just a little bit louder.
in my dreams i delivered my first born in a warm, candle lit room while my husband gently encouraged me to breathe. a playlist packed with cat stevens, conor oberst, and james taylor would play softly in the background while the scent of carefully selected essential oils wafted through the air.
in reality my breech preemie met this world on a cold operating table. my sister and i excitedly clenched hands while my anxious husband waited down the hall. blinding lights glared from above as bruno mars’ latest blasted through the speakers. the sharp scent of antiseptic hung heavy in the air.
i was scared, disappointed, and terrified for the health of my baby. absolutely nothing was going to plan.
and then my tiny boy let out his first cry.
in a moment i became a mother.
we spent the remainder of our hospital stay and the weeks which followed enjoying the “labor and delivery” playlist i meticulously curated. inside those songs anthony, hunter, snoop dogg, and i became a family.
we learned to navigate our new strange and wonderful life.
we cried.
we danced.
we prayed.
we stayed awake for days on end.
in those weeks and in those songs we discovered the meaning of true love.
music has always been able to soothing me. to rile me up. to help me breathe.
i wish so many things for my children. high among my list of hopes is that the little people i bring into this world also seek refuge in music. i pray they come to appreciate and revere the founders of rock and roll. i hope they discover and possibly even create gorgeous new music all on their own. in their darkest moments and in their happiest times i pray my children find themselves turning the volume up just a little bit louder.
one of my all time favorite bruce springsteen lyrics states, “we learned more from a three-minute record baby than we ever learned in school.” with that lyric in mind i compiled a list…
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song title life lessons:
stand up for your rights – bob marley
try a little tenderness – otis redding
don’t fear the reaper – blue oyster cult
you’ve got a friend – james taylor
love is a battlefield – pat benatar
even the genius asks questions – tupac shakur
just push play – aerosmith
don’t stop believing – journey
let it be – the beatles
live and let die – paul and linda mccartney
dream on – aerosmith
fight for your right to party – beastie boys
keep on rockin’ in the free world – neil young
don’t get mad, get even – aerosmith
enjoy every sandwich – warren zevon
give it away – red hot chili peppers
call me – blondie
don’t look back in anger – oasis
can’t take it with you – allman brothers band
have a cigar – pink floyd
party like a rockstar – shop boyz
have a little faith in me – john hiatt / joe cocker
eat the rich – aerosmith
shake that body – technotronic
everyday is a winding road – sheryl crow
mo money mo problems – the notorious b.i.g.
you are not alone – the mowgli’s
bless the broken road – rascal flatts
slow it down – the lumineers
walk like an egyptian – the bangles
take the money and run – the steve miller band
shut up and dance – walk the moon
catholic school girls rule – red hot chili peppers
let my love open the door – pete townshend
why don’t you get a job – the offspring
everybody hurts – r.e.m.
spin the black circle – pearl jam
everybody wants to rule the world – tears for fears
dance dance dance – the steve miller band
roll with it – oasis
falling in love is hard on the knees – aerosmith
express yourself – madonna
a lap dance is so much better when the stripper is crying – bloodhound gang
ride or die – tupac shakur
watch the throne – kanye west and jay-z
people have the power – patti smith
come together – the beatles
get a grip – aerosmith
shout it out loud – kiss
lean on me – bill withers
play that funky music white boy – wild cherry
love is easy – the mowgli’s
can’t knock the hustle – jay-z
keep away from runaround sue – dion dimucci
shake ya tailfeather – nelly
take it easy – eagles
oh baby baby it’s a wild world – cat stevens
rock and roll all night – kiss
i get by with a little help from my friends – the beatles
fat bottoms girls you make the rockin’ world go round – queen
money ain’t a thang – jay-z
it’s hard to be a saint in the city – bruce springsteen
we didn’t start the fire – billy joel
maybe cross the country… become a rock star – something corporate (not a title but a fantastic lyric)
you can’t always get what you want – the rolling stones
i hope you had the time of your life – green day
r-e-s-p-e-c-t – aretha franklin
don’t worry be happy – bobby mcferrin
you get what you give – new radicals
build me up buttercup – the foundations
walk this way – aerosmith
you’re gonna go far, kid – the offspring
that’s life – frank sinatra