Another Man's Shoes - Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors Lyrics

Loving this song lately - something about the lyrics, the message, the melody. You know, the whole song.

Everyone's got their own set of troubles,
everyone's got their own set of blues. 
Everyone's got their own set of struggles,
walk a mile in another man's shoes.

If you ain't learned that by now,
go ahead and walk another mile.


(For full song lyrics, go here: http://www.lyrics.com/another-mans-shoes-lyrics-drew-holcomb.html)


To walking a mile in someone else's shoes.

Zach Sobiech - Clouds

So I was watching Katie last Friday (which probably makes you think I'm middle-aged, but it was for the first time, actually) and I learned about Zach Sobiech. He was an 18-year old with terminal cancer who sang and wrote songs. I find him so inspirational.

How many people can do that, create - and create such beautiful songs - in such trying times?

I don't know if I believe in an afterlife, or heaven or hell or any of that. But I believe in music. I believe in song and dance. I believe in writing. I believe in creating art.

Here's his song, Clouds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDC97j6lfyc

Well I fell down, down, down
Into this dark and lonely hole
There was no one there to care about me anymore
And I needed a way to climb and grab a hold of the edge
You were sitting there holding a rope

And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear
It won't be long now, it won't be long now

When I get back on land
Well I'll never get my chance
Be ready to live and it'll be ripped right out of my hands
Maybe someday we'll take a little ride
We'll go up, up, up and everything will be just fine

And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear

It won't be long now, it won't be long now
If only I had a little bit more time
If only I had a little bit more time with you

We could go up, up, up
And take that little ride
And sit there holding hands
And everything would be just right
And maybe someday I'll see you again
We'll float up in the clouds and we'll never see the end

And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear
It won't be long now, it won't be long now

Some Days

"Some Days"
James Baldwin
(sung by Audra McDonald)

Some days worry
some days glad
some days
more than make you
mad
Some days,
Some days, more than
shine:
when you see what's coming
on down the line!

Some days you say,
oh, not me never!
Some days you say
bless God forever.
Some days, you say,
curse God, and die
and the day comes when you wrestle
with that lie
Some days tussle
then some days groan

and some days
don't even leave a bone.
Some days you hassle
all alone.

I don't know, sister,
what I'm saying,
nor do no man,
if he don't be praying
I know that love is the only answer
and the tight-rope lover
the only dancer.
When the lover comes off the rope
today,
the net which holds him
is how we pray
and not to God's unknown,
but to each other:
the falling mortal is our brother!

Some days leave
some days grieve
some days you almost don't believe.
Some days believe you
and you don't
Some days worry
some days mad
some days more than make you glad.
Some days, some days,
more than shine,
witnesses,
coming down the line!


I heard this as a song before reading the poem. It's beautiful both ways, don't you think?

Some days, I need to listen to this song on repeat.

To some days that "more than shine."

Hold On - Alabama Shakes

For the music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le-3MIBxQTw

"Hold On"

Bless my heart, bless my soul.
Didn't think I'd make it to 22 years old.
There must be someone up above sayin',
"Come on, Brittany, you got to come on up.
You got to hold on...
Hey, you got to hold on..."

So, bless my heart and bless yours too.
I don't know where I'm gonna go
Don't know what I'm gonna do.
There must be somebody up above sayin',
"Come on, Brittany, you got to come on now!
You got to hold on...
Hey, you got to hold on..."

"Yeah! You got to wait!
Yeah! You got to wait!"
But I don't wanna wait!
No, I don't wanna wait...

So, bless my heart and bless my mind.
I got so much to do, I ain't got much time
So, must be someone up above saying,
"Come on, girl! Yeah, you got to get back up!
You got to hold on...
Yeah, you got to hold on..."

"Yeah! You got to wait!"
I don't wanna wait!
But I don't wanna wait!
No, I don't wanna wait!

You got to hold on...
You got to hold on...
You got to hold on...
You got to hold on...

This is one of those songs I listen to and just feel like somebody else completely understands how I'm feeling right now. To holding on.

Just Give It Time (Jon McLaughlin Lyrics)

Just Give It Time
Jon McLaughlin
(from: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jonmclaughlin/justgiveittime.html)

Still waters, heavy hearts
Plans we make all fall apart
Disillusioned and lost in the gray
How can we fix the heart when it breaks?
Don't know how much more you can take

[Chorus:]
Just give it time
It's gonna get better
Now is not forever at all
Just give it time
Everything changes
Tomorrow comes today will be gone
Everything's gonna be fine
Just give it time, give it time

Quiet landslide when nobody knows
Regretted decisions that nobody chose
Under water and sinking fast
No way out, no way to get back
What might have been is lost in the past

[Chorus]

When the world you're in is still again
And it all fades out
You've reached the end, begin again now

[Chorus]

[2x]
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything's gonna be alright
Just give it time 

 

 

So who hasn't heard someone say that things are going to get better? Somehow Jon McLaughlin makes it believable when it doesn't always feel like it.

To giving it time.

The Little Things by Carlos Bertonatti Lyrics

"If life has taught me anything,
it'’s all about the little things."
-Carlos Bertonatti, The Little Things

Things are going wrong left and right in the world. It's so easy to just sink into despair, isn't it? Complain. Scan newspaper headlines or turn on the evening news or just feel dissatisfied about your life, your job, how much money you make, how much you weigh, anything, everything.

What's the point, anyway?

Okay, I'm going to tell you right off the bat that I can't answer that question. But according to this song, Carlos Bertonatti thinks "it's all about the little things."

And I don't know if it's all about the little things...but well, the little things can certainly add up, don't you think? I know it's the same old same old (well, if your life is anything like mine) and you're trying to find joy and happiness and peace and fulfillment and all that jazz, but sometimes you look at a bright, vivid flower on a cloudy gray morning and as little a thing as it is, it's enough for that moment. Maybe for that day.

Maybe life is seizing as many of those little moments as you can, letting them go when they do, and being open to the next one. Open your eyes and really look...what do you see? I'm sure you can find at least one thing that is beautiful. Or funny or hopeful or all of the above. And if you can't, make something beautiful. Okay?

To the little things.

Time to Move On - Tom Petty Lyrics

It's time to move on, time to get going
What lies ahead, I have no way of knowing
But under my feet, baby, grass is growing
It's time to move on, it's time to get going
...
Broken skyline, which way to love land
Which way to something better
Which way to forgiveness
Which way do I go
...
It's time to move on, time to get going
What lies ahead, I have no way of knowing
But under my feet, baby, grass is growing

I've been feeling like it's time to move on for a while now. But how do you ever know it's the right time? If overanalyzing and overthinking were Olympic sports, I think I'd have a real shot at a gold medal, people. But I guess I can either stay, feeling jaded and stuck...or decide it's time to move on, time to get going and start doing something about it. I've been feeling stuck for far too long...and it's time to do something about it.

You know what I think the hardest thing is, though? It's not making the decision...that's pretty easy. I've made this decision a few times already. It's taking those first few steps after making the decision. Sticking with the decision after a few disappointments and setbacks. Keeping yourself motivated.

How do you ever know you've made the right decision? I guess sometimes you don't. And maybe there aren't necessarily right decisions all the time. Maybe there are just choices you make, and none of them are right or wrong, really. They're just choices and you can change your mind. All you can do is the best you can (even if you don't think it's any good, at least you're trying, right?)...and hope.

To something better, moving on...and getting going.

Lenka - Live Like You're Dying Lyrics

You'll be under the table and you'll realize  
That all of your days are numbered, all of them one to one hundred  
All of them millions, all of them trillions

...

So what am I gonna do with my time?
I'll take every moment, I know that I own them 
It's all up to you to do whatever you choose 
Live like you're dying and never stop trying 
It's all you can do, use what's been given to you

from Lenka (Live Like You're Dying)

We don't know how much time we have, but we can choose how to spend the time that we do have. There are a lot of things we can't choose in the world, but some of them we can. It seems like such a small, simple truth, doesn't it? 

Do something you want today. Not because of anything or anyone else - just because you want to. Take a nap or sit outside and stare at the sky. Sing and dance. Make art. 

To using what's been given to you.

The Wind by Cat Stevens

I listen to the wind
To the wind of my soul
Where I'll end up well I think,
Only God really knows
...
I let my music take me where
My heart wants to go.


Cat Stevens, The Wind

I love these lyrics from this song. It's so mystical and almost otherworldly. My favorite part is the bit about letting the music take you where your heart wants to go. You might not be able to explain where your heart wants to go, even to yourself, and you might not even know, but the music takes you there anyway. This song always puts me in a contemplative mood.

To listening to the wind of your soul and letting music take you where your heart wants to go.