What about Lyrics?

It occurs to me that I have never elaborated on the name I chose for this blog. (Sometimes I think I should have called it, "Too Much Information." But, no.)

I have a habit of speaking out whatever song lyric fits the moment I'm living. This goes way back. My first clear recollection of doing it is when I lived in Mexico City and roomed with Chrissy. It was a lonely, homesick time during those first several months. We took on Elton John's song, "I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues" as our coping theme song.

The lyric of the moment was:

Don't wish it away,

Don't look at it like it's forever.

Between you and me,

I can honestly say

That things can only get better.

Sometimes I still say the shorthand of this to myself. Kris, don't wish it away. It turns out that it is very applicable to my life as a parent.

My habit continued into college where I listened almost exclusively to country music. Unfortunately, I think the lyrics shaped my actions a little too much rather my circumstances prompting me to quote the lyrics. The one I remember so clearly was always quoted, with a sigh. Tanya Tucker sang:

It's a little too late

to do the right thing now.

A lot of songs make me feel very wistful about specific events and times in my life. They have so much power. Some folks (my husband and son, especially) hear the MUSIC in a song...the guitar riff, the harmony, the drumbeat. But I don't. I hear the lyrics. So I speak the lyrics.

Now I'm looking for some new lyrics. My defining moments and songs over the past several years have looked mostly like this:

Put away those carpet squares,

You're gonna break my heart.

(Justin Roberts, Not Naptime)

I'm ready for a new collection. (I was going to say "of CDs" and then I had to stop because we're on to MP3s, now, aren't we?) Maybe I'll just say "soundtrack." I need a new soundtrack.