My Favorite Song A Year Ago Today

Day 30! - Your favorite song this time last year

This was surprisingly easy to find on Spotify. I went into my favorites playlist, ordered them by date added and found the songs I added on this very day a year ago. It was a bunch of songs from Switchfoot's then new album, Fading West. My favorite at that time (and still very much today as well) is Slipping Away. It was like Switchfoot had taken my heart and fears at that time and put it into a song that couldn't have fit me better if I had written it myself. I think I even wasn't able to sleep very well through the night back then, which is what the song sings about!

So ends another monthly challenge. I'm not sure when I'll start another one right now. I am also currently doing a daily challenge for a year with my sister, so it can all be a bit much to keep up with. Whether I'll just start posting that year challenge on here daily or not, I haven't decided yet. Everything is a bit up in the air right now.

Remember coming home at four in the morning
Before the sun was up
Back when the east was a fire of gold
Just waiting for the rest of the sky to fall in love

Our hope is just a metaphor, of something better
For all of our dreams tonight
And fear is just a shadow of the things that matter the most
And I fear that I'm losing hope tonight

Oh oh
I feel like I'm dreaming
Oh oh
Staring up at the ceiling
Oh oh
It's four in the morning
I can't sleep and it feels like a warning
Oh oh
You wouldn't believe me
If I could say it just the way that I'm feeling
Oh oh
The words that I wanted to say
I feel them slipping away

Remember that kid with the quivering lip
Whose heart was on his sleeve like a first aid kit
Where are you now? Where are you now?

Remember that kid, didn't know when to quit
I still lose my breath when I think about it
Oh, where'd you go?
(Oh where'd you go?)

Oh oh
I feel like I'm dreaming
Oh oh
Staring up at the ceiling
Oh oh
It's four in the morning
I can't sleep and it feels like a warning
Oh oh
You wouldn't believe me
If I could say it just the way that I'm feeling
Oh oh
The words that I wanted to say
I feel them slipping away

I know this isn't what you wanted
Past words in the present are haunting us now
And on and on and on and on
My heartbeat could tell you it's urgent
I try to shout but the words don't come out
I feel I'm slipping away

Oh oh
I feel like I'm dreaming
Oh oh
Staring up at the ceiling
Oh oh
It's four in the morning
I can't sleep and it feels like a warning
Oh oh
You wouldn't believe me
If I could say it just the way that I'm feeling
Oh oh
The words that I wanted to say
I feel them slipping away

A Song From My Childhood

Day 29 - A song from your childhood

Nothing speaks to me about childhood more than Go Fish. Their silly, fun music is the essence of childhood. One song I especially loved when I was little was My Very Own Church. I always thought all those things they sung about in the song would make church much more fun.



 If I had a church this is what I’d do
I’d put a pop machine in the back of every pew
And we would only sing songs that were picked by me
And we would get out just in time to watch football on tv


At my church, whoa
I’m talkin’ ‘bout my very own church
At my church, whoa
I’m singin’ ‘bout my very own church
Yes, if I had a church there’s a lot I’d do
I’d make sure everyone was nice and I would be nice too
And the very best thing I’m happy to report
Is everybody would love God,
Yet the sermons would be short!


With my bulletin the usher would give me some Taco Bell
And perhaps a little something with a crunchy candy shell
And when the sermons over and our time is at an end
We’ll be countin’ down the minutes ‘til we can once again attend...

A Song that Makes Me Feel Guilty

Day 28 - A song that makes you feel guilty

How is a song supposed to make me feel guilty? This was a tough one to find. I don't make a habit of listening to songs that make me feel guilty. My conscious already does an overly good job of that all day long. I finally found a couple though, by Relient K. The one I picked is I So Hate Consequences.

And I'm good, good, good to go
I got to get away
Get away from all of my mistakes

So here I sit looking at the traffic lights
The red extinguishes the hope that the green ignites
I want to run away I want to ditch my life
Cause all of my mistakes keep me awake at night

And after all of my alibis desert me
I just want to get by
I don't want nothing to hurt me
I had no idea where my head was at
But if my heart says I'm sorry can we leave it at that
Because I just want for all of this to end

And I so hate consequences
And running from you is what my best defense is
Consequences
Oh God, don't make me face up to this
And I so hate consequences
And running from you is what my best defense is
Cause I know that I let you down
And I don't want to deal with that

It just now hit me this is more than just a set back
And when you spelled it out, well, I guess I didn't get that
And every trace of momentum is gone
And this isn't turning out the way I want

And after all of my alibis desert me
I just want to get by
I don't want nothing to hurt me
I had no idea where my head was at
But if my heart says I'm sorry can we leave it at that
Because I just want for all of this to end

And I spent all last night
Tearing down
Every stoplight
And stop sign in this town
Now I think there might
Be no way to stop me now
I'll get away despite
The fact I'm so weighed down

All of my escapes have been exhausted
I thought I had a way but then I lost it
And my resistance was once much stronger
And I know I can't go on like this much longer

When I got tired of running from you
I stopped right there to catch my breath
There your words they caught my ears
You said, "I miss you son. Come home"
And my sins, they watched me leave
And in my heart I so believed
The love you felt for me was more than
The love I'd wished for all this time
And when the doors were closed
I heard no I told so's
I said the words I knew you knew
Oh God, Oh God I needed you
God all this time I needed you, I needed you

And I so hate consequences
And running from you is what my best defense is
I hate these consequences
Because I know that I let you down
Now I don't wanna deal with that

A Song I Wish I Could Play

Day 27 - A song you wish you could play

I wish I could play just about every single piano song that is out there. Put I hate to put in the practice, so I'll never get past the couple that I've got memorized. One that would be so cool to be able to play is To Zanarkand from Final Fantasy X.

 

A Song I Can Play on an Instrument

Day 26 - A song that you can play on an instrument

Although when I play it it doesn't sound like the song very much, I can play the sheet music for How To Save A Life by The Fray on the piano. I think the sheet music I'm using isn't exactly what's in the song, or I have no sense of rhythm. probably both. I'm not musically talented.


Step one, you say, "We need to talk."
He walks, you say, "Sit down. It's just a talk."
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best
'Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
Pray to God, he hears you
And I pray to God, he hears you

And where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

How to save a life

How to save a life

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life

How to save a life 

A Song that Makes Me Laugh

Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh

Myspace Girl by The Afters. It's about a guy who is creepily - but still innocently - obsessed with a waitress and thinks she's in love with him just by the way she tells him to have a good day. It's a really fun song.


I saw you once, it was enough
You asked me what I wanted, I want you
But I replied, I'll have some fries
So mesmerized, my heart was over driving through

I saw your name and unashamed
I searched within 500 miles to find
Any clue just as to who I've fallen for
Cause you've got me and I've got time

I saw your picture on Myspace
Maybe someday we can turn it into ourspace baby
I don't care how long it takes
I'm saving space in my top 8 for you

The second time you were so nice
I loved the way told me to enjoy my day
But I know what you meant to say instead
Was really that you wanted us to run away

I said let's go, I'll pack my clothes
Just promise me you'll wear that purple dress you have
You look so cute when you're confused
You backed away and asked me how I new about that

I know you're scared
I know our love is crazy
And I'm so crazy
You make me crazy
For you 

A Song I Want Played at My Funeral

Day 24 - A song you want to play at your funeral

 Since I'm a Christian, I feel as if I should choose a Christian song to be played at my funeral. But since they'll already be playing a lot of that music, I can say without much guilt that I'd like No Such Thing by John Mayer to be played as well. It's a song about living life to the fullest and not just conforming to the way everyone else lives.

"Welcome to the real world", she said to me
Condescendingly
Take a seat
Take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I'd like to think the best of me
Is still hiding
Up my sleeve
They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you've got to rise above
So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
And all of our parents
They're getting older
I wonder if they've wished for anything better
While in their memories
Tiny tragedies
They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you got to rise above
I am invincible
As long as I'm alive
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you've got to rise above
I just can't wait til my 10 year reunion
I'm gonna bust down the double doors
And when I stand on these tables before you
You will know what all this time was for

A Song that Makes Me Think About Weddings

Day 23 - A song you want to play at your wedding

My reaction when I first read today's prompt:

Don't talk to me about weddings in reference to me. Just don't. Here's a song that makes me think about weddings though, because it's about Jesus and His Bride, the church. It's a beautiful, frosty, pure white sounding song.


 
In love, in love, in life, in love
In you, in love, in death, my love
In time, in love, in place, in love
In form, in love, in death, my love
My God, my love, my life, my love
Is yours, my love, my bride, my love
This cross, my love, is mine, my love
To bear, my love, to die, my love
This cup, my love, this bread, my love
My life, my love, is yours, my love
Come drink, my love, my blood, my love
My life, my love, in death, my love
My God, my love, my life, my love
Is Yours, my love, my bride, my love
This cross, my love, is mine, my love
To bear, my love, it's time, my love

A Song I Listen to When I'm Sad

Day 22 - A song you listen to when you're sad

Sometimes, when I'm sad and happy songs only sound obnoxious to me, like smiling sandpaper on my ears, an equally blue song can make me feel so much better, weirdly. One of those songs is I'll Keep On by NF. It reminds me to hold onto hope, no matter how hard things are at the present.

Oh, these hands are tired
Oh, this heart is tired
Oh, this soul is tired
But I'll keep on
I'll keep on
I'll keep on

Faith is something I am not accustomed to
Trusting other people 's something I don't really love to do
I've never been a fan of it, I act tougher
Really my shoulders they ain't built for this and I don't have nothing
It's like I'm standing in the rain and you offer me a raincoat
But I would rather stand there wringing wet than take the handout
What's wrong with me? You said, you've always got your hands out
And I cannot continue on my own so take my hands now
I give you everything, God, not just a little bit
Take it from me, I am nothing but a hypocrite
I hate sin but I built a house and I still live in it
Afraid to open up the door to you 'n let you into it
My soul is lost and what it needs is your direction
I know, I've told you I do not need your protection
But I lied to you, this thing is tiring
A man was not created for it
God, please retire me now

Oh, these hands are tired
Oh, this heart is tired
Oh, this soul is tired
But I'll keep on
I'll keep on
I'll keep on

Trust is something I am not accustomed to
And I know the Bible says that I should always trust in you
But, I don't ever read that book enough
And when I have a question I don't take the time to look it up
Or pick it up
It collects dust on my nightstand
I'm just being honest
Please take this outta my hands
I have no control - I am just a person
But thank the Lord that I serve a God that's perfect
I do not deserve the opportunity you've given me
I never knew what freedom was until I learned what prison means
I am not ashamed, I don't care if they remember me
My life will always have a hole if you are not the center piece
Take me out of bondage, take all of my pride
If I don't have a Savior, I don't have nothing inside
Take all of my lust, take all of my lies
There's no better feeling than when I look in the sky, in your eyes
It's amazing

A Song That I Listen to When I'm Happy

Day 21 - A song you listen to when you're happy

There's a ton of songs I listen to when I'm happy. One that's really fun is Just Rob Me by Fiction Family. I first heard this at a solo concert with Jon Foreman. That was the best concert I've ever been to!

 I met a pretty girl the next town over
Running like a river, thin and long
Other than her dress, she looked mighty well depressed
So I asked this pretty lady what was wrong

She said, "All my life I tried to be an outlaw
I've tried to spit and chew and steal and rob
But I ain't no good at thievin'
So I might as well be leavin'
I think I'm off to go and get a job".

I told that pretty girl, "Don't be so foolish
Don't be so quick to leave this life of crime
Now see, I'll be quick to call it
You can practice on my wallet
And that way if you're caught, you won't do time".

Yeah, just rob me!
Just rob me!
A pretty face like yours don't come for free
If I can call you honey
Well, then you can take my money
Oh, darlin' keep my gun and just rob me
Yeah, just rob Sean Watkins

So I saw this girl again a few months later
To see her with my gun was a relief
I said, "Honey, you got attributes
Like lace and lips and high-heeled boots
But dearie, you're just no good at... as a thief".

She said, "Mister, how do you know that I'm failin'?
I might as well rob twenty banks today".
Yeah, so I looked into her eye
And I said "Dear, I'd be surprised,
You're pointing that there gun the wrong way".

Yeah, just rob me!
Just rob me!
Oh, money never did grow up on trees
"Oh, you're no good at crookin'
But you're mighty fine at lookin'".
Darlin', keep my gun and just rob me!

Oh, maybe every woman is an outlaw
I'm pretty sure they're pretty thieves in black
They'll make you scream like smoke!
And then they'll rob you broke!
I suppose you don't mind being robbed like that

So, my pretty thief and I started a family
My outlaw's been givin' me in-laws
Oh, she kept her thievin' art
And sure as rain, she stole my heart
She tells me it's all for a worthy cause

Yeah, just rob me!
Just rob me!
Deep down my darlin' is a thief
Oh, she may do the dishes
But I pay her for my kisses
I know it's not malicious
She's just in the thievin' business
She calls herself my Misses
But she's got me by the britches
I say honey, keep my gun and just rob me!

A Song I Listen to When I'm Angry

Day 20 - A song you listen to when you're angry

My first thought would be skillet music, because most of their songs matches their mood. But I'll go with a song that actually helps to turn my mood around when I'm feeling royally annoyed with life. Can't Complain by Relient K. Listening to this song reminds me that I've got a lot to be thankful for and life's not as bad as if seems. The tune itself manages to be happy without being gratingly annoying when I'm angry as well, so it instantly cools my temper. Also listening to this song reminds me that I've got a lot to be thankful for and life's not as bad as if seems.



Looking at the cop in the rear view mirror
Probably should have stopped but the crosswalk was clear
I'll just imagine it's a ticket to a Broadway show

Looking at the clouds and they seem kinda funny
Probably gonna rain but my outlook is sunny
I'll just imagine that I'm laying out in Mexico

Cause I know that pleasures gotta come with pain
And I know that things won't always go my way
And I know that life is gonna suck some days

But I can't complain
I can't complain
Every days too short to let it go to waste

Now I can't complain
I can't complain
You gotta treat every day like a holiday

And I'm telling you
That I know some days I'm gonna stumble
And I know the cookie's gonna crumble
And I know that life is gonna suck some days
But I can't complain

Waiting on a never ending train at the crossing
Paying it no mind cause you just keep talking
We'll just imagine it's the good old days and take it slow

Spending Christmas Eve on the floor of the airport
Dying to get back to the people that I care for
Smiling just dreaming about my puppy in my bed back home

Cause I know that pleasures gotta come with pain
And I know that things won't always go my way
And I know that life is gonna suck some days

But I can't complain
I can't complain
Every days too short to let it go to waste

Now I can't complain
I can't complain
You gotta treat every day like a holiday

And I'm telling you
That I know some days I'm gonna stumble
And I know the cookie's gonna crumble
And I know that life is gonna suck some days

If you can't say nothing good
Don't say nothing
If you stop to think you could come up with something
That makes you feel so good when times are rough it's ok

I can't complain
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Don't let it go to waste

Now I can't complain
I can't complain
Every days too short to let it go to waste

Now I can't complain
I can't complain
You gotta treat every day like a holiday

And I'm telling you
That I know some days I'm gonna stumble
And I know the cookie's gonna crumble
And I know that life is gonna suck some days
But I can't complain  

A Song From My Favorite Album

Day 19 - A song from your favorite album

I Found Love by Owl City, from his newest album, Mobile Orchestra.

A Song I Wish I Heard on the Radio

Day 18 - A song that you wish you heard on the radio

I don't really listen to the radio that much, so it doesn't really matter to me what they play on there. I guess if I listened to it more, I'd like them to play more of Jon Foreman's newest music, especially the song Caroline.



Caroline
The middle finger queen of the never mind
It’s been a little while since the second time
I knew that you’d never come home
Caroline
You were just a child in the fire line
You were just a kid when your momma died
And daddy couldn’t make it alone

And I wonder out loud
Where your heart is now
Where your heart is now
Where your heart is now
Caroline

Now and then, you’re in the magazines
The tabloid rags and the trash machines
They’re spitting on the image of the memories
Of the girl with her pigtails flying
I had a dream that you were calling home
Stranded in a storm on a payphone
And all that you were getting was a dial tone
With no one on the end of the line

And I wonder out loud
Where your heart is now
Where your heart is now
Where your heart is now
Caroline

They say your heart is where your treasure is
But maybe there’s another way to measure this
Cause it feels like what you find your pleasure in
Are the things that are bringing you down
Yeah, and every now and then
I wonder if you’ll ever make it home again
Back to the childhood innocence
Of the girl on her old playground

And I wonder out loud
Where your heart is now
Where your heart is now
Where your heart is now
Caroline

A Song I Hear A Lot on the Radio

Day 17 - A song you hear often on the radio

I seem to hear Lauren Daigle's music a lot, lately. How Can It Be is the one I probably hear more than her other songs, though. She seems to be the new popular artist in the Christian music world.

A Song I Loved but now Hate

Day 16 - A song you used to love but now hate

Hate is a strong word. I "hate" very few things in life. I wouldn't say I "hate" City on Our Knees by TobyMac; it's just every time it comes on I feel weighed down with loneliness and sorrow. For some reason it makes me remember a very hard time in my life, and it feels like a long, lonely car ride in the darkness, all alone. So, although I do not "hate" it, I no longer enjoy listening to it.

(I did this back when I was 14!)

A Song that Describes Me

Day 15 - A song that describes you

This is Your Time by Michael W. Smith. For some reason I associate this song with my childhood. Whenever I hear it, I feel like a little girl again. I feel like who I really am, deep down inside. I feel as if the song captures the very spirit of who I was, who I am, and who I long to be.  

It was a test we could all hope to pass
But none of us would want to take
Faced with the choice to deny God and live
For her there was one choice to make

This was her time
This was her dance
She lived every moment
Left nothing to chance
She swam in the sea
Drank of the deep
Embraced the mystery
Of all she could be
This was her time

Though you are mourning, and grieving your loss,
Death died a long time ago
Swallowed in life, so her life carries on
Still, it's so hard to let go

This was her time
This was her dance
She lived every moment
Left nothing to chance
She swam in the sea
Drank of the deep
Embraced the mystery
Of all she could be
What if tomorrow
What if today
Faced with the question
Oh, what would you say

This is your time
This is your dance
Live every moment
Leave nothing to chance
Swim in the sea
Drink of the deep
And fall on the mercy
And hear yourself praying
Won't you save me
Won't you save me

This is your time
This is your dance
Live every moment
Leave nothing to chance
Swim in the sea
Drink of the deep
Embrace the mystery of all you can be

This is your time