I’m in the country this week minding my son’s dogs and cat. Heidi (German Shepherd) and Mia (Golden mix) are sisters and they are like two giant peas in a pod. They play together, sleep together, eat together but compete to get petted of course. And GiGi, the Persian could care less about those giants. She does her own thing. She loves jumping on the kitchen counter and drinking water straight from the tap and pleads with me daily. My son warned me NOT to do that since it took him months to have her finally drink out of a bowl. Since he leaves the kids for ten to twelve hours, he would not want her to dehydrate. It is so tempting though to indulge the little thing, like Nana giving too many sweets to the grands…that is exactly how I feel with these pets.
It is a long trek to get to work for me but the peacefulness here is palpable.
Songs are like time charts mapping out life’s milestones, joys and heartbreaks. The joys remembered the first bars of a song and our brain is wisked back in time with the same elation. The heartbreaks pull you back with a heavy heart but not a hopeless one, since you did manage to survive it. The hard lessons in life are marked by songs as well…so much of our lives are frozen in capsules with musical notes. Wouldn’t it be amazing writing one’s autobiography through song alone? And with technology today, the visual would be outstanding!
The first thought that came to mind when I saw the theme for this week’s SongLyricSunday was Fast Cars by Tracy Chapman. The time was February 1995. It was at that time a 28 year relationship fell apart. It was a difficult time for all…especially our children. Teens need stability in their lives and they were being served a huge bowl of chaos.
I had had Tracy Chapman’s CD for a few years even though it came out in 1988. I tend to find some singers or bands when I need “that sound” or “that song”. Good music is timeless! Tracy Chapman, for me, was like my Phoebe Snow. Their lyrics moved me every time I played them.
I always listened to music but around that time, they kept me company, wrapped me up in a comfy duvet and when it was hot and uncomfortable they felt like Egyptian cotton. I worked at two part time jobs then, and was completing my degree evenings as well. So I lived in my car a lot! Tracy Chapman carried me through some difficult passages of but also sang along with me as I drove on the highway towards my new life. Fast Cars spoke to me about me and my inner self…transforming slowly. We were a team and finally, I “…I had a feeling that I belonged, I could be someone…” Tracy helped me turn the wheel on my new route.
I hope you enjoy this song and if you do, perhaps have another listen to that entire album…each song hits the heartstrings.
[Verse 1]
You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Any place is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we’ll make something
Me myself I got nothing to prove
[Verse 2]
You got a fast car
I got a plan to get us outta here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
Won’t have to drive too far
Just ‘cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
Finally see what it means to be living
[Verse 3]
See my old man’s got a problem
He lives with a bottle that’s the way it is
I say his body’s too old for working
His body’s too young to looking like his
My momma went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
Said somebody’s gotta take care of him
So I quit school and that’s what I did
[Pre-Chorus]
You got a fast car
Is it fast enough so we can fly away?
We gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way
[Chorus]
So I remember when we were driving
Driving in your car
Speed so fast it felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arms felt nice wrapped around my shoulders and
I-I had a feeling that I belonged
I-I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
[Verse 4]
You got a fast car
We go cruising to entertain ourselves
You still ain’t got a job
I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You’ll find work and I’ll get promoted
We’ll move out of the shelter
Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs
[Chorus]
So I remember when we were driving
Driving in your car
Speed so fast it felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arms felt nice wrapped around my shoulders and
I-I had a feeling that I belonged
I-I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
[Verse 5]
You got a fast car
I’ve got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bars
See more your friends than you do your kids
I always hoped for better
That maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans I ain’t going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving
[Chorus]
So remember when we were driving
Driving in your car
Speed so fast it felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arms felt nice wrapped around my shoulders and
I-I had a feeling that I belonged
I-I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
[Outro]
You got a fast car
Is it fast enough so you can fly away?
You gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way
I did not realize they had R & B in the 13th century when Rumi said, “Dancing is not just getting up painlessly, like a leaf blown on the wind; dancing is when you tear your heart out and rise out of your body to hang suspended between the worlds.”
Is that an out of body experience? When the music touches your soul and allows you to forget any body movements or awkwardness that is when you are totally connected to the music as it was intended by the composer.
Years ago, I went to a blues club and listened to this live band. The music was so good, I could not help but get up from my table and start moving to the music. My date was a bit uncomfortable but wanted to be a gentleman and not let me dance alone since there was no dance floor at this place. So he started dancing with me. At the break, the singer of the band came to sit with us. He looked at me and said point blank, “You are not from Toronto” which was where this club was. He said it was the nicest compliment to musicians when people cannot help but get up and dance to the music they are playing. I had not been out to bars much but the few places I had been in Montreal and our Jazz festival with music in the street…people just dance when the music moves them.
I remember another time my partner at the time told me when I was dancing to soul music, that he felt I was in another world, “It’s as if you don’t even know that I`m here.” He appeared disappointed that the music took hold of me and away from him. Unfortunately, I don’t think he actually “heard” the same music I did.
Listening to good music especially R & B and just sitting down to listen feels so constricted…almost like we are being punished by teasing us with the melodies and we are confined to our seats. It is like having an itch and you are not allowed to scratch it. What do you do when you hear music that truly moves you?
eyes closed swaying to the beat out of body dancing freely like a child the spirit moves
first snowfall awakening her inner child snow kissed cheeks
Yet snow has many phases and qualities that can be fun and sometimes not so fun. Like wet sticky snow may be heavy for shoveling but such a joy for children.
pounding and rolling sculpting with a mission first snow man
pounding and rolling lining up a whole bunch snowball fight
sculpting with a mission carving a few huge blocks home in her snow fort
first snow man always wishes for the cold keeping him safe
Stepping onto virgin snow is always a special feeling and depending on the temperature the textures change.
mild wintry walk snow falling ever so lightly like fairy dust
Dipping just a few degrees can make winter feel so magical and fun…
snow showers soft and plentiful like down filled bedding spreading limbs luxuriously making perfect snow angels
Ah, but as the thermometer dipped much lower last week, she had to wear her down filled coat, ski mask and pilot hat with the ears down as well as snow pants and her down filled mittens the snow adds a new element for having been on the ground awhile. It forms a crust invisible to the eye but not to the ears…
footprints forming waves weaving with her winter boots light of the full moon sounds echo with each step shadow keeps her company
Tournesol dans un Jardin 