All that I've been given, I give it to you (I give it to you)
I can't stand here watching you fail to tell the truth (to tell the truth)
Somebody break these chains
Wrapped around this heart
I don't want you leaving
I'm begging for mercy
Honey break these chains
Oh heaven help me now
Trade the shackle for a crown
And I'm on my way, way down

Shaman's Harvest - In Chains

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At first, I was unsure why this song speaks to me so much. I guess it's the raw emotion in the singer's voice that grabs me in and takes me for a ride. It's one of those songs where everything fits just right. The line, "I can't stand here watching you fail to tell the truth", reached out, grabbed me and wouldn't let go.

Shaman's Harvest is a band I didn't discover until around 2017. The song is from their 2014 album Smokin' Hearts & Broken Guns. The album has several great songs on it, and I'm sure I'll be featuring lyrics for Dangerous, in another post down the line. Oh, the album also features an awesome cover of Michael Jackon's Dirty Diana. Their 2017 release Red Hands Black Deeds was my introduction, and it kicks ass. I was fortunate to see them live at Carolina Rebellion in 2018.

Sit back baby let the show begin
Well the train wreck is coming can I get an amen
Freak show talk behind a silhouette
The circus came to town and it hasn't left yet
Just ignore the past, divide the people
Multiply the cash, hide behind a steeple
So sit on your ass and ask for nothing better
Congratulations you're a t-t-trendsetter

Sin Shake Sin - Trendsetter

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Political? Yes, definitely. We live in a divided world where people choose to be sheep. Lack of leadership. Lack of accountability. The circus is in town and dysfunction abounds.

And I'm the one you can never trust
Because wounds are ways to reveal us
And yeah I could have tried and devoted my life to both of us
But what a waste of my time when the world we had was yours
So break me down if it makes you feel right (so break me down)
And hate me now if it keeps you alright (so break me down)
You can break me down if it takes all your might
Because I'm so much more than all your lies

Seether - Breakdown

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Relationships, romantic or otherwise, are difficult. When they deteriorate and go bad, they can leave lasting wounds that are hard to ignore. Sometimes we put our big boy/girl pants on, and just move on. Other times we may need to howl at the moon and let it all out. What's important is the release. That's one of the things I like about this song.

This particular Seether album, Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces, contains a plethora of fantastic lyrics. Shaun Morgan and the band write very intelligent lyrics and know how to make you think. There will be more posts from this collection of songs.

Well, if you told me you were drowning
I would not lend a hand
I've seen your face before my friend
But I don't know if you know who I am
Well, I was there and I saw what you did
I saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off that grin,
I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies

Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

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I love this song, especially the drums. I think this can fit many situations. We’ve all been in a place where another individual completely pisses us off, and we are done with them.

Here's to us, here's to love
All the times that we fucked up
Here's to you, fill the glass
'Cause the last few days have kicked my ass
So lets give 'em hell
Wish everybody well, here's to us, here's to us

Halestorm - Here’s To Us

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This is a repeat of sorts; it was previously posted on Facebook. This is another great song from Halestorm. I could probably use most of the lyrics in this song, because it fits so well, when you’ve been struggling but refuse to give up. Some folks have an aversion to the f-word. I do NOT advocate using it every other word, however I think think it is the best word for certain situations, and sometimes it is the perfect word to drive home a point.

Send away for a priceless gift
One not subtle, one not on the list
Send away for a perfect world
One not simply, so absurd
In these times of doing what you're told
Keep these feelings, no one knows
What ever happened to the young man's heart?
Swallowed by pain, as he slowly fell apart

Shinedown - .45

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This is a great song with a powerful message. Despite what many folks thought, this song is not about suicide or really staring down the barrel of a .45; it's about picking up the pieces and moving forward.

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching
In the night
Streetlight people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin' somewhere in the night

Journey - Don't Stop Believin'

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I've seen Journey a number of times. Their shows with The Babys were phenomenal. Wish Steve Perry and the band could have worked things out; they've had some great songs. This song was used as a theme for the White Sox championship season in 2005.

There is also a backstory to choosing these lyrics, but that will have to wait for another day.

Have you seen my hands, just look at ‘em shake.
And the song just keeps on repeating, drop the needle again.
And I dance with your ghost.
But that ain’t the way…
I can’t move on and I can’t stay the same.
And all my friends say…
“Hey, turn the record over. Hey, I’ll see you on the flip side.
There you go, turn the key and engine over… Let her go, let somebody else lay at her feet.”

The Gaslight Anthem - 45

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Some times you have to just let go of bad situations. It's not about giving up, it's about accepting when things can't be fixed and time to move on. I'm really impressed by The Gaslight Anthem. They have some really great songs and very intelligent lyrics. There will be additional posts from their songs. This is from the album Handwritten; a favorite of mine.

Did you sleep last night and do you remember dreams?
Do I ever cross your mind and do you ever think of me?
When you think about your life are there things you would reverse?
I still remember holding you, just out of sight of her
In the deep, dark parking lot pressed up against my car
With your hands around my neck I felt the pounding of your heart

The Gaslight Anthem - Mulholland Drive

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This is my favorite song off of the album Handwritten. The music and lyrics set the mood perfectly. There's always one that gets away. There are lots of reasons why good relationships don't last. Sometimes you are in the right place, but at the wrong time. This is the juxstaposition of memories; it might be a sad event, but all of the good memories around it make you smile.

As a bonus tonight, there is a second set of lines from the song that I also find very powerful...

And I can still recall the hour when you first let down your walls
I thought I might've died right there floating up above it all
But it scared you love, to need someone, so you killed it all instead

The Gaslight Anthem - Mulholland Drive

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Without the music it doesn't quite do the song justice. Maybe I'll come back and post an audio clip...

Those crazy nights, I do remember in my youth
I do recall, those were the best times, most of all
In the heat with a blue jean girl
Burnin' love comes once in a lifetime
She found me singing by the rail road track
Took me home, we danced by moonlight

Journey - Stone In Love

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I love to think back to my summers growing up in Chicago Heights. Great friends, great times! Music was always a big part of it, too. One summer, I got to see Journey three times in a two-month span. Isn't young love grand? There is so much more this memory brings, but I'm not ready to share it all yet. Gotta leave some for future posts...

And we waited for sirens that never come
And we only write by the moon, every word handwritten
And to ease the loss of youth and how many years I've missed you
Pages plead forgiveness, every word handwritten

The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten

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I'm not sure why this verse appeals to me so much. I guess it is because it seems so pure and honest to write something by hand. I don't consider myself a "writer", I've been know to pen a letter, but it's been many years since I wrote anything by hand. I'm a geek; I use a keyboard.

Let’s pretend our days are numbered
And live them out
We’ll live them in the order given
By those who gave them out
Because there is no... reason to run
There is no reason to run

The Inventors - Beehive

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The Inventors are rising stars out of Chicago. They are a very tight 4-man band with intelligent lyrics. This song is off their 2015 EP The Procedure Room. It’s my favorite song on the EP and I just love the opening verse. I’ll admit I have some bias, my son Grant used to be the drummer and appears on this EP, but these guys are AWESOME!

When you just wanna feel good
Like the doctor said
One good dose of loving
It's gonna straighten out your head

You got an open invitation
On that you can rely
You got a prepaid reservation
And that's the only way to fly

Santana - Open Invitation

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There are a lot of Santana songs more popular than Open Invitation, but this is one of my favorites; reminds me of days long past. For me, this song represents that person who may come and go throughout your life, but will ALWAYS be welcomed back. They have an "open invitation" to return at anytime.

When you need somebody around on the nights that try you
I was there when you were a queen
And I'll be the last one there beside you;
So you can call out my name

When you're only lonely;
Now, don't you ever be ashamed;
You're only lonely

J.D. Souther - You're Only Lonely

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There's nothing fancy or flashy about this song, but the music and melody are smooth and real. For me, this is one of those songs that you can't turn off or change channels when it comes on; it is a must listen to.

I don't know how to stop, I give it all I've got
It's like my brakes are shot, I gotta have too much
I don't know how to stop, Gets crazy but so what
You know it's what you want so give it up
And don't be scared of how good it feels

Halestorm - Don't Know How to Stop

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I like several different genres of music, but Hard Rock/Heavy Metal is one of my favorites. Halestorm is an amazing band and Lzzy Hale can sing with the best of them. She has the range to do the sultry ballad as well as the in-your-face rocker. There will be several posts with Halestorm lyrics as a lot of their songs reach inside and grab me. I was fortunate to see them in May 2015 at Carolina Rebellion and again in 2018 at Carolina Rebellion.

She was a friend to me when I needed one --
Wasn't for her I don't know what I'd done
She gave me back something that was missing in me
She could of turned out to be almost anyone
Almost anyone...
With the possible exception
Of who I wanted her to be

Jackson Browne - That Girl Could Sing

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I really liked Browne's album Hold Out, and this was one of my favorite songs from it. I'm not a musician, but I was somewhat obsessed with the simple guitar riffs and the tones created. There's a portion of the song where you can hear the fingers slide up and down the strings. I can't explain it, but for me it accentuated the impact of the song.

This song resonates because most people can relate to a relationship like this. Sometimes your projection of who you want your partner to be, overshadows who they really are.

Well, just look at that girl with the lights comin' up in her eyes
She's got to be somebody's baby
She must be somebody's baby
All the guys on the corner stand back and let her walk on by

I try to shut my eyes but I can't get her out of my sight
I know I'm gonna know her but I gotta get over my fright
We'll, I'm just gonna walk up to her
I'm gonna talk to her tonight

Jackson Browne - Somebody's Baby

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It's a simple concept; you don't know until you try. Doesn't matter if it's a person, task, new job or hobby. You have to get over your fear of taking the first step. I have had these lyrics saved for a long time, because I knew I'd use them. A chat with a friend reminded me of this exact scenario, so it became the perfect time to post them. I can remember a time when all it took was the courage to just talk to the girl.

I have always been a fan of Jackson Browne and I'm sure more of his songs will find their way onto these pages.

Day after day I'm more confused
Yet I look for the light through the pouring rain
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
And I'm feelin' the strain
Ain't it a shame

Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

...

And when my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
And when I'm feelin' blue
The guitar's comin' through to soothe me

Dobie Gray - Drift Away

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There is nothing like music, and a song you love, to get you through the tough times. Whether it's work, family, or relationships, music can soothe and provide the strength to carry on when things don't go your way.I have always relied upon music to accentuate/celebrate the high points in life, and to provide perspective and comfort in the tough times.

Hello readers

It's been awhile since I last posted anything, but I am back with a new design, and I am trying out a new non-Wordpress format. There is nothing wrong with Wordpress, but it's just too big and too much overhead for my needs. Someday I will probably go back, but for now I am enjoying the freedom and creativity while just using HTML and CSS.

After a long internal debate, I decided it was time to build a new site and start again fresh. I am trying out a VPS setup rather than shared hosting and have started rebuilding. Much like my previous effort, this site will contain a collection of my photographs, my thoughts on various song lyrics, and a bunch of other random stuff. I'm going to make an effort to post more frequently as well.