things,
they've come to take me home."

I hold on so nervously
To me and my drink
I wish it was cooling me
But so far, has not been good
It’s been shitty
And I feel awkward, as I should
This club has got to be
The most pretentious thing
Since I thought you and me
Well I am imagining
A dark lit place
Or your place or my place

Well I’m not paralyzed
But, I seem to be struck by you
I want to make you move
Because you’re standing still
If your body matches
What your eyes can do
You’ll probably move right through
Me on my way to you

I hold out for one more drink
Before I think
I’m looking too desperately
But so far has not been fun
I should just stay home
If one thing really means one
This club will hopefully
Be closed in three weeks
That would be cool with me
Well I’m still imagining
A dark lit place
Or your place or my place

Well, I’m not paralyzed
But, I seem to be struck by you
I want to make you move
Because you’re standing still
If your body matches
What your eyes can do
You’ll probably move right through
Me on my way to you

We’ll, I’m not paralyzed
But, I seem to be struck by you
I want to make you move
Because you’re standing still
If your body matches
What your eyes can do
You’ll probably move right through
Me on my way to you

I’m not paralyzed
But, I seem to be struck by you
I want to make you move
Because you’re standing still
If your body matches
What your eyes can do
You’ll probably move right through
Me on my way to you

You’ll probably move right through
Me on my way to you

You’ll probably move right through
Me on my way to you

Here's another favorite of mine.

I was just out of the service thumbing through the classifieds
When an ad that said:"Old Chevy" somehow caught my eye
The lady didn't know the year,or even if it ran
But I had that thousand dollars in my hand

It was way back in the corner of this old ramshackle barn
Thirty years of dust and dirt on that green army tarp
When I pulled the cover off,it took away my breath
What she called a Chevy was a sixty six Corvette

I felt a little guilty as I counted out the bills
But what a thrill I got when I sat behind the wheel
I opened up the glove box and that's when I found the note
The date was nineteen-sixty six and this is what it wrote:

He said,"My name is Private Andrew Malone"
"If you're reading this,then I didn't make it home"
"But for every dream that shattered,another one comes true"
"This car was once a dream of mine,now it belongs to you"
"And though you may take her and make her your own"
"You'll always be riding with Private Malone"

Well it didn't take me long at all,I had her running good
I love to hear those horses thunder underneath her hood
I had her shining lika a diamond and I'd put the rag top down
All the pretty girls would stop and stare as I drove her through town

The buttons on the radio didn't seem to work quite right
But it picked up that oldie show,especially late at night
I'd get the feeling sometimes,if I turned real quick I'd see
A soldier riding shotgun in the seat right next to me

It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
Who fought for his country and never made it home
But for every dream that's shattered,another one comes true
This car was once a dream of his,back when it was new
He told me to take her and make her my own
And I was proud to be riding with Private Malone

One night it was raining hard,I took the curve too fast
I still dont remember much about that fiery crash
Someone said they thought they saw a soldier pull me out
They didn't get his name, but I know without a doubt

It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
Who fought for his country and never made it home
But for every dream that's shattered,another one comes true
This car was once a dream of his,back when it was new
I know I wouldn't be here if he hadn't tagged along
That night I was riding with Private Malone
Oh,thank God,I was riding with Private Malone

That just happens to be one of my all time favorites - here is another:

You know a dream is like a river, ever changing as it flows
and the dreamer's just a vessel that must follow where it goes
trying to learn from what's behind me,
never knowing what's in store
makes each day a constant battle just to stay between the shores.

And I will sail my vessel til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my guide
I'll never reach my destination, if I never try
so I will sail my vessel til the river runs dry.

There's bound to be rough waters and I know I'll take some falls,
with the good Lord as my captain, I can make it through it all.

Ah Stut - you have brought back the memories! "In My Life" and "I Am A Rock"...... we must be of the same generation! Both my favorites! And that classic line "a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries" - I honestly identify with that one!
There are a couple of John Denver songs that I play when I am in need of a personal pity party!