There was a dream and one day I could see it

I'm not sure how I feel about this sort of 'folk renaissance' that's going on in music right now. On one hand, bands like The Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons are awesome and deserve all the publicity and accolades they get. On the other, you know this is going to lead to teenyboppers thinking they are so hip for listening to them and all sorts of imitators that are only half as decent. Still, I suppose anything that gets people to listen to folk music is a good thing.

This is one of my favorite videos of all time.

When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it.

Never been a sinner, I never sinned

You gotta love a fake gospel song written by a Jew. I think it's the guitar and instrumental parts that make this song so cool. I remember thinking it was weird when I heard this song was on the first Rock Band game, but it definitely makes sense.

Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best.

It's the way of history

"Ain't Got So Far to Go" is a song by David Byrne, originally released on the 2004 compilation album Future Soundtrack for America. It was released just a couple of months before the 2004 election. The first two tracks (this song and OK Go's cover of "This Will Be Our Year") are so incredibly hopeful. I remember driving down the street blasting this thinking Bush's days in office were numbered. No way would this country be stupid enough to "elect" him a second time. Boy, was I wrong.

This song has a lot of Biblical overtones that I think work well with it's overall message. I do like the YouTube video (the only version I could find of this song) which matches the song with images of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. Much more fitting than what happened back in '04.

Oh the water's rising
How will we get to the other shore?
Many hearts are broken
But we ain't got so far to go
No we ain't got so far to go

Warm like the evening sun

So I originally created this blog way back in 2006 when I was bored, still working in retail, and looking for some sort of inspiration. I planned for it to be a music blog in the vein of awesome sites like Music is Art, My Old Kentucky Blog, and To Die by Your Side. But honestly, there is no way I can complete with such awesome sites, nor do I want to. I also don't have the money to afford file hosting or deal with the legal ramifications of file sharing.

So song sharing via YouTube it is. Songs that are awesome. Songs that have meaning. Songs that will literally (tm Chris Traeger) change your life.

"Shine a Light" is at it's core, a song about a hope. It's technically about Brian Jones' drug addiction, but it's about a way beyond that. It's about finding a way to make new beginnings, new choices. And that's somewhat apropos to this blog. Minus the drug addiction of course.

May the good Lord shine a light on you,
Make every song your favorite tune.
May the good Lord shine a light on you,
Warm like the evening sun.