Song of the Day: Rachael Yamagata - Duet, featuring Ray LaMontagne

I saw Rachael Yamaga play Thursday, November 6, at the Workplay theater in Birmingham, Alabama.  Great concert, only about 50 people or less there.  Very intimate, very moving.

I have to say, though, that this song was the best.

"Rachael Yamagata ft. Ray Lamontagne - Duet"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EO0w9i5wmA

She sang it alone, just Rachael and her guitar--Ray wasn't there.  Doesn't matter.  Still fabulous.

Rachael said that she wrote it based on her experience as a touring musician.  Always on the road.  Finding it easier  to make connections with other musicians who understand how that feels, but not being able to be in the same place long enough, yet always intending to cross paths again.  Bittersweet.  Wonderful to find a connection, but so sad to not be able to hold onto it, despite all intentions.  Very touching and sad.

Song of the Day: Ray LaMontagne - Empty

Just a beautiful song.  With some deep truths in it, I think.

"Ray LaMontagne - Empty (lyrics)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY1V0Y7hscw

Well, I looked my demons in the eyes
laid bare my chest, said "Do your best, destroy me.
You see, I've been to hell and back so many times,
I must admit you kind of bore me."

Lyrics, from AZLyrics.com:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/raylamontagne/empty.html

"Empty"

She lifts her skirt up to her knees
Walks through the garden rows with her bare feet, laughing
And I never learned to count my blessings
I choose instead to dwell in my disasters

Walk on down the hill
Through grass grown tall and brown
And still it's hard somehow to let go of my pain
On past the busted back
of that old and rusted Cadillac
That sinks into this field collecting rain

Will I always feel this way ‒
So empty, so estranged?

And of these cut-throat busted sunsets,
these cold and damp white mornings
I have grown weary
If through my cracked and dusted dime-store lips
I spoke these words out loud would no one hear me?
Lay your blouse across the chair,
Let fall the flowers from your hair
And kiss me with that country mouth so plain.
Outside the rain is tapping on the leaves
To me it sounds like they're applauding us,
The quiet love we've made.

Will I always feel this way
So empty, so estranged?

Well, I looked my demons in the eyes
laid bare my chest, said "Do your best, destroy me.
You see, I've been to hell and back so many times,
I must admit you kind of bore me."
There's a lot of things that can kill a man
There's a lot of ways to die
Yes, and some already dead that walk beside me
There's a lot of things I don't understand
Why so many people lie
Well, it's the hurt I hide that fuels the fires inside me

Will I always feel this way
So empty, so estranged?

Song of the Day: First Aid Kit - Shattered & Hollow

Another song that lifts me up, great vibe.

"Shattered & Hollow - First Aid Kit"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRX6ZQJfBgY

I am in love and I am lost
But I'd rather be
Broken than empty
Oh, I'd rather be
Shattered than hollow
Oh, I'd rather be
By your side

Now I am tired but resolute
That I'd rather be
Striving than settled
Oh, I'd rather be
Moving than static
Oh, I'd rather be
By your side

Lyrics, from AZLyrics.com:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/firstaidkit/shatteredhollow.html

"Shattered & Hollow"

I am in love and I am lost
But I'd rather be
Broken than empty
Oh, I'd rather be
Shattered than hollow
Oh, I'd rather be
By your side

Now I can't believe that it's been five years
Since we both stood here, looking out at this city
With minds so bold and hearts so clear
We said, we are going to get out of here
We said, we are going to get out of here

We are going to get out of here
Run from all the fears
Follow what we once held dear
When will we get out of here?

Now I am tired but resolute
That I'd rather be
Striving than settled
Oh, I'd rather be
Moving than static
Oh, I'd rather be
By your side

Now I can't believe that it will be so long
Till we both are here, looking out at this city
Knowing all we ever wanted is gone

We are going to get out of here
Run from all the fears
Follow what we once held dear
When will we get out of here?

Time, time is a fickle thing
Let's see what it can bring
I cannot leave you behind
Time, time's running out
My hands, oh give me your hands
I cannot leave you behind

We are going to get out of here
Run from all the fears
Follow what we once held dear
When will we get out of here?

We said, we are going to get out of here
We said, we are going to get out of here

Quote of the Day: Ben Franklin on Life and Time

About a month ago I posted a Bruce Lee quote.  Looks like he copied an old Ben Franklin quote.  Doesn't matter, it (unlike our lives) is timeless.

“Dost thou love life?  Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of.”  - Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac, 1746

Song of the Day: Broods - Sleep Baby Sleep

Another one from Broods.  Great vibe to this song.

"Broods - Sleep Baby Sleep"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhQD8e60ja4

Sleep baby sleep
What are you waiting for?
The morning's on its way
You know it's only just a dream
Oh sleep baby sleep
I lie next to you
The beauty of this mess is that it brings me close to you

Song of the Day: The Drums - Down By The Water

What can I say, this song grew on me.  Love the vibe of this song.  So simple and direct.

The Drums - Down By The Water (Lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp0erODWCBI

Song of the Day: U2 - 40

I would like to dedicate this song to those of you who have mustered up the courage to sing a new song in your lives.  Or to those of you who might be 40 years old today.  Or both.   :)

As for me, I think of this song as a promise I'm making.  I am making changes in my life.  Although it has taken me a long time, I WILL sing a new song.

"U2 40 Live from Red Rocks"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjtpplE39_g


The song came from Psalm 40.  From @U2:
http://www.atu2.com/lyrics/songinfo.src?SID=82

The portion of Psalm 40 that inspired Bono's lyrics:
I waited patiently for the Lord
And He inclined to me and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction
Out of the miry clay
And He set my feet upon a rock, making my footsteps firm
He put a new song in my mouth
A song of praise to our God
Many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord

More from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40_%28song%29


Some other facts about the song, from Songfacts.com:
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=897

The last song on War, it invokes the first track, "Sunday Bloody Sunday," with the refrain "How long must we sing this song."

At a concert in Chicago on April 29, 1987, Bono said: "This is a song that when we were being thrown out of the studio... we spent ten minutes writing this next song, ten minutes recording it, ten minutes mixing it, ten minutes playing it back, and that's nothing to do with why it's called '40.'"

From AZLyrics.com:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/u2/40.html

I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song
How long to sing this song
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song

He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song
How long to sing this song
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song