These are songs that have moved me for different reasons and these are not the only songs that have moved me, it is also a list that I have put together based on what I could pull together and remember. I will say this now and I will say it at the end. I would love to hear songs that have moved you as well. Well lets get started. and I will plan to skip a video to add a bonus at the end for fun. Because Don't Stop Beilevin was close on this list, I decided to do a Journey inspired movie clip
Let's start with a couple of classics
The Gambler -Kenny Rogers (1979)
I love this song because it speaks life truth through the game of poker
"You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em"
You got to know when to hold onto somebody or something and you got know when to let go of somebody or something
"Know when to walk away and know when to run"
You have to know when to walk away from somebody or a situation and know when it's time to leave fast, either from danger or to lessen your involvement.
"You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealing's done"
Pride comes before a fall. You don't need to show off to people, you need to help people to be the best they can be. Your reward is when people show you off or you see others succeed because of your help.
There are a couple other lessons he has but what makes it emotional for me is this piece
"the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep
And when he finished speakin'
He turned back towards the window
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep"
It's emotional for me because he passed on his legacy before he died and he fulfilled his purpose in life. He was selfless and was willing to share wisdom. It was a precious moment to me and I thought it was beautiful.
Father's eyes - Amy Grant (1979) Wow! same year!
This song brought me to tears. Because of these lyrics
"When people look inside my life, I want to hear them say, She's got her father's eyes,
Her father's eyes; Eyes that find the good in things, When good is not around;
Eyes that find the source of help, When help just can't be found; Eyes full of compassion,
Seeing every pain; Knowing what you're going through And feeling it the same."
I broke down because I had to ask myself, how many times did I do that and is that something others would say of me? Would I be the source of bad, the source of pain, the lack of help or compassion? Or would people say on my dying day that I was the good when good, the help, and compassion when it could not be found. Would I do that? Have on done that? This is such a good song to put my heart back in check.
Somewhere Out There - Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram (1986)
This one's for all the single people. I struggle so much wondering will I find somebody, am I worthy of somebody, will somebody want me back in return? I have a feeling I am not the only one. It is painful to see others have close relationships and be stuck in singlehood. Many say it is a great place to be. You have time to focus on other things. But for me, I find that I need that back and forth. I need that love and support. So I wait until the day it happens but until then I hope, and this song keeps me going
"Somewhere out there Beneath the pale moonlight Someone's thinking of me
And loving me tonight Somewhere out there Someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another In that big somewhere out there
And even though I know how very far apart we are It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping Underneath the same big sky Somewhere out there
If love can see us through Then we'll be together Somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true"
The Living Years- Mike + The Mechanics (1988)
This song encourages me to not wait and treasure every moment before it's too late.
"I know that I'm a prisoner To all my Father held so dear I know that I'm a hostage
To all his hopes and fears I just wish I could have told him in the living years"
"You say you just don't see it He says it's perfect sense You just can't get agreement
In this present tense We all talk a different language Talking in defence"
"Say it loud (say it loud), say it clear (oh say it clear) You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late (it's too late) when we die (oh when we die) To admit we don't see eye to eye"
The punch for me, was the thought, what If I'm not there when my father passes away, what if there was something I wanted to tell him. I think about the singer but I also think about myself it kind of makes me teary eyed. Especially with these Lyrics
"I wasn't there that morning When my Father passed away I didn't get to tell him All the things I had to say I think I caught his spirit Later that same year I'm sure I heard his echo In my baby's new born tears I just wish I could have told him in the living years"
Angel- Sarah Mclachlan (1997)
"In the arms of the angel Fly away from here From this dark, cold hotel room And the endlessness that you fear You are pulled from the wreckage Of your silent reverie You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here"
This song for some reason makes me think of a moment a person has right before they try to kill themselves. They have the blade and they get close and something stops them. That makes me cry a little bit. Lives saved when they are at their lowest. Just when you are at the point of ending it, you have just enough hope to carry on, like a gritty version of "It's a wonderful life" An Angel comes places it's hand on the razor and you find yourself putting it down in a pool of tears. It is such a beautiful song and hope that it has taken people that have listened to it over the years from a place of giving up to a place of hope and peace.
Hands- Jewel (1998)
This is such a sweet song with much truth. I remember a tv special where Jewel talked about living in debt and being close to death and a doctor saved her and did not charge her a dime. That from what I remember inspired this song.
"If I could tell the world just one thing It would be that we're all ok
And not to worry because worry is wasteful And useless in times like these"
"My hands are small, I know, But they're not yours they are my own But they're not yours they are my own And I am never broken"
I am unsure of what is meant by my hands are my own but "I am never broken" is a strong statement to live by
and she towards the end says "In the end only kindness matters"
Such a peaceful song that reminds us of humanity
Iris- The Goo Goo Dolls (1998)
I know it's a classic Goo Goo Dolls song but the words speak to me so much
"And I don't want the world to see me Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken I just want you to know who I am"
"When everything feels like the movies Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive"
I feel like that's me! I don't think the world would completely understand me but I still want you to know me and I am broken, imperfect, but I want you to know who I am
Graduation (Friends Forever) - Vitamin C (1999)
So I will be the first to claim that high school was not the highlight of my life. However, I view this as a friendship song and will we still be friends after all these years. It makes me kind of cry at the thought that so many people go to college and this may be the last time many of them will see each other.
"And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives Where we're gonna be when we turn twenty five
I keep thinking times will never change Keep on thinking things will always be the same But when we leave this year, we won't be coming back No more hanging out 'cause we're on a different track"
I just love how the song declares and hopes for friendships to never die or end, and I think that's a beautiful thing
"As we go on We remember All the times we Had together And as our lives change Come whatever
We will still be Friends forever"
The Christmas Shoes- Newsong (2000)
This song always seems to make me cry. Because of the passion and love of this little boy that can't afford shoes that he wants to give his mom as a gift before she dies. It is so sad and so beautiful.
"Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay I couldn't believe what I heard him say Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my mama, please It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size Could you hurry, sir, daddy says there's not much time You see she's been sick for quite a while And I know these shoes would make her smile And I want her to look beautiful if mama meets Jesus tonight"
and if that is not enough of a tear jerker then this lyric comes
"Then the cashier said, "son, there's not enough here" He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me He said mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without Tell me Sir, what am I going to do"
The Reason- Hoobastank (2003)
This is a great song that I am sure many of you have heard on the radio before. But it feels like I am saying these lyrics
"I'm not a perfect person There's many thing I wish I didn't do But I continue learning I never meant to do those things to you"
"I'm sorry that I hurt you It's something I must live with everyday And all the pain I put you through I wish I could take it all away"
This can be for my future girlfriend but I treat it referring to any relationship
and it helps me to declare the man I want to be
"I've found a reason for me To change who I used to be A reason to start over new And the reason is you"
Bring Me to Life- Evanescence (2003)
This is another well known song. It really speaks to me because sometimes I feel dead inside and I need to wake up!
But the lyrics go even deeper
"How can you see into my eyes like open doors? Leading you down, into my core
Where I've become so numb, without a soul My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there, and lead it, back, home"
Along with key phases "Wake me up inside" and "Bring me to life"
You have:
"Call my name and save me from the dark Bid my blood to run Before I come undone Save me from the nothing I've become"
"Breathe into me and make me real"
Power words for a powerful anthem!
Who Am I - Casting Crowns (2003)
This is the first Christian song that spoke to me, that really spoke to me. It did not sound fake, it sounded real. and it seemed to almost know me.
"Who am I, that the lord of all the earth Would care to know my name Would care to feel my hurt?"
"I am a flower quickly fading Here today and gone tomorrow A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind Still you hear me when I'm calling Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you've told me who I am I am yours"
The Voice of Truth is another strong one, but this one called me out first. It really touched me and made me look at my insignificance and told me that I was still special. At least according to my Faith.
Breathe (2 am) - Anna Nalick (2004)
This song just reminds me of how things just happen when we don't plan for them
"Two AM and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake, Can you help me unravel my latest mistake,
I don't love him, winter just wasn't my season"
and the truth just speaks to me and the hook of breathing, just allows me to slow down and breathe with her. The song causes me to calm down and relax.
"Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table No one can find the rewind button girl, So cradle your head in you hands And breathe, just breathe, Whoa breathe, just breathe"
and for the guys
'"No one can find the rewind button boys, So cradle your head in your hands, And breathe, just breathe, Whoa breathe, just breathe"
Breakaway- Kelly Clarkson (2004)
Part of this is the video, you see her as a kid, yes it promotes Princess Dairies but that's the not the focus for me. I see her family and her childhood and how she rises from that.
"Grew up in a small town And when the rain would fall down I'd just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be And if I'd end up happy I would pray"
"Trying hard to reach out But when I tried to speak out Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here But something felt so wrong here So I prayed I could break away"
I feel those emotions, my insignificance and trying to find where I fit in, and just wanting to have breakthrough. The song goes into "make a wish Take a chance Make a change And breakaway"
But I've found that just connecting with that feeling of not belonging was important to hear. That I was not alone in this feeling and that maybe, just maybe I could get my breakaway moment.
Bless the Broken Road- Selah (2006)
This has a similar theme to somewhere out there in that it gives hope to those that have not found love in another person. But this takes another approach. It suggests it's all part of a plan
"I set out on a narrow way Many years ago Hopin' I would find true love Along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two I wiped my brow Kept pushin' through I couldn't see how every sign Pointed straight to you"
"And every long lost dream Led me to where you are Others who broke my heart They were just northern stars Pointing me on my way Into your lovin' arms This much I know is true That God bless the broken road And led me straight to you"
It's even more helpful to have the view that even failed relationships can point us in the right direction and I would argue prepare us in maturity for the partner that is waiting for us
I hope you liked my list, and I look forward to hearing songs that move you! Please share and post them! and as promised my Ode to Journey but also my Ode to classic video games. This gets me geeked up every time I play it because I want so badly to be in that arcade
Have a great week gaggers and I hope you had a good weekend where ever you are
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