Tracy Chapman ~ Mountains o' Things

The mind is a mysterious thing, indeed. Tonight, meandering through non-essential stories on the web something I ran across sparked Tracy Chapman's "Mountain o' Things" and it has been playing on a loop since. Like so many of Tracy Chapman's songs, the rhythm, the intensity of her presentation and the rawness of her voice can grip you and hold on, and if so it may take a while for the lyrics to really sink in. Due to the trigger story some lines particularly resonate tonight:

Good people are only
My stepping stones
It's gonna take all my mountains o' things
To surround me
Keep all my enemies away
Keep my sadness and loneliness at bay ...  

And then, there's of course the last lines:

I'll be dreaming, dreaming... dreaming...

"Mountains o' Things" was included in her debut album which was released more than 25 years ago ... and even after all that time the song still speaks volumes and doesn't appear to have lost any of its pertinence ~

Mountains o’ Things

Tracy Chapman

The life I've always wanted

I guess I'll never have

I'll be working for somebody else

Until I'm in my grave

I'll be dreaming of a live of ease

And mountains Oh mountains o' things

Josh Tarp and The Still - Glory

Sometimes it's a trailer on TV but it's not the pictures that grab the attention, or even the comment running along. Much rather, it's the song that plays in the background ... It took me quite some time to figure this one out: Glory by Josh Tarp and The Still ~ time well worth spending as I've discovered a new-to-me band with a sound that's right up my alley ~

Bandpage provides the following brief bio:

Josh Tarp and The Still creates music that pushes the boundaries of genre stereotypes, creating a balanced pallet of folk, soul, and classic rock rounded together by constructively effortless songwriting. Since beginning this project in 2010, theirs songs have impacted a diverse and growing audience of true music lovers and easy listeners.

Glory

I dreamed I saw the devil
Dressed in his Sunday suit

Rag'n'Bone Man - Human

When I wake up to a song that I don't know, my mind tends to latch on to words that are repeated. In the case of 'human' by 'Rag'n'Bone Man' ~ obviously ~ it were the words

I'm only human after all
Don't put your blame on me

Growing up my parents taught us that it's never about putting the blame somewhere (and they would attest to the fact that my siblings and I were world champions at placing the blame in spite of their unrelenting urging to the contrary). According to my parents, it was all about recognizing the problem and trying to find a solution so that the problem was avoided in the future, or at least remidiated. Before that background, of course, I had to hunt down the song, and the artist, and the lyrics ... and I'm so glad I did ~

Human
Rag'n'Bone Man

I'm only human
I'm only, I'm only
I'm only human, human

Maybe I'm foolish
Maybe I'm blind
Thinking I can see through this
And see what's behind

Andra Day - Rise Up

Andra Day's voice is simply marvelous, the song 'Rise Up' inspired ~ it doesn't matter what you may get out of the lyrics -or what you may read into them- I doubt anybody can remain untouched by this song ...

Rise Up
Andra Day

You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry go round
And you can't find the fighter

Tracy Chapman - Mountains O' Things

I love listening to Tracy Chapman's songs, the intensity of her presentation and the rawness of her voice. And not to forget the lyrics which are worth to listen to carefully. Mountains o' Things was included in her debut album which was released more than 25 years ago ... and in all that time I've not grown tired of listening to it ~

Mountains o’ Things
Tracy Chapman

The life I've always wanted
I guess I'll never have
I'll be working for somebody else
Until I'm in my grave
I'll be dreaming of a live of ease
And mountains Oh mountains o' things

Tina Turner / Sting - On Silent Wings

If there's a mention of 'wings' or 'flying' my ears tune in - happens all ... the ... time!

Of course the song 'On Silent Wings', performed by Tina Turner and Sting and released in 1996, has nothing to do with flying but rather with the slow demise of a relationship. Amazingly, this song conveys a quiet acceptance of the changes brought on by time - and even a sense of peace ... At least that's my take - feel free to disagree ...

On Silent Wings
Tina Turner, Sting

There was a time when I would have followed you
To the end of the earth
I was willing to share it all with you, the love, the hurt

Van Morrison - Into The Mystic

Imagine: Sailing through the night, out in the bay. The sky is clear, sprinkled with stars, the moon is almost full and reflects in the choppy water. The breeze is just enough to keep our sails filled and propel us southward. In the distance the big container ships cling to the shipping channel - lit up like Christmas trees. They are far enough away so the rumble of their enormous engines does not reach us. Only the boat's radio, tuned in to their communication frequency, lets us hear their voices from time to time. It's the wind murmuring in the sails, the creaking of the boat, the water splashing against the hull ~ nothing matters but staying the course and watching the water to avoid any objects floating along with us which could damage the hull ...  and, of course, enjoying the moment!

When I first heard "Into the Mystic" by Sir Van Morrison it brought back the memory of that sailing trip and in particular that night out on the bay. Such a soothing, peaceful night - such a soothing, peaceful song ~

Vaya Con Dios - Time Flies

Two songs in one day? Certainly not going to be the rule, but today ... Oh well, it's the first of the new year and weird stuff is to be expected. Like a call from a past so long ago that it was all but forgotten. Until that call, that is. As is so often the case with stirred up memories a song bursts forth from the recesses of my mind and starts playing. ... 

I had the opportunity to see/hear a life performance of Vaya Con Dios (the band, not the song of the same name).