10 Lyrics That Matter
1.
“Why must you be such an angry young man? Your future looks quite bright to me”
The song is “Fooling yourself (an angry young man)” by
Styx. This song is why I’m compiling
this list. I heard it again this weekend
for the first time in a long time and it keeps going through my head. The music is fantastic and the lyrics are
like a wakeup call of introspection and positive thinking. “Come On, get back on your feet, you’re the
one they can’t beat.” Many times as a
teenager trying to figure things out anger or testosterone would boil over into
fits of stupidity. But why? The future is bright and you can’t be
beat. Learn and get back on track.
2.
“Pieces of Eight, treasures filled with
emptiness; don’t let them turn your heart to stone”
The song is Pieces of Eight-- Another one from Styx. They were an influential group for me,
especially through those teenage years. But this is one that has come to mind often
professionally. Work is good and important,
but balance is vital. I work in order to
live and not vice versa. Also, as the
saying goes you can’t take it with you.
This one really could be combined with “Peace of Mind” by Boston which
includes the line “I understand about indecision but I don’t care if I get
behind people living in competition, all I want is to have my peace of mind”
3.
“It’s more than a feeling when I hear that old
song play”
Speaking of Boston, this line is from their “More Than A
Feeling”. That whole album was phenomenal. I remember the first time I listened to it
and was reading the back of the album that kept repeating “just listen to it”. And I did, over and over again. Music is a powerful medium for transmitting
ideas, thoughts, emotions, and feelings.
Music moves one to action. That
action can be dancing, romanc
ing, building up or tearing down. It has always been important to me to recognize that power and use it to move me to positive action. Music also brings back powerful and important memories.
ing, building up or tearing down. It has always been important to me to recognize that power and use it to move me to positive action. Music also brings back powerful and important memories.
4.
“There is
an hour of peace and rest un marred by earthly cares. Tis when before the Lord I go and kneel in
secret prayer”
“Secret Prayer” Hymn #144 in the LDS Hymn book. There are many hymns that come to mind and
help shape who I am and what I do. But
this hymn holds a special place in my heart and mind. As a 19 year old Missionary for The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this song was ingrained in my brain through
frequent repetition in Spanish. In the
Missionary Training Center we stayed in a facility that was much like a college
dorm. Each night all the missionaries on
my floor would gather together to sing this song with an abundance of
energy. When challenges of life have
come along I have found answers and peace in secret prayer.
This is “Black Water” by The Doobie Brothers. I remember riding in a van full of friends traveling
across the San Joaquin delta in California on our way to a dance in
Stockton. We sang this together with the
Doobies several times and without them over and over again. It was
wonderful. I’m not a singer by any
stretch but that feeling of unity and pleasure and being carefree while rolling
over the delta levies is just a treasured memory. Good friends and good times are a pleasure to
be grateful for.
6. “C'mon people now, Smile on your brother, everybody get together, Try and love one another right now”
“Get Together” by the Youngbloods. Some in the 60’s might have gone too
far. But for me this song has been a
constant reminder that we are all brothers and sisters and we really should
just try and love one another right now.
Many were the times as a Bishop that I would counsel couples or
individuals and just want them to love now.
Smile, brotherhood, love, forgiveness, now before it’s too late. For me it’s all there in this song.
7.
“I'll take the long night, impossible odds,
Keepin' my eye to the keyhole, If it takes all that to be just what I am, Well
I'm gonna be a blue collar man”
“Blue Collar Man” by Styx.
Here we are back to Styx again.
Did I mention they were an influential group for me? This song is a reminder that nothing worthwhile
is ever easy. And that any honest work
is a blessing. I’ve actually never
really been a blue collar worker in the traditional sense of the phrase. But I admire and strive to emulate the work
ethic of many blue collar workers that have been important in my life.
8.
“All I need is a Miracle”
“All I need is a Miracle” by Mike & The Mechanics. Ok, this one probably isn’t going to make
sense to anyone. From the moment I saw
my wife across the room and locked eyes with her for just a moment I knew she
was the one for me. This song came out
about the same time and it became our song.
This, when you listen to the lyrics, doesn’t make any sense at all since
it is about a guy who mistreated and lost his girl and needs a miracle to get
her back. This song is a reminder not
to be that guy, to recognize her as miracle and to not do anything that would
compromise our trust and love.
9.
“I won’t be gone forever but I won’t be back
until I’ve given it my all”
“A Field So White” by Lex De Azevedo. This is what I call a Mormon Pop song from an
album of the same name. It refers to the
LDS Missionary work. But it also
exemplifies how I feel about being committed to something. When I decided to serve a mission I knew it
would be a sacrifice and I also knew that I would give it my all. Today I have a boat that will soon be
christened “All In”, because when it’s time I’m all in.
10.
“ Climb the Mountain of faith”
I don’t know who wrote this but I was one of hundreds who
have performed it over the years in the Oakland Temple Pageant. Honestly I don’t remember many of the other
lyrics from this particular song, but I have been known to spontaneously blurt
out this one line. Faith is something
that is built up over time one step at a time.
I love the out of doors and being with youth climbing mountains because
to me it is so symbolic of life’s journey.