10 Lyrics That Matter

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. 

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.

5.       “Oh black water, keep on rollin, Mississippi moon won’t you keep on shining on me”

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.

 Well those are some lyrics that matter to me.  What are some that matter to you?