The Soundtrack of My Life
by Jenners • 07/12/2010 • BB/The Little One, Life, Mr. Jenners, Writers Workshop • 29 Comments
A few weeks ago, Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop had some really awesome prompts that I wanted to take a stab at. One of them was: Pick 10 songs that you would have on a soundtrack for your life, pick a line from each that you most identify with and write a short statement of why this song made it. So here goes … the Soundtrack of My Life.
Song and Artist: Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads
Relevant Line: You may ask yourself/well, how did I get here?
Why I Picked It: When I was younger, I never in a million years envisioned myself being in my 40s and being a stay-at-home mom to a 5-year-old. It was long, strange trip (hey — another song!) to get here, but I’m happy (if not a little perplexed) to be where I am right now.
Song and Artist: I’m So Tired – The Beatles
Relevant Line: I’m so tired, I haven’t slept a wink/I’m so tired, my mind is on the blink
Why I Picked It: Although things are much much better than it was in the beginning, part of me has been tired ever since the Little One was born. I lost all that sleep in the beginning, and I’m still not caught up. Seriously, there isn’t a day that goes by that I wouldn’t be able to take a good one to two hour nap. (Though Mr. Jenners would argue that I was like this before the Little One arrived. He’s probably right. Maybe I should get my thyroid checked or something.)
Song and Artist: Harpo’s Blues – Phoebe Snow
Relevant Line: I’d like to be a willow/A lover, a mountain, or a soft refrain/But I’d hate to be a grown-up/And have to try to bear my life in pain
Why I Picked It: This song is about the part of me that feels like she has never grown-up … the part of me that is still a 6-year-old who daydreams and has an easy and carefree life. This grown-up stuff is not all it is cracked up to be. If I give the Little One nothing else, I hope to give him a childhood that is filled with wonder, joy and free of stress.
Song and Artist: Anchorage – Michelle Shocked
Relevant Line: I sound like a housewife/I think I’m a housewife
Why I Picked It: For the longest time, I always related more to Michelle Shocked singing this song about a letter she wrote to her old friend and the response she received. Now I feel like I’m the friend writing the letter back, telling her about her humdrum life as a housewife and wife and mother. Funny how that changed.
Song and Artist: Paperback Writer – The Beatles
Relevant Line: And I need a job/so I want to be a paperback writer/Paperback writer.
Why I Picked It: As I face the prospect of having to get a job again for the first time in 6 years, I realize that perhaps I should give writing a shot. I’ve always had this dream of being a writer, and writing my blog has been so rewarding in so many ways. Given that I’m seeking a flexible job that would still let me be at home for the Little One, perhaps now is the time to seriously look into making that dream a reality. (Stop laughing NOW, Mr. Jenners.)
Song and Artist: Fire and Rain – James Taylor
Relevant Line: I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain/I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end /I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend/But I always thought that I’d see you again
Why I Picked It: This past few years, I’ve experienced quite a few losses. This song has always touched me, but now it resonates even more. After losing my dad last August, I’ve thought often of these lines and how I always did think I’d see him at least one more time again.
Song and Artist: Everyday I Write The Book – Elvis Costello
Relevant Line: Everyday, everyday, everyday I write the book/The way you walk/The way you talk, and try to kiss me, and laugh/In four or five paragraphs/All your compliments and your cutting remarks/Are captured here in my quotation marks
Why I Picked It: Blogging has become such a part of my life, and I think this song captures the essence of blogging … writing the book of my life with Mr. Jenners and the Little One on a daily basis, as well as my own life in all its glories and missteps. I do think this blog will become a wonderful legacy for our little family–allowing me to capture all the little bits of our lives as we live them before they fade away and are forgotten.
Song and Artist: Daughter – Loudon Wainwright III
Relevant Line: Every time she blinks/she strikes somebody blind./Everything she thinks/blows her tiny mind./That’s my daughter in the water/who’d have ever thought her?/ Who’d have ever thought?/That’s my daughter in the water/I lost everytime I fought her/Yea, I lost every time.
Why I Picked It: So switch the title to “Son” (but then you lose the lovely rhyme), and I think this song captures perfectly the experiences of being a mother to the Little One. I wanted to copy the entire song, but limited myself to these. I have yet to win a fight with the Little One, and I’d never quite thought him as being so much the way he is. The perfect song for parents. If you’ve never heard it before, take a moment to listen to it. It is such a perfect little song.
Song and Artist: Chock-o-lot In My Pock-o-Lot- Laurie Berkner
Relevant Line: Choc-o-lot! I got choc-o-lot!/I got choc-o-lot in my pock-o-lot!
Why I Picked It: Well, I think after this post, the reason for this choice is obvious. I love my chocolate.
Song and Artist: Our House- Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Relevant Line: Our house is a very, very fine house/With two cats in the yard/Life used to be so hard/Now everything is easy/’Cause of you
Why I Picked It: This pretty much sums up how I feel about life with Mr. Jenners. We have a comfortable happy little life (though the two cats in the yard are not our cats and they kill birds and crap in the sandbox), and I feel at home with him in our very very very fine house.
Thinking I’m going to make a mix tape for the first time in years,
This post makes me glad we don't have birds or a sandbox. And that our cat is a very, very, very fine cat.
Another fun post! I vote 100% for you looking for a career in writing. I also can relate to the Talking Heads song with my own life.
Wishing I had read this post when the girls were awake, so that I could listen to every song…
I feel like making a mixed tape too!
I only know a few of those songs…
Don't judge my bad musical taste.
Just thought I'd let you know that I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award!
Love the list of songs! Though to be utterly truthful, I only know 2 of the 10 you listed… I'm liking the way you related to them that I think I'm going to have to add them to my playlist now
I like your picks and your reasons behind them–nice post. And James Taylor is just the best . . .
I've been reading a lot of these, and this is the FIRST ONE where I was dead on with you on every song you picked. Every single one…and perfect commentary on them.
That was fun to read, relating to someone is so much fun.
Thank you.
I enjoyed your passage on Michelle Shocked. I had to stop and go listen to the song.
I feel the I'm so tired, lol. And why not give writing a shot! Too many of us think that's what we want to do but don't actually go for it.
I'm giving you a standing ovation right now.
Paperback Writer is YOU! You have such talent as a writer. I think you should pursue it!
I think you nailed it!
And I love Fire and Rain, I think of my brother every single time I hear that!!
And I love that last one, that is so sweet!! I hope Mr. Jenners reads the blog so he knows how appreciated he is!
You definitely are a writer! No question! And better than a paperback one…
Very nice… I'm so impressed that you could remember all those lyrics. If the writing thing doesn't work out, you should definitely become a DJ.
Awesome! And you area great writer, you should go for it.
I love your choices!
That's a great song list. I love how you talk about your "comfortable, happy little life." I'm glad that you feel good about where you are right now in your life. There is a strong writer in you and I know that you'll be sharing that side of you with the world for a long time to come.
Glad that you added a chocolate song!
I love it. Now you've got me thinking …
You reminded me that I need to listen to Michelle Shocked more. A lot more. Great list!
Awww.. this is just lovely! Treasure your life…it may seem humdrum to you, but it's precious. And go for your dream of a writing job! Go, Jenners, go!
I sense an iPod playlist coming…
very nice and good selections. I'd listen to your playmix.
Great song list!
Our House has been a favorite song of ours since before we were engaged
Paperback Writer?! you have so much talent – I would buy your first book in a heart beat!!
What a wonderful song list.
If writing is what you want to do, then go for it. You have the talent, so just believe in yourself and do it!
I can remember all the words to songs when I hear them, but I could never come up with a list. Good job! I,too, love the C,S,N &Young song.
Funny that we are at opposite ends of our careers and we both are figuring out our options through blogging. I'm rediscovering my love of writing because I finally have time to do it now that I am retired. I hope you find the perfect job match for your skills that will leave you time for family and writing.
Jann
This is so bizarre…I just finished a book called "Love is a Mix Tape." I hope to have a review up later this week. This little prompt is the perfect companion piece! Thanks for the inspiration!
Love the Daughter song that should have been the son song…
I think you're on to something with that writing. You are very, very good!