SP, you are a man after my own heart (((ahem))) -- so to speak. I LOVE the thread idea!!
For me, music is huge, and plays a central role in my moods. If I'm down, I tend to want to play sad songs that will make me MORE down, let myself wallow for awhile in my melancholy, before playing some upbeat stuff to lift me out of it. Many songs were a part of my marital journey, and I wrote a bunch myself (some of which I've posted). But here are a few:
1. "Something Beautiful" -- Newsboys. A song of hope which celebrates in the joyful shout of "THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ME!".
It's a voice that whispers my name It's a kiss without any shame Something beautiful(Yeah Yeah) Like a song that stirs in my head Singing love will take us where Somethings beautiful 2. "Trapped" -- written by Jimmy Cliff but as performed live by Bruce Springsteen. Speaks to the hurt and resentment of a SSM, and of feeling trapped inside the marriage, but also is hopeful (and even defiant) in its line of "... but I'll teach my eyes to see, beyond these walls in front of me / and someday I'll walk outta here again . . . "
3. "They Rage On" -- a song of adultery by Dan Seals. Not sure why I like to listen to it, as it's a song that somewhat glamorizes infidelity, other than it's a great song and maybe I like to torture myself.
On the same dark night two more people meet In a rented room on a cross town street And she's lost her youth and he's lost his dreams But for a while they feel like they used to feel 4. "Does Anybody Hear Her?" -- Casting Crowns. A haunting song about a wayward woman, and which condemns those who ignore her hurt in their own self-righteousness. It just reminded me so much of my own wife, and her struggles.
She is running A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction She is trying But the canyon's ever widening In the depths of her cold heart So she sets out on another misadventure just to find She's another two years older And she's three more steps behind
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see? Or does anybody even know she's going down today Under the shadow of our steeple With all the lost and lonely people Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
She is yearning For shelter and affection That she never found at home She is searching For a hero to ride in To ride in and save the day And in walks her prince charming And he knows just what to say Momentary lapse of reason And she gives herself away 5. "All These Years" -- Sawyer Brown. Speaks from both the cheating spouse and the betrayed spouse's perspectives, and I like how they both face the abyss and turn away from it, realizing how much they stand to lose:
She likes adventure with security And more than one man can provide She planned adventure feeling sure that he Would not be home 'till after five He turned on the lights and turned them off again And said the one thing he could say
All these years Where have I been Well I've been down the rode to work and home again And I'm still here Untill I'm gone Don't you rub it in too hard that I've been wrong All these years
She said, "You're not the man you used to be" He said, "Neither is this guy" She said, "There's some things you refuse to see But I guess sometimes so do I" She made no excuse why she was lying there She said the one thing she could say
All these years What have I done I made your supper and your daughter and your son Still I'm here And still confused But I can finally see how much I stand to lose All these years
I'm still here And so confused But I can finally see how much I stand to lose All these years
