Community Stories

Songs with the most meaning for you

Walrus
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I know many here love music. It’s obvious. But are there a couple songs that have special meaning for you? When I was 16 my best friend and lead guitarist died in a car accident. He was 17 which at the time made him the “senior” of our group. I called WPLR and asked them to play ripple for him. They did and a bunch of us were sitting around so it really hit us. Many of my friends were listening so it was a big thing the next day at school.

Many years later as I held my mother’s hand as she took her last breathes it was “that day is done”. It’s now ingrained in my memory and probably will be until I no longer have one. Music is powerful. Maybe a mundane day it cut through or a day with meaning we can’t personally forget. I may have too many too mention but here are two songs that helped me get through two difficult times in life I will never forget. Mind you I have a playlist for good days to but for some reason the dark days seem to stick out a little more.

how about a happy one
image.webp
Edited:
 
UncleBuck
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Great thread Brother!
I would have guessed "I am the Walrus" koo koo ka choo.

Sorry about your Mom. The song helps keep her close.

Mine, too, maybe a little heavy hearted but an honest feeling.

First girlfriend in grade school was Valerie Miller.

2 years ago, diagnosed with a brain tumor, underwent a 10 hour craniotomy and wasn't sure what I would wake up to.
Day later, I wake up to music!
Stevie Winwood playing and the lyrics: "Valerie.....come and see me....I'm the same boy I used to be"
Been my ear worm and my Mantra ever since.

Edited:
 
AG77
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Fool In the Rain. Reminds me of good high school times, driving to school with friends.
 
ghce
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Walrus Walrus
I know many here love music. It’s obvious. But are there a couple songs that have special meaning for you? When I was 16 my best friend and lead guitarist died in a car accident. He was 17 which at the time made him the “senior” of our group. I called WPLR and asked them to play ripple for him. They did and a bunch of us were sitting around so it really hit us. Many of my friends were listening so it was a big thing the next day at school.

Many years later as I held my mother’s hand as she took her last breathes it was “that day is done”. It’s now ingrained in my memory and probably will be until I no longer have one. Music is powerful. Maybe a mundane day it cut through or a day with meaning we can’t personally forget. I may have too many too mention but here are two songs that helped me get through two difficult times in life I will never forget. Mind you I have a playlist for good days to but for some reason the dark days seem to stick out a little more.

how about a happy one
image.webp
Had a similar incident many years ago in the late 80's where my wife who was the HOD at the local high school and one of her junior teachers who we were also good friends with both the husband and wife who worked at the same school. He was an extremely popular teacher with staff, teachers and pupils alike. A sportsman by nature as was his wife in perfect top physical condition in his mid 20's died in his sleep from an undignosed heart condition, the school and community were in deep shock as was I
The song played at his funeral was Peter Gabriel's In your eyes.
I cannot help but tear up every time I hear it such was the powerful effect of the moment and the music and I can just about guarantee everyone who attended that funeral will have the same emotions at hearing it even some 35 years later such was the esteem that this young and loved teacher had garnered in his time at the school.

Just reading your post of youth tragically cut short has stired up in me many unresolved emotions of that tragedy.

 
Walrus
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UncleBuck UncleBuck
Great thread Brother!
I would have guessed "I am the Walrus" koo koo ka choo.

Sorry about your Mom. The song helps keep her close.

Mine, too, maybe a little heavy hearted but an honest feeling.

First girlfriend in grade school was Valerie Miller.

2 years ago, diagnosed with a brain tumor, underwent a 10 hour craniotomy and wasn't sure what I would wake up to.
Day later, I wake up to music!
Stevie Winwood playing and the lyrics: "Valerie.....come and see me....I'm the same boy I used to be"
Been my ear worm and my Mantra ever since.

Thanks. Mommy passed earlier in the year, the pain fades and the good memories come to the forefront as time goes by, I couldn’t really mention it much early on now it’s better.

Funny before I read your whole post and saw “Valerie” that song by windwood was already in my head. We had a girl pass away right at our high school prom from a food allergy she wasn’t aware of. For some reason Valerie made me think of her, I’m pretty sure they played it that night at the prom which went from a real fun time to a “holy shit is this really happening” she was my buddies date I know it took him a long time to get to baseline.

I don’t want to make this a big bummer thing but since death will be tapping us all on the shoulder it’s good to have certain memories of the good friends we’ve had and good friends we lost, along the way. For me 16-32 I lost a lot of friends but these days it’s not mourning it’s gratefulness I have that they were in my life for however long. For my gramps who I was going to take a nice long fishing trip with on his boat if he made it out of the hospital, he never did, it’s this darn song he taught me at an early age. Funny I sang it so much with no clue of the meaning.
 
Russ Murray
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That's the wonderful thing about music and I'm always amazed how it makes you feel whether happy, sad or just whimsical. For me, the words are just as important as the music itself. Clever wordplay can be real hooks too. Can't say I have any songs that necessarily point to a personal loss but there are three tunes that speak volumes when it comes to politics, spirituality and perspective. The songs I think of in this order are Democracy by Leonard Cohen; Child of the Wind by Bruce Cockburn and Ahead of the Curve by Monsters of Folk (Conor Oberst)



 
UncleBuck
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Interesting mix, general significance or linked to a specific event?
 
iosist
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Russ Murray Russ Murray
That's the wonderful thing about music and I'm always amazed how it makes you feel whether happy, sad or just whimsical. For me, the words are just as important as the music itself. Clever wordplay can be real hooks too. Can't say I have any songs that necessarily point to a personal loss but there are three tunes that speak volumes when it comes to politics, spirituality and perspective. The songs I think of in this order are Democracy by Leonard Cohen; Child of the Wind by Bruce Cockburn and Ahead of the Curve by Monsters of Folk (Conor Oberst)



Leonard Cohen gets far too little credit these days (which is fine by me to be honest the popularity of "Hallelujah" just about ruined it for me). Few people are able to articulate like he did that love, piety, and politics are all just modes of a singular Truth-process.

 
angelinc
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Walrus Walrus
....
....
🙏Ripple☯️ ...
This tune pierces my soul... it always erupts a sweet emotional battle of sadness and joy. It has indescribably moved me for over 5 decades - I don't understand why, but it always has. Thanks to JG/Hunter for this ongoing venture.
 
Dsloan
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Two things that have been on my playlist a lot recently:

Ghost singing about staying hopeful and continue to embrace love in super dark terrifying times:


And, GWAR singing about their dead loved ones. I saw this live right after losing a few people and it was so ridiculous and cathartic in a way that only GWAR could deliver.

 
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