Today’s Prompt: Write about the three most important songs in your life — what do they mean to you?
Don’t Give Up, by Peter Gabriel is a song I listen to when I feel really depressed. It has made me cry because it actually is quite uplifting. I have sunken into deep despair and sometimes music is all I have.
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
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
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
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
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
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
‘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
moved on to another town
tried hard to settle down
for every job, so many men
so many men no-one needs
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 a place
there’s a place where we belong
JR Richards recently released this acoustic version of his amazing song “Until I Wake Up.” JR says he wrote this during a deep depression while writing the second Dishwalla album. Their first album Pet Your Friends was a commercial hit, which I listened to a lot in 1996. Again, it’s a song I turn to when I’m sad but it makes me feel better because I feel like JR just gets what’s going on in my head and isn’t trying to make me feel better. It’s also just a gorgeous song, no matter what mood you may be in.
I rest my head
Between the bed and sky
Download my dread
Disarm my mind, make it dry
Nothing in motion, and I’m satisfied
No disappointment ’til I wake up
Don’t want to wake up
Into clear space
Vivid vision, see her shape
At my bedside
Beam up my mind, please
Nothing in motion, I’m not satisfied
No disappointment ’til I wake up
Nothing in motion, and I’m not satisfied
No disappointment ’til I wake up
I don’t want to wake up
Nothing in motion, I’m not satisfied
No disappointment ’til I wake up
Nothing in motion, and I’m satisfied
No disappointment ’til I wake up
Don’t want to wake up, don’t want to wake up, no
Don’t want to wake up, don’t want to wake up, no
Most people don’t know that I once ran away to California. I had just finished high school and was 17, so basically I never made it to my destination of Venice Beach. LAX was as far as I got. Anyway, Joni Mitchell was Canadian, but felt California was her home. I have been to many cities in California and always it just felt like a place I could call home. Maybe someday…
Sitting in a park in Paris France
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They won’t give peace a chance
That was just a dream some of us had
Still a lot of lands to see
But I wouldn’t want to stay here
It’s too old and cold and settled in its ways here
Oh but California
California I’m coming home
I’m going to see the folks I dig
I’ll even kiss a Sunset pig
California I’m coming home
I met a redneck on a Grecian isle
Who did the goat dance very well
He gave me back my smile
But he kept my camera to sell
Oh the rogue the red red rogue
He cooked good omelettes and stews
And I might have stayed on with him there
But my heart cried out for you California
Oh California I’m coming home
Oh make me feel good rock ‘n’ roll band
I’m your biggest fan
California I’m coming home
Oh it gets so lonely
When you’re walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
Just gives you the blues
Just gives you the blues
So I bought me a ticket
I caught a plane to Spain
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there
Reading Rolling Stone reading Vogue
They said “How long can you hang around?”
I said a week maybe two
Just until my skin turns brown
Then I’m going home to California
California I’m coming home
Oh will you take me as I am
Strung out on another man
California I’m coming home
Oh it gets so lonely
When you’re walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
More about the war
And the bloody changes
Oh will you take me as I am?
Will you take me as I am?
Will you?
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