Longtime readers may recall at the start of each year I pick a theme song, one that resonates, one that sums up what I think and/or want to happen. In 2009 there was no theme song. I wasn't even writing then, both signs that things were, well, not right and that I was disappointed in almost every aspect of my life.
But at the end of this year, 2009, I look back. I know why I didn't write and I know why I didn't pick a song. However, I think there are 3 songs that make up the parts of 2009. Each song is quite unique and to be honest, the major parts of 2009 are also quite unique.
So here's to 2009 in retrospect and let's ring in a kickass 2010 for all of us. Retrospect is certainly an incredibly powerful tool.
Part 1 of 2009, Peter Gabriel, Don't Give Up
In this proud land we grew up strong
We were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail
(hmm, I know I was raised to be strong, to succeed and I know I struggle with my failures. I'm harder on myself than anyone else and therein lies some difficulty. 2009 was certainly a year of many many stumbles and failures.)
No fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
But no one wants you when you lose
(There were many times this year I saw my dreams vanish, and my last name? Still in debate..)
Don't give up, 'cos you have friends
Don't give up, You're not beaten yet
Don't give up, I know you can make it good
(The chorus, sung in a way to tell the lead singer, hey, it's gonna be okay. I had a few in my chorus telling me, hey, really, it's going to be okay, no matter how it works out. I can clearly feel the support and kindness when I recall it.)
Though I saw it all around
Never thought I could be affected
Thought that we'd be the last to go
It is so strange the way things turn
(no matter what happens in life or where the journey takes us, sometimes it is so strange the way things turn)
Drove the night toward my home
The place that I was born, on the lakeside
As daylight broke, I saw the earth
The trees had burned down to the ground
(Born on the lakeside... think about it... it's almost like life for me has started over this year, like a new life has been born, on the edge of a lake I now call home.)
Don't give up, You still have us
Don't give up, We don't need much of anything
Don't give up, 'cause somewhere there's a place
Where we belong
Rest your head
You worry too much
It's going to be alright
When times get rough
You can fall back on us
Don't give up
Please don't give up
(there's that helpful chorus of friends again... I'll never forget them)
'got to walk out of here
I can't take anymore
Going to stand on that bridge
Keep my eyes down below
Whatever may come
And whatever may go
That river's flowing
That river's flowing
(to look down in the river below you and feel like your life is rushing past you, all of it being swept away without you? My god that's a powerful vision, the current sweeping your dreams away, or so it seems)
Moved on to another town
Tried hard to settle down
For every job, so many men
So many men no-one needs
(I can laugh and cry at this section. I moved to another town, I tried so hard to settle down and it took nearly 8 months this year to find peace. So many men for every job... with the recession I know how tangible this is)
Don't give up, 'cause you have friends
Don't give up, You're not the only one
Don't give up, No reason to be ashamed
Don't give up, You still have us
Don't give up now, We're proud of who you are
Don't give up, You know it's never been easy
Don't give up, 'cause I believe there's the a place
There's a place where we belong
(and lastly, I do believe, there's a place, there's a place where we belong)
No comments:
Post a Comment