I walked outside yesterday and stepped on a box. The UPS man had left a package right below my door. I was running to catch a school bus, so I kicked it aside before I realized what it might contain. I grabbed it on my way to the van and shook it, like my brother does on Christmas morning, as he annoyingly attempts to divine the contents of each wrapped gift.
My new Snow Patrol album is here! I pre-ordered it in November, and waited two whole months for it to arrive. Okay, it's really a CD, although nowadays one can buy actual vinyl, which I have considered as an homage to my college days. Then I could hug and caress the chunky cardboard sleeve like a teenage girl. Alas, I no longer own a turntable. Nor am I a teenager. So I bought the smaller, shinier version and pressed it to my chest before loading it into my van's single disc CD player.
I heart Snow Patrol.
In general, I love music, but I get extra swoony about lyrics. I don't know what it is about Gary Lightbody's writing that touches me so; in fact I don't even like all his songs. I remember hating "Chasing Cars," which is really the one that put them on the map. But I heard "Open Your Eyes," as it played over the final scene of "The Black Donnelly's" pilot, and I went on a mad search to find out who sang it. I've been hooked ever since.
These are the lyrics to my new favorite song. I cried the first time I heard it, because it made me think about all I am grateful for, and what I would wish for if given the chance.
Not to be published. Not to move to Montana. Not more money.
Healthy, long lives for my children. No disabilities. Someone to love them, beyond me.
This is all I ever wanted from life.
"LIFENING"
A hand upon my forehead/The joke and then the laugh/Waking up in your arms/A place to call my own.
This is all I ever wanted from life/This is all I ever wanted from life.
Ireland in the world cup/Either north or south/The Fanclub on your jukebox/The birds and yes the bees.
This is all I ever wanted from life/This is all I ever wanted from life.
Words of reassurance/But only if they're true/Just some simple kindess/No vengeance from the gods.
This is all I ever wanted from life/This is all I ever wanted from life.
To share what I've been given/Some kids eventually/And be for them what I've had/A father like my dad.
This is all I ever wanted from life/This is all I ever wanted from life.
What would you ask for?
I chose this version because it was recorded at a Portland radio station, near our friend Julie.
In the strictest sense of the word, CDs are still albums. The song is lovely.
ReplyDeleteOh! Here's something you may not know. Blogger enabled nested comments! Yay! You can find out about it under the Overview tab on your dashboard. Yay! (I'm excited, can you tell?)
I opened the page earlier and said, "What the hell? Why are the comments so small? But wait! I think I can reply directly now!" Woo hoo! Now I'll go try and find out why the font is so damn small. But yay! (I'm excited, too!)
DeleteGood catch Delia!
Deletewhat a beautiful song. I don't think I knew they were Irish! I'm writing my thesis on an Irish writer.
ReplyDeleteDid you do something to change it so you can reply to comments? This is blogger (blogspot), right? I'm there, too, and it's the main feature I've wanted them to change forever.
Here's the instructions that Delia mentioned:
Deletehttp://buzz.blogger.com/2012/01/engage-with-your-readers-through.html
What is your thesis topic?
DeleteIt's just so fun to be able to interrupt in the middle of the comments and ask a question!
I LOVE Snow Patrol, didn't know they had a new album out though. I have seen them in concert twice, in the oldest, smallest, dingiest concert venue in Melbourne...it was awesome!
ReplyDelete(I wasn't huge on chasing cars either)
Off to listen to my old 'albums' now :-)
Gary Lightbody had a little spin-off band called Tired Pony that I saw in a bar in New York last summer. I liked the small venue!
DeleteTickets go on sale tomorrow morning for Snow Patrol's North American tour. They are only playing one night in New York. U2 they are not. But I'm going.
Beautiful song. I have an SP album I ripped from the library, but never really gave it a good listen. I'll put it on the playlist. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI loved hearing him just chat! And in Portland!!!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what Blogger had done, now I see. (Don't like how us WordPress folks lost our pictures though.) Okay, getting all caught up (again).
Julie
Gosh, I love this. His voice is so crystal clear. I don't even know this group, must go 'sploring. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI feel like an ambassador for Snow Patrol! If you want to sample, they have a greatest hits album called "Up to Now." Not everything is great, but it does have some of my favorites, including "Dark Roman Wine," "Crack the Shutters," "Run," and "Open Your Eyes."
DeleteMegan - This comes at just the right time cause I'm putting together a soundtrack for my new novel and I love this!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I'm a lyrics person, too. I can love music and the lyrics will just ruin it for me.
There's a really catchy song on the radio right now. So I looked up the lyrics and they're awful.
"All the other kids with the pumped up kicks better run, run, run faster than my bullet." I change the station soon a I hear it now.
JJJ - I make soundtracks for my novels too! For my last one, I needed music that my character would play while cleaning her apartment, so I chose 80s punk and now I clean my house with the playlist. Then I needed a ringtone and my friend suggested "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" by Cage the Elephant. I think it rocks :) So good to know I'm not the only one who loves soundtracks.
DeleteCame back to say that my fondest wish above all else is that my kids and gkids be healthy and happy. No what you mean by that!
ReplyDeleteGAAAH Know what you mean - not no. Sorry.
DeleteNo worries--I "new" what you meant!
DeleteI love Snow Patrol too! I love Open Your Eyes but not Chasing Cars too! For a poetry class I had to write a poem while listening to music and I chose Lifeboats! Snow Patrol: just another reason why I think you're fabulous.
ReplyDeleteHi Kimberly! I have been thinking about you lately! I'm considering attending a conference, even though I am STILL not ready to meet with agents and editors. I realized the benefit would be seeing writers and friends, like the wonderful women I met at NEC and National, because I think you're fabulous, too!
Delete