Themes to Ride Along

I love listening to music while driving. Music helps me soothe and make me more relaxed and help me to fell calmer. Singing while driving stimulates not only the mind but also the body produces heightened alertness and reduced fatigue. And for me, my best driving tune is Don't cha wanna ride by Joss Stone.

 

I know you got the hummer for the summer baby
But I got your number baby
I got your number baby

I was trying to protect you from yourself
'Cause I respect you
And I feel like you just might
Be some one who I could get into
But I never seem to catch your eye
And it's been buggin' me why I even try
Still you're someone I'd like to get to know
Is there room for me in your one-man show

[Chorus:]
A car this fine don't pass your way everyday
Don't cha wanna ride baby
Don't cha wanna ride baby
A car this fine don't pass your way everyday
Don't cha wanna ride baby
Don't cha wanna ride baby
Time is slipping by, by, by
Slipping by

I was trying to connect with you
But you acted scared when I'm checkin you
And all my girls say you're hard to please
But I think that I got just what you need
Get your face out of the mirror
Then maybe you could consider
This girl who's knockin' right at your door
Make room for me in your one-man show

[Chorus]

I know you got the hummer for the summer baby
But I got your number baby
I got your number baby

I know where you live
I know all 'bout your crib
But do you know that they can't give you what I give

[Chorus]

I really love "Deadbolt" by Thrice.  Sounds like a good fast-paced driving type of song. 

Deadbolt is the rather vivid description of a recurring dream, it seems. The Narrator is falling in and out of sleep at the wheel, and every time he closes his eyes he's at the same doorway. A girl offers him water, and he knows he shouldn't, but he does anyways. His true love tells him to stop, but he just can't, and later regrets it, to probably just go through the same dream again..

 

When deadbolts awake you from deja vu dreams,
at four in the morning you know where I'll be.
Out running red lights asleep at the wheel.
The sirens feed my nightmares,

I just close my eyes and I'm already here;
its already too late.
I know its nothing but lies,
but they sound so sincere;
I find them too hard to hate.

and she calls from the doorway "stolen water is sweet,
so let's drink it in the darkness if you know what I mean"
and she calls from the doorway "stolen water is sweet,
so let's drink it in the darkness if you know what I mean"

and I'm almost sure
that I've been here before,
that this is not the first time I've stood in front of this door,
with an overwhelming feeling that I shouldn't go in,
but it seems this is a battle that I never could win.

and you!
my true love!
you call from the hilltop.
you call through the streets,
"Darling don't you know,
the water is poison."
and I say!
"Come on and give me my poison."

what have I done?
is it too late to save me from this place?
from the depths of the grave?
we all are those ..
who thought we were brave.
what have I done?

Driving fast. Driving furious. Sure you want dominion and speed so grab it! GEO parts may not be that appropriate. But your Ferrari or Porsche might be starving for some action, so honk and keep honking…Seize the moment. Drive fast.


***

Honkin' Down The Highway
Beach Boys

Tryin' tryin' to get past them cars
Got a got a little date with an angel
She's the one that said she'd go with me
To see a little movie tonight
(Honk honk honkin' down the highway)

Her folks told me that she's lonely
And she loves me only
She's used to running away from guys

Prayin' prayin' that she'll hold me tight (hoo!)
And hopin' hopin' that she'll see the light
Who cares if I gotta spend my money
Even if I have to act funny
To go and steal her heart away
(Honk honk honkin' down the highway)

Take it one little inch at a time now

'Til we're feelin' fine now
I guess I've got a way with girls

Honk honk honkin' down the highway
Honk honk honkin' down the highway
Honk honk honkin' down the highway
Honk honk honkin' down the highway
Honk honk honkin' down the highway

Take it one little inch at a time now
'Til we're feelin' fine now
I guess I've got a way with girls

Prayin' prayin' that she'll hold me tight (yeah)
(Honk honk honkin' down the highway)
And hopin' hopin' that she'll see the light
(Honk honk honkin' down the highway)
Who cares if I gotta spend the night
(Honk honk honkin' down the highway)
Honkin' honkin' down the gosh darn highway

On June 1, 1997, a column written by staffwriter Mary Schmich, entitled “Advice, Like Youth, Probably Just Wasted On the Young,” was published in the Chicago Tribune. Who would ever think that because of a controversy regarding its originality, it caught Australian film director Baz Luhrmann’s attention who then bought the rights to the words and turned it into a song -- a remix of Quindon Tarver’s Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good) and Australian actor Lee Perry reading Schmich’s speech. Playing on board today is the seven-minute long Sunscreen Song. Listen! ...with your heart.

***
Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
Baz Luhrman

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best
link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

True-to-life drama… Our song for today speaks about the reality that is presently happening in several American streets, particularly in the place they call ghettos and the hood.

Check this touching song from the Bone Thugs N Harmony featuring Akon.

*****
I Tried
Bone Thugs N Harmoney (feat. Akon)

[(Wish Bone)]
You know nothing come easy, you gotta try real real hard, I tried hard... but I guess I
gotta try harder.

[(Akon)]
I try so hard can't seem to get away from misery
man I try so hard
will always be a victim of these streets
it aint my fault cuz I...
tried to get away but trouble follows me
and still I try so hard
hoping one day you'll come and rescue me
but until then, I'll be posted up right here in sleet hail snow
but until then...
I'll be posted up right here with my heat gettin dough

[(Krayzie Bone)]
First let me explain that I'm just a black man
and I come from the darkside, so I'm havin a hard time stayin on track man my mind be
racin, and I don't even know what I'm chasin' yet I been in and out of relationships, I'm
startin to see thats it's me where the complications at, but I'm layin back prayin that,
you can't have piece of mind of me, I thought I was right but really I'm wrong, in the end
I was to blind to see, I was in the fast lane chasin' my dream, and then it seem when the
fame and cash came they just got me going craaazy lately, lately, lately I beed so faded
tryin to erase it but I cant cuz the drama just goes greater and I been in so many
collisions from puttin shit up till later

[(Akon)]
I try so hard
can't seem to get away from misery
man I try so hard
will always be a victim of these streets
it aint my fault cuz I...
tried to get away but trouble follows me
and still I try so hard
hoping one day you'll come and rescue me
but until then, I'll be posted up right here in sleet hail snow
but until then...
I'll be posted up right here with my heat gettin dough

[(Layzie Bone)]
It's like I'm taking 5 steps forward and 10 steps back, tryin to get ahead of the game,
but I can't seem to get it on track, and I keep running away from the ones that say they
love me the most how could I create the distance when it's suppose to be close and uh, I
just don't know but I be out here fighting demons and, it's like a curse that I can't shake
this part of Cleveland and lord, would you help me? and stop this pain I keep inflicting on
my family hustlin gamblin, trickin and scammin scrambling and losing sight of what I'm
suppose to be handlin, it's hard to manage cuz everyday's a challenge and man I'm slippin
can't lose my balance I'm tryin not to panic

[(Akon)]
I try so hard
can't seem to get away from misery
man I try so hard
will always be a victim of these streets
it aint my fault cuz I...
tried to get away but trouble follows me
and still I try so hard
hoping one day you'll come and rescue me
but until then, I'll be posted up right here in sleet hail snow
but until then...
I'll be posted up right here with my heat gettin dough

[(Wish Bone)]
I see thangs won't change I'm stuck in the game as soon as I get out it keeps pullin me
back mayne got me doin' dirty dirt so used to this hustlin' money that I don't understand
how 9 to 5 work studied on the streets, hustlers know what I mean hustlers ballin in force
I'm tryna make that major league so we never leave never, til' the sun came up gotta get it
nope no leavin no rush today games they play gotta go hard to get what u put in if you fall
off then it's all on you gotta watch what you sign to try so hard but I won't play the fool

[(Akon)]
I try so hard
can't seem to get away from misery
man I try so hard
will always be a victim of these streets
it aint my fault cuz I...
tried to get away but trouble follows me
and still I try so hard
hoping one day you'll come and rescue me
but until then, I'll be posted up right here in sleet hail snow
but until then...
I'll be posted up right here with my heat gettin dough

Take a quick skim through the song Rehab by Amy Winehouse.

***
Rehab
Amy Winehouse

They tried to make me go to rehab
I said no, no, no.
Yes I been black, but when I come back
You wont know, know, know.

I ain’t got the time
And if my daddy thinks im fine
He’s tried to make me go to rehab
I wont go, go, go.

I’d rather be at home with ray
I ain’t got 70 days
Cos there’s nothing, nothing you can teach me
That I can't learn from Mr. Hathaway

Didn’t get a lot in class
But I know it don’t come in a shot glass

They’re tryin to make me go to rehab
I said no, no, no
Yes I been black, but when I come back
You wont know, know, know.

I aint got the time,
And if my Daddy thinks im fine,
He’s tried to make me go to rehab,
I wont go, go, go.

The man said, why you think you here?
I said, I got no idea
Im gonna, im gonna loose my baby
So I always keep a bottle near

Said, I just think you’re depressed
Kiss me, yeah baby
And go rest

I’m tryin to make me go to rehab
I said no, no, no
Yes I been black, but when I come back
You wont know, know, know

I don’t ever wanna drink again
I just, ooo, I just need a friend
Im not gonna spend 10 weeks
Have everyone think im on the mend

It’s not just my pride
It’s just til these tears have dried

They’re tryin to make me go to rehab
I said no, no, no
Yes I been black, but when I come back,
You wont know, know, know

I aint got the time,
And if my daddy thinks im fine
He’s trying to make me go to rehab
I wont go, go, go.

 

Now that song has made the British win the Grammy Song of the Year award for 2008. This song is actually about her real life for she is known to have been an addict with her friends and family going public just so as to be able to plead that Amy go to rehab to cure her addictions.

At 24 years old, Amy already has two albums out with Rehab being the first single in her second one. She sings with a “brassy vocal style against a jazzy blues backdrop” reported Reuters. Gossip columns and celebrity news sites were so full of Amy’s stints partying and sniffing cocaine.

This song has got to be one of the best songs about real life singers I’ve heard. I first heard it when I was at this shop downtown getting the headlight covers I ordered. Anyhow, I do hope she gets well so she could continue to share her talent with the music industry.

***

Cannonball
Damien Rice

Still a little bit of your taste in my mouth
Still a little bit of you laced with my doubt
Still a little hard to say what's going on

Still a little bit of your ghost your witness
Still a little BIT of your face I haven't kissed
You step a little closer EACH DAY
Still I can't SAY what's going on

Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to lie
Life taught me to die
So it's not hard to fall
When you float like a cannonball

Still a little bit of your song in my ear
Still a little bit of your words I long to hear
You step a little closer TO ME
So close that I can't see what's going on

Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to lie
Life taught me to die
So it's not hard to fall
When you float like a cannon

Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to cry
So come on courage!
Teach me to be shy
'Cause it's not hard to fall
And I don't WANNA scare her
It's not hard to fall
And I don't wanna lose
It's not hard to grow
When you know that you just don't know

*can-non-ball [kan-uhn-bawl]
-noun Also, cannon ball
1. a missile, usually round and made of iron or steel, designed to be fired from cannon

The power of music reflects deep emotions and reality itself. It feeds the senses like what oxygen sensors do to a car. Through words and harmony, life can be pictured in complex ways along with some things that are left unexplainable. Music caters to different variations and style, but they have one thing in common - and that is LIFE. Music speaks about life, whether good or bad, feelings and insights are expressed through great tunes that fill our heart and soul with love, happiness, sorrow and despair.

One of the best songs I’ve ever heard since the start of the year is the hip-hop song entitled Runaway Love, performed by Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige. The song speaks about the saddening story of three young women and what they’ve been through in their tender years. Here are the complete lyrics of the song. Try to listen to the words and feel the drama…

***
Runaway Love
Ludacris (feat. Mary J. Blige)

[Mary J. Blige]
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love

[Ludacris]
Now little Lisa is only 9 years old
She's trying to figure out why the world is so cold
Why she's all alone and ain't never met her family
Mama's always gone and she never met her daddy
Part of her is missing and nobody will listen
Mama is on drugs getting high up in the kitchen
Bringing home men at different hours of the night
Starting with some laughs -- usually ending in a fight
Sneaking in her room while her mama's knocked out
Trying to have his way and little Lisa says 'ouch'
She tries to resist but then all he does is beat her
Tries to tell her mom but her mama don't believe her
Lisa is stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothing else to do but get some clothes and pack
She says she's 'bout to run away and never come back.

[Mary J. Blige]
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love

[Ludacris]
Little Nicole is only 10 years old
She's steady trying to figure why the world is so cold
Why she's not pretty and nobody seems to like her
Alcoholic step-dad always wanna strike her
Yells and abuses, leaves her with some bruises
Teachers ask questions she making up excuses
Bleeding on the inside, crying on the out
It's only one girl really knows what she about
Her name is lil Stacy and they become friends
Promise that they always be tight 'til the end
Until one day lil Stacy gets shot
A drive by bullet went stray up on her block
Now Nicole stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothing else to do but get her clothes and pack
She says she's 'bout to run away and never come back.

[Mary J. Blige]
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love

[Ludacris]
Little Erica is eleven years old
She's steady trying to figure why the world is so cold
So she pops x to get rid of all the pain
Plus she's having sex with a boy who's sixteen
Emotions run deep and she thinks she's in love
So there's no protection he's using no glove
Never thinking 'bout the consequences of her actions
Living for today and not tomorrow's satisfaction
The days go by and her belly gets big
The father bails out he ain't ready for a kid
Knowing her mama will blow it all outta proportion
Plus she lives poor so no money for abortion
Erica is stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothing else to do but get her clothes and pack
She say she's about to run away and never come back.

[Mary J. Blige]
Runaway love
Don't keep on runnin'
Runnin'
Runnin'
Runnin'
Runnin'
Don't keep on running
Don't keep on running
Don't keep on running
Don't keep on running 
I know how you feel, I've been there
I was runnin' away too

I will run away with you
I will run away with you

Runaway Runaway Love
Don't keep running away
I'll run away with you, if you want me too

[Ludacris]
Yea, I can only image what you're going through ladies,
Sometimes I feel like running away myself,
So do me a favor right now and close your eyes,
And picture us running away together,
when we come back everything is gonna be okay,
Open your eyessss.......

“Love is more of becoming the right person than finding the right one.”

I claim those words whenever this month arrives and I find myself alone, driving my car towards home on Valentine’s Day. Well, just to be honest, that day doesn’t excite me a lot. Except for the fact that at least once in a year, the entire world is united in celebrating love’s meaning and value.

This year, I got some music playin’ to experience the true essence of this season. Here’s Testify to Love by Avalon. Be inspired this Valentine season!

***
Testify to Love
Avalon

All the colors of the rainbow
All of voices of the wind
Every dream that reaches out
That reaches out to find where love begins
Every word of every story
Every star in every sky
Every corner of creation lives to testify

For as long as I shall live
I will testify to love
I'll be a witness in the silences when words are not enough
With every breath I take I will give thanks to God above
For as long as I shall live
I will testify to love

From the mountains to the valleys
From the rivers to the sea
Every hand that reaches out
Every hand that reaches out to offer peace
Every simple act of mercy
Every step to kingdom come
All the Hope in every heart will speak what love has done.

For as what had been said,”Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)