Soundtrack to 2009-2012
I’ve always had a strong connection to music & lyrics. Ever since we found out about the move back to Michigan, I’ve felt extra emotional when hearing certain songs that describe the feelings associated with moving across the country. I wanted to share these three songs: perhaps you can relate to them, or understand what it was like for me (since it’s hard for me to put the whole experience into words).
Jimmy Eat World: Movielike
This example, although not literal in that I didn’t move to NY, I believe universally describes why so many of my friends and I moved away from the Midwest. It doesn’t matter how many people told me I grew up in the most beautiful town: if I didn’t go out into the world to compare it, I couldn’t appreciate it.
“Waiting to see a sign that they’ve seen the best already”
The Head and the Heart: Ghosts (Live on KEXP)
This song works on a couple levels: the first being that the band is made up of Seattle transplants, and most of their songs are based on that experience. Secondly, this clip was recorded at KEXP. My first job in Seattle was driving to schools up to an hour away each morning to do portraits. I tuned into John in the Morning on KEXP every trip and the quality of music programming helped make me feel like I made the right choice in moving out here.
My favorite lyrics from this song are:
“Is it any wonder why we all leave home?
People say, “I knew you when you were six years old”
And you say, “But I’ve changed, I’ve changed, I’ve changed, I’ve changed.”
It puzzles me that people often point out how different I am than I used to be: why wouldn’t I be? I don’t want to remain stagnent: I want to always improve. That’s why I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to change locations a few times in my life already.
Great Lakes Myth Society: Across The Bridge (live)
And lastly, I had to include a song showing that I am quite excited to return back to my home state. The snow is cold, but the people are warm. I could have chosen any number of their songs; but this one brings back childhood memories of living near Mackinaw. I look forward to seeing some of the national & state parks that I took for granted and never got around to visiting!