Music has always been a constant in my life. Over the years, my musical library has grown to over 200 songs in varying genres. Some pop, some soft rock, some gospel, some country.
Some of my favorites over the years have been:
- “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton
- “Go Rest High On That Mountain” by Vince Gill
- “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack
- “The Tin Man” by Kenny Chesney
- “Jealous of the Angels” by Donna Taggart
- “Every Breath You Take” by The Police
- “Will The Circle Be Unbroken?” by Randy Travis
- “Life’s a Dance” by John Michael Montgomery
- “El Mismo Sol” by Alejandro Fernández
- “I’ll Be” by Reba McEntire
“I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton is one of the songs from my childhood. I grew up listening to artists like Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Patsy Cline, among many other greats. It is one song that I’ve sometimes found synonymous with heartache, sometimes even heartbreak. It shows that, although you know that you are not right for one another, the love that you both share will always be there. In 1985, Dolly sang this as a duet with Vince Gill.
The song speaks of a break up between a man and a woman who both end on terms of mutual respect—they both know that they are not right for each other, but how one will always love the other, despite that; despite their distance; despite their moving on.
“Go Rest High On That Mountain” by Vince Gill is a favorite song of my father’s. He was the one who introduced me to that song, and to Vince Gill. It brought me to tears when I thought of how the song spoke of losing someone you cared for, but how you’ll never stop loving them. It’s one of the more challenging ones for me to get through.
“I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack is a song that I’ve listened to for many years. One powerful time that it was played was on the last day of my health class back in middle school when she played a slideshow for us. The combination of it, her words, and the PowerPoint brought me to tears. She was so happy for all that we had achieved, and wished us well as we went off into high school.
When I listen to that song, that’s the first thing that pops into my mind: a visual of me in eighth grade listening to her deliver that presentation.
“The Tin Man” by Kenny Chesney is one that I listen to when I am “in the dumps.” It is one that speaks to me when I am in a place of grief… and need to “go through the motions” as opposed to bottling it up, like I have over the years with a majority of the losses that I’ve endured.
I especially resonate with the chorus and how Chesney speaks of how he longed to not be able to feel the bad things.
I couldn’t see your leavin’ comin’
You took me by surprise
Even now it still seems like a dream
But I know I can’t be dreamin’
‘Cause as I lay down each night
The pain so great that it won’t let me sleep
It’s times like these
I wish I were a tin man
You could hurt me all you wanted
And I’d never even know
I’d give anything just to be the tin man
And I wouldn’t have a heart and I wouldn’t need a soul
Well I’d give anything just to be the tin man
And I wouldn’t have a heart and I wouldn’t miss you so
“Jealous of the Angels” by Donna Taggart is a song that I learned about one late night when I heard music coming from my sister’s room. I lay in bed listening to the lyrics of the song. They spoke about how the singer missed someone close to her (her brother), and how she was “jealous of the angels” for having him now.
I listened to this song a lot when Mr. Moylan passed away. I kept fixating on one part of the song:
God must need another angel
Around the throne tonight
Your love lives on inside of me
And I will hold on tight
It’s not my place to question
Only God knows why
I’m just jealous of the angels
Around the throne tonight
“Every Breath You Take” by The Police is a song that I’d heard a few years back when my cousin passed away. Although I’d heard of the song beforehand, after she passed away, I didn’t hear it—until one day I’d heard it on the radio on the school bus on the way to school one morning. Something inside me told me that it was my cousin saying “Hello.” The piece that I heard that made me feel like it was her was:
Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you
Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you
Will The Circle Be Unbroken? by Randy Travis is one of the songs that I have on my list that I have heard at funerals (same with Amazing Grace and songs like that). When I hear these songs, tears immediately come to my eyes as I am brought back to the memories that I had; I was brought back to the times of their funerals, of the sad times this song, and others like it, were played.
Life’s a Dance by John Michael Montgomery is a song that I turn to when I have any type of decision, whether it be in my life or in my business.
Every time I think of that song, the chorus is one aspect that immediately comes to mind:
Life’s a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don’t worry about what you don’t know
Life’s a dance you learn as you go
It helps me realize that sometimes we are the ones on the “front lines,” and other times, we are meant to just sit back and let things flow (which, admittedly, is something that’s challenging for me to do!).
Though, the more and more I listened to the song, the more I realized it was right. “Life is a dance” is a perfect metaphor because no one knows the correct answer every second of every day. We are all human; we all make mistakes.
El Mismo Sol by Alejandro Fernández was one of the songs that I first learned about in a high school Spanish class. We used it in order to learn verb conjugations. Little did I know that it was going to be a song that stuck with me. Every time I listen to it, I think back on the happy memories that I had in the class learning the language.
I’ll Be by Reba McEntire is a song that I send to friends when they feel as if they don’t have anyone who will be there for them.
Though the whole song touches me, these lyrics touch me the most:
I’ll be your shoulder when you need someone to lean on.
Be your shelter.
When you need someone to see you through.
I’ll be there to carry you.
I’ll be there.
I’ll be the rock that will be strong for you.
The one that will hold on to you.
When you feel that rain falling down.
When there’s nobody else around.
I’ll be.
I share them with my friends when they need a little pick-me-up. I feel that song is an amazing one to show your support of a loved one, too. To me, the song has always been a staple of love and support in times of need.
One song that is not on this list, as I don’t have it currently in my library, is “Love Potion No. 9.” I sang this song for choir back in high school, but I wasn’t really “getting it.”
Luckily, I had the help of a wonderful, very musically-gifted man who helped me through it, as I didn’t—and still don’t—have the ability to sing that song with any “gusto.”
This man’s name was Mr. Paul Moylan. He always had a love of music, and this was one of the songs we enjoyed together. To this day, it’s one that immediately brings me back to my time with him when I hear it.
We all have songs that touch us. What are some that touch you (and why)? If you don’t feel comfortable putting them in as a comment, please feel free to send me an email at louis[at]louisvendetti.com. I’d love to chat with you about them.