Thursday, October 14, 2010

If you die young...

Perez Hilton.
He is the person that put me on to my current train of thought. (sidetrack... does he have a real name?). He was on Ellen the other day and declared that he was going to start being nice. Everyone knows Perez and how he will tear anyone down with words and throw them to the gossip dogs, but it still intrigued me that someone would have to publicly declare that they are going to make an effort to be nice. It all came about because of the recent extensive efforts against bullying, and as even he knows, Perez is a big bully in the celebrity world. But he wants to change, so I'm with Ellen, let's give him a chance. Let's see what happens from here.

But this idea of changing your behavior and your actions, led me to this:

You have your entire life to change your thoughts and actions, but what if your entire life ended today - what thoughts would be on your mind? What actions would be your last?

It's true, our lives could be severed at any moment in time. No one knows how long they will be on this earth, or to that point, how long there will be an earth. Yet, we all presume we will be here forever. We think a bad thought, we get angry, we yell at a friend... But it doesn't matter because we change our thinking, we will cool off, apologize later.... But later could be now. Right now. As I'm typing, as you are reading. This could be your last moment or my last moment.

The Band Perry intrigues me, not because the boys want to have as cool of hair as their sister, but because this family of amazing talent seemed to come from nowhere and they are shaking things up while staying fully grounded. The songs I have heard are fun and catchy, including their latest hit - which is strange as it is also deep and a bit dark. It is a song that captures that essence of "today may be your last." You may die young, you may not experience everything you ever dreamed, but if you do die young, did you lead a good life? Would you be able to look back and be proud? Have you cherished enough moments?

If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
oh oh oh oh

Lord make me a rainbow, I’ll shine down on my mother
She'll know I’m safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
ain't even grey, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

And I’ll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I’m as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I’ve never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There’s a boy here in town says he’ll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

So put on your best boys and I’ll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no I’ll sell 'em for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I’m a goner
And maybe then you’ll hear the words I been singin
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin

If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song, oh oh

The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep ‘em in your pocket
Save them for a time when your really gonna need 'em oh

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

So put on your best boys and I’ll wear my pearls

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Home is whenever I'm with you

I heard the song "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros as I was driving to my apartment tonight. It made me think back to a few weeks ago when I was visiting my parents and older sister in Texas. Some time during the weekend I talked to Blake on the phone and he asked me if I missed "home"; assuming he meant Nashville, I adamantly said yes and I was a bit confused when he asked me again "so you really miss home?" Then it struck me, he meant Texas. He meant did I miss "home" as in my parents and sister and the state I was visiting... But to me, that's no longer home. I love my family, I love my friends and I even dearly love Texas, however, Blake has caused a change. Texas will always be comforting to me and I will always feel loved, welcome, comfortable around my family and friends, but Blake is home to me now. I'm getting mushy... Sorry, skip the post. But it's true. Nashville is home for now, but if we move someday, that new place will be home. Just as Bandera, Wichita Falls, Denison, Plano, etc were home to me growing up with my parents. Anyway, love this song (I'm posting it below). It's fun and has a southern fun vibe to it. And its fitting :)

(Texas friends - they will be at ACL, you should go!)

Home

[Her:] Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my ma and pa,
Not the way that I do love you.

[Him:] Holy, Moley, me, oh my,
You're the apple of my eye,
Girl I've never loved one like you.

[Her:] Man oh man you're my best friend,
I scream it to the nothingness,
There ain't nothing that I need.

[Him:] Well, hot and heavy, pumpkin pie,
Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ,
Ain't nothing please me more than you.

[Both:] Ahh Home. Let me come home
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is wherever I'm with you.

La, la, la, la, take me home.
Mother, I'm coming home.

[Him:] I'll follow you into the park,
Through the jungle through the dark,
Girl I never loved one like you.

[Her:] Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alley-ways and pay phone calls,
I've been everywhere with you.

[Him:] We laugh until we think we’ll die,
Barefoot on a summer night
Nothin’ new is sweeter than with you

[Her:] And in the streets you run afree,
Like it's only you and me,
Geeze, you're something to see.

[Both:] Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is wherever I'm with you.

La, la, la, la, take me home.
Daddy, I'm coming home.

[Him:] Home. Let me come home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.

[Her:] Ahh home. Yes I am ho-oh-ome.
Home is when I'm alone with you.

[Her:] Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my ma and pa...
Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alley-ways and pay phone calls...

[Both:] Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is where I'm alone with you...

http://www.myspace.com/edwardsharpe