"To Me" by Chris when we were dating. The note is still in our scrapbook.

You have my hands to hold you
My eyes to look into, to see
My love for you

Gnarls Barkley, Crazy - I love this song. =) The live version "...But I'm not done..."

Another Favorite

One of My Favorites

Just heard this by Jesus Jackson a few minutes ago... omg, wow.

Gonna pick up this cd next time I'm out - I'm broke, but I'll make a cut somewhere else, lol. The music kicks ass, and the lyrics simply kill.

Cool Video - I've had this song in my head all day...

My D-Day Tribute to Veterans

Freedom.

Freedom of thought.

Freedom to choose our leaders.

Freedom to serve others.

As a woman,

Freedom

to wear jeans,

to laugh out loud,

to keep my hair short,

to choose my religion,

to pursue an education,

to work outside my home.


Responsibility.

Responsibility to uphold the rule of law.

Responsibility to defend the rights of man as laid out in the Declaration of Independence.

Responsibility to be concerned for the common good.

Responsibility to vote.

Responsibility to think.

Responsibility to use common sense.


Courage.

Courage to stand up for justice.

Courage to consider fairness.

Courage to do what is right.

Courage to give your life so that others may enjoy freedom.

Courage to serve when some, or even many, protest.

Courage to give all.

I will never again take my freedom for granted.

Thank you to all who have valiantly served and defended Democracy.

God bless you.

The Boxer is probably my favorite Simon & Garfunkel song. I have always been a fighter, but I just went the distance, won, then handed over the title. I want to share my humble fighting spirit with you now. My favorite lyrics are just below; however, I no longer wish to run but face my enemies. According to interviews,* Paul Simon said that at times he felt like running away from criticsm. I get that. But he still writes (and sings), and I still write (and fight).

*http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2751

"In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade, and he
carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down or cut him
till he cried out in his anger and his shame "I am leaving, I am leaving," but the fighter still remains..."

In this youtube video, the duo talk a little with Letterman before they sing. I found it comforting that they described how being closer together rather than farther apart helped them to work out their differences. The song is even longer than usual because they added alternate (previously omitted in recordings) lyrics about how people are more alike than different. I hope this will be my experience.




Lyrics (by Paul Simon) to The Boxer

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/simon+and+garfunkel/the+boxer_20124664.html

I am just a poor boy and my storys seldom told
Ive squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises
All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest, hmmmm

When I left my home and my family, I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station, runnin scared
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters, where the ragged people go
Looking for the places only they would know

Li la li...

Asking only workmans wages, I come lookin for a job, but I get no offers
Just a comeon from the whores on 7th avenue
I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there

Now the years are rolling by me, they are rockin even me
I am older than I once was, and younger than Ill be, thats not unusual
No it isnt strange, after changes upon changes, we are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same

Li la li...

And Im laying out my winter clothes, wishing I was gone, goin home
Where the new york city winters arent bleedin me, leadin me to go home

In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down or cut him
til he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains
Yes he still remains

Li la li...

Additional lyrics**

Now the years are rolling by me
They are rocking evenly
And I am older than I once was
And younger than I'll be, but that's not unusual.
No, it isn't strange
After changes upon changes
We are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same

**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boxer

Given To Fly, Lyrics by Eddie Vedder

*On my way to see a dear friend yesterday, I got out my Pearl Jam cd, Yield, popped it in. I had honestly not listened to it in about a year. This was always one of my faves. Here is a passage from Tom Moon's article about his interview with Pearl Jam, "Calling Off the Crusades," Philadelphia Inquirer, February 8, 1998.

Then there's "Given to Fly," a soaring, U2-esque anthem about a human blessed with the ability to fly. The man returns to Earth to share "the key to the locks on the chains he saw everywhere," but is greeted with violence. He continues to try to give away what he's learned.

Vedder imagined the song as a children's book, "a 20-page cardboard book with a line on each page and a picture to go with it. It's a fable, that's all. The music almost gives you this feeling of flight, and I really love singing the part at the end, which is about rising above anybody's comments about what you do and still giving your love away. You know -- not becoming bitter and reclusive, not condemning the whole world because of the actions of a few."

Which is, of course, exactly the kind of strategy Pearl Jam is employing this time around. Rather than fighting futile battles and standing on principle until the point is lost, it has chosen to yield, to move forward and offer something of value to what's left of its audience. It still wants to make a difference, but no longer needs to shout sanctimoniously from the rooftops. Its methods are more subtle, more humble. More grown-up.

Given To Fly, Eddie Vedder (lyrics)

He could have tuned in, tuned in
but he tuned out
A bad time, nothing could save him
Alone in a corridor, waiting, locked out
He got up outta there, ran for hundreds of miles
He made it to the ocean, had a smoke in a tree
The wind rose up, set him down on his knee

A wave came crashing like a fist to the jaw
Delivered him wings, 'Hey, look at me now'
Arms wide open with the sea as his floor
Oh, power, oh
He's... flying... whole

He floated back down 'cause he wanted to share
The key to the locks on the chains he saw everywhere
But first he was stripped and then he was stabbed
By faceless men, well, fuckers
He still stands

And he still gives his love, he just gives it away
The love he receives is the love that is saved
And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky
A human being that was given to fly

High... flying
Oh, oh

High... flying
Oh, oh

He's flying
Oh, oh

"Just Trying to Understand" (Title inspired by line in "If You Could Read My Mind" by Gordon Lightfoot)

The Light from your words reminds me

That I am not the first, not even the millionth

To not understand.


Can I disrobe again, bare myself for all the world...

Your song,

Your music, your sweet, simple music

May give me Courage

To reveal my Soul

Again.