Music Speaks

Think of your favorite song? Why is it your favorite song? Is it the lyrics? The beat? Does your favorite song change as your life changes? I could never narrow down so many amazing songs to one favorite. What makes a song for me is the lyrics. I don't particularly like singing in front of others, but when a song with lyrics I believe in plays I cannot help myself. There is this saying, it is a bit juvenile but at the same time totally true: the song a girl sings will tell you more about herself than she ever will. I believe that if you listen to songs that people sing just for themselves you will learn so much about that person. There are way too many songs that I know explain myself better than I could ever try to. Sometimes when people don't understand me I wish I could just give them a play list of songs to explain myself. Would that really work? I don't know if the meaning of the song would convey to another person. Would they hear the sadness, the heartbreak, the hope, the anger or the joy? Sometimes lyrics take on the job of a cry for help. Being a person who hates asking for help, I often listen to a certain song on repeat, subconsciously hoping someone will notice. Have you ever found a song so perfect that you cannot help yourself and you listen to it about 96 times- no exaggeration? It makes me smile inside when I witness someone doing just that, because I know how much that happens to me. If someone was paying attention they would have the keys to your soul. I know every girl has that one song they wish a guy would sing to them. Of course the songs I would choose are Maroon 5 songs. I mean who doesn't want Adam Levine singing to them? But the most beautiful song, the song I would cry if some guy sang to me is Ray LaMontagne's Hold You In My Arms.

The most heartbreaking song has to be I'd Rather Go Blind by Etta James, "I'd rather be blind than to see you walk away from me boy." Etta James had a heartbreaking life, so it is no surprise that her music spoke the words she couldn't. In Cadillac Records Beyonce portrays Etta's emotions perfectly.

The song that best screams "help me" is the Fray's How to Save a Life. I remember watching the video, during a tough time in my life and crying. Not only the words but the emotions expressed are not fabricated. These are emotions move you down to your core. I challenge you to watch the video. Then watch it again while truly listening to the lyrics. 

"Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend. Somewhere along in the bitterness. And I would have stayed up with you all night had I known how to save a life.... Try to slip past his defense... Lay down a list of what is wrong. Things you told him all along. Pray to God he hears you."

This song gives you a reality check if you really pay attention. It explores the idea that sometimes if you don't listen to a friend you could lose them, not only emotionally but physically. "I WOULD HAVE STAYED UP WITH YOU ALL NIGHT HAD I KNOWN HOW TO SAVE A LIFE. I PAY TO GOT HE HEARS YOU."

Two of the best song writers who speak through their songs are John Mayer, "When you're dreaming with a broken heart, the waking up is the hardest part," and Taylor Swift, "We might quiet a mess babe. It's probably better off this way. And I confess babe in my dreams you're touching my face. And asking me if I want to try again with you, and I almost do."Anyone who puts their heart and soul into their music will always spark a connection with others. Amy Winehouse used her heartbreaks to create soulful music that sounds like it's from the 1960s, "We only said goodbye with words. I died a hundred times. You go back to her and I go back to black."

Like I said before there are countless songs with raw emotion. One only needs to pay attention to another's song choice to understand what they are feeling. 

*Alanis Morissette: You Learn: You live, you learn. You love, you learn. You cry, you learn. You lose, you learn. You bleed, you learn. You scream, you learn.

*Adele: Melt My Heart to Stone: And I hear your words that I made up. You say my name like there could be an us. I best tidy up my head I'm the only one in love. 

*Beatles: Blackbird: Blackbird singing in the died of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. 

Blink 182: Miss you: Hello there the angel from my nightmare... We can live like Jack and Sally if you want.

*Billie Holiday: I'll Be Seeing You: I'll be seeing you in all the familiar places, that this heart of mine embraces all day through. 

*Boys II Men: Goodbye to Yesterday: It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday

Brandi Carlile: The Story: All of these lines across my face tell you the stories of where I've been. But these stories don't mean anything when you've got no one to tell them to. It's true I was made for you.

Breaking Benjamin: Dear Agony: I have nothing left to give. I have found a perfect end. You were made to make it hurt...Dear agony just let go of me, suffer slowly is this the way it's got to be?

*Bruno Mars: Talking to the Moon: At night when the stars light up my room I sit by myself talking to the moon, trying to get to you. In hopes you're on the other side talking to me too. 

Cat Power: Sea of Love: Come with me my love to the sea, the sea of love. I want to tell you, how much I love you. 

*Coldplay: Fix You: When you try your best but you don't succeed. When you get what you want but not what you need. When you feel so tired but you can't sleep. Stuck in reverse. And the tears come streaming down your face. When you lose something you can't replace. When you love someone but it goes to waste. Could it be worse? Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones and I will try to fix you. 

Daughter- Youth: Our minds are troubled by the emptiness...And if you're still breathing you are the lucky ones cause most of our feelings they are dead and gone.

*Duffy: Delayed Devotion: My love for you have turned to hate.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetics: Home: Home is whenever I'm with you.

*Elvis: Love Me Tender: Love me tender love me sweet, never let me go. You have made my life complete and I love you so.

*Eminem: Love the Way You Lie: It's morning you wake a sun ray it's your face smear makeup as we lay in the wake of distraction....Try to touch me so I can scream at you not to touch me.

*Fyleaf: So I Thought: So long I was, so in love with you, so I thought. A year goes by and I can't talk about it.

*Goo Goo Dolls: Name: I think about you all the time. It's lonely where you are come back down and I won't tell them your name.

Hoobastank:Running away: I just wanted you to tell me the truth.

*Ingrid Michaelson: The Hat: I should tell you that you were my first love.

James Morrison: Better Man: I wanna hold you and I want to say, that you are all that I need.

*Jason Mraz: Sleeping to Dream: Sleeping to dream about you and I'm so tired of having to live without you.

*John Legend: Save Room: This might hurt a little, love hurts when you do it right. I'll keep you safe in these arms of mine.

*Kate Nash: Birds: Birds can fly so high and they can shit on your head they can almost fly into your eye and make you feel so scared but when you look at them and you see that they are beautiful that's how I feel about you.

KT Tunstell: Other side of the World: It's too hard to say I wish it was simple but we give up easily.

The Killers: When You Were Young: You sit there in your heartache, waiting for some beautiful boy to save you from your old ways.

Kesha: The Harold Song: I didn't see that you were the love of my life and it kills me... I can't handled it when I torn off my nightlight. They say that true love hurts well this could almost kill me... I would give it all to not be sleeping alone. 

*The Lumineers: Ho Hey: I belong with you, you belong with me. 

*Maroon 5: Story: Did you know, that everything she ever does is for you

*Matchbox Twenty: Push: She said I don't know if I've ever been good enough... I don't know if I've ever been loved by a hand that's touched me and I'm a little bit angry.

*Mumford and Sons: Hold On To What You Believe: Hold on to what you believe in the light when the darkness has robbed you of all your sight.

*My Chemical Romance: Sharpest Lives: Give me a shot to remember and you can take all the pain away from me. A kiss and I will surrender. The Sharpest lives are the deadliest to lead.

Nat King Cole: Unforgettable: Unforgettable that's what you are 

Natalie Imbruglia: Torn: Nothing's fine I'm torn. I'm all out of faith. This is how I feel. I'm cold and and I am shamed lying naked on the floor. 

Norah Jones: Come Away With Me: I want to walk with you on a cloudy day. So won't you try to come away with me. 

*Of Monsters and Men: Love Love Love: Cause you love love love when you know I can't love

*Otis Redding: (Sitting on) The Doc at the Bay: Looks like nothing's gonna change. Everything still remains the same... Sittin' here resting my bones and this lonliness won't leave me alone.

*Pink: Don't Let Me Get Me: I can't take the person staring back at me, I'm a hazard to myself.... I'm my own worst enemy. It's bad when you annoy yourself. 

*Paramore: Playing God: You don't have to believe me, but the way I see it next time you point a finger I might have to bend it or break it off. Next time you point a finger I'll point you to the mirror. 

Radiohead: Creep: I wish I was special so fucking special but I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo. What the hell am I doing here? I don't belong here. 

*Regina Spektor: Folding Chair: Maybe one day you will understand I don't want nothing from you but to sweetly hold your hand.

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Scar Tissue: Scar tissue that I wish you saw.

*Sarah Bareilles: City: Its clear this conversation ain't doing anything cause these boys only listen when I sing. And I don't feel like singing tonight

*The Script: You Won't Feel A Thing: I promise baby you won't feel a thing cause everything the world could throw I'll stand in front and take the blow for you.

Semisonic: Closing Time: I know who I want to take me home.

Simple Plan: Addicted: I'm trying to forget that I'm addicted to you.

Sixpence None The Richer: Kiss Me: Kiss me beneath the milky twilight, lead me out on the moonlight floor. 

Snow Patrol: Called Out In The Dark: We are listening and we are not blind. This is your life, this is your time.

Tegan and Sara: Where Does the Good Go: Look me in the eye and tell me you don't find me attractive, look me in the heart and tell me you won't go.

Third Eye Blind: Jumper: I wish you could step back from that ledge my friend. You could cut ties from all the lies that you've been living. 

*Three Days Grace: Animal I've Become: So what if you can see the darkest side of me, no one will ever change this animal I have become.

*Rise Against: Savior: So tell me now if this ain't love then how do we get out? That's when she said I don't hate you I just want to save you while there's still something left to save.

Snow Patrol: Chasing Cars: If I lay here. If I just lay here. Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

*The Temptations: Ain't Too Proud to Beg: I know you want to leave me but I refuse to let you go. If I have to beg and plead for your sympathy I don't mind cause you mean that much to me. Ain't too proud to beg.

Train: Drops of Jupiter: Did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?

Trapt: Headstrong: Back off I'll take you on. Headstrong to take on anyone. I know that you are wrong and this is not where you belong. 

*Vertical Horizon: Everything You Want: He's everything you want. He's everything you need. He's everything inside of you that you wish you could be. He's says all the right things that exactly the right time but he means nothing to you and you don't know why. 

The Verve Pipe: The Freshman: For the life of me I cannot remember what made us think that we were wise and we'd never compromise. For the life of me I cannot we'd ever die for these sins we were nearly freshman... his girl took a weeks worth of Valium and slept and now he's guilt stricken sobbing with his head on his floor.

Ximena Sarinana: Different: There's not too much to explain, when I'm so in my head... Sorry if I don't see you, remind me if my eyes cross you. Keep in mind I'm not here I'm in a different zone. Sorry if my words hurt you, wish I knew the time to lie to you. 

In the broad scope of music these are only a few great songs that express emotions or words we sometimes find hard to express ourselves. The artists starred are the ones who I know have even more great songs. In the end sometimes the best way to find out how someone feels is to listen as they quietly sing, unaware that anyone is listening. 

"When words fail, music speaks." - Shakespeare