Blogger is doing some weird stuff with font and type size. Still trying to figure out how to fix it but don't have any more time or inclination today to do so.
Words matter. When combined with a strong beat and catchy tune? Watch out world, here I come.
Three days ago, I finished my 100th race of 26.2 miles or more. I’m trying to come to terms with what that means. This list is my start.
These songs got me through tough times, running and otherwise. I no longer listen to every single one as religiously as I once did. But some are angels that continue to lift me up and move me forward when things get rocky. This list is in chronological order, roughly, from the year 2000, when I started training for marathon #1, to now. In some cases, I note why these songs matter to me. Sometimes, I pinpoint lyrics that were and/ or are especially meaningful.
What I got from this exercise: a musical visit with some of the best and worst memories ever, and yet another reminder that perseverance, resilience, endurance need constant nurturing. Music not only soothes this savage beast, but it also inspires me as well. Here’s my last quarter century, one song at a time.
“Born to Run,” Bruce Springsteen. The whole song is my alpha and omega.
“Rosalita.” Take heart. Courage. “Jump a little higher.” “Winners use the door.”
“Badlands.” “Let the broken heart stand for the price you’ve gotta pay.”
“Thunder Road.” “I ain’t no hero that’s understood.”
“Disappear.” INXS. Sometimes, running is effortless.
You're so fine, lose my mind And the world seems to disappear All the problems, all the fears And the world seems to disappear
“Head Over Heels” The Go-Go’s. Self-explanatory: “Been running so fast/ right from the starting line/. . . can’t stop myself /out of control.”
“Young American.” David Bowie. Not so much the words, but the music is phenomenal.
“Heroes.” “We can be heroes just for one day.”
“Don’t Stop Me Now.” Queen. The whole song - words, music, is perfection.
“Keep Yourself Alive.” Ditto.
“American Girl.” Tom Petty. “She couldn’t stop thinking that there was a little more to life, somewhere else.” Still think this.
“Running Down a Dream.” Still: “Searching for a mystery. Going wherever it leads.”
“I Won’t Back Down.” Be relentless: “There ain’t no easy way out/ I’ll stand my ground/ And I won’t back down. “
“Handle with Care.” Traveling Wilburys. Be resilient.
I've been uptight and made a mess But I'll clean it up myself, I guess Oh, the sweet smell of success
“End of the Line.” Be you. “Well, it's all right/ even if they say you're wrong/
Well, it's all right/ sometimes you gotta be strong
“Running to Stand Still.” U2. Truth. “She is raging she is raging. . . she’s running to stand still.”
“Who’s Gonna to Ride Your Wild Horses.” Eyes forward. “Come on now love/ don't you look back.”
“Mysterious Ways.” It’s okay. Hard things take time. “It's all right, it's all right, it's all right/
She moves in mysterious ways.”
“Stuck in a Moment.” Self-explanatory. I still recite this as I run, sometimes:
I'm not afraid of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me that I haven't already heard
I’m just trying to find a decent melody
A song that I can sing in my own company
“The Rising.” Springsteen. Every. Single. Word.
“My City of Ruins.” To my legs, to my mood: “C’mon rise up.”
“Come to My Window.” Melissa Etheridge. Gotta get to that finish line.
You don't know how far I'd go to ease this precious ache And you don't know how much I'd give
or how much I can take Just to reach you
“I Want to Come Over.” Leave it all out on the course: “To hell with the consequence.”
“Bat Out of Hell." Meatloaf. The driving beat, the Wagnerian sturm und drang, the ride or die craziness.
Oh, baby you're the only thing in this whole world
That's pure and good and right.
And wherever you are and wherever you go
There's always gonna be some light,
But I gotta get out, I gotta break out now
Before the final crack of dawn.
“I Would Do Anything for Love.” Questions to ask during a run:
Will you raise me up?
Will you help me down?
Will you get me right out of this godforsaken town?
Can you make it all a little less cold?
I can do that
“It’s My Life.” Bon Jovi. Self-explanatory. “It’s now or never/ I ain’t gonna live forever/ I just want to live while I’m alive”
“Livin’ on a Prayer.” Trust the process. “Take my hand and we’ll make it I swear.”
“Wide Open Spaces.” The Chicks. Even now, at my advanced age:
She needs wide open spaces Room to make her big mistakes She needs new faces She knows the high stakes
“Not Ready to Make Nice.” Not ready to settle for less than what I deserve.
I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
"The Long Way Around." You have to be who you need to be.
“Don’t You Forget About Me.” Simple Minds. Everything about this song.
“Alive and Kicking.” It’s perfection.
“Silver Spring.” Fleetwood Mac. In reference to every single marathon: “Time casts a spell on you /but you won't forget me.”
“Land of Hope and Dreams.” Springsteen. All of it, but in particular this, because things do get better: “Dreams will not be thwarted/ This train/ Faith will be rewarded.”
“Devils and Dust.” A reminder to keep going, even when you’re afraid.
We're just trying to survive
What if what you do to survive kills the things you love
Fear’s a powerful thing
It'll turn your heart black you can trust
It'll take your God filled soul
Fill it with devils and dust
“Long Walk Home.” Always makes me laugh when this comes on and I’m walking during a race and I still have a long way to go, and yes, I know it’s about some serious stuff.
It's gonna be a long walk home Hey pretty darling, don't wait up for me Gonna be a long walk home A long walk home
“Girls in Their Summer Clothes.” This line always makes me smile: “I ain't got much sense but I still got my feet.”
“I Drove All Night.” Cyndi Lauper. A reminder to stay the course: “I drove all night to get to you/ Is that alright?
“Time After Time.” Have faith in yourself.
If you're lost, you can look, and you will find me Time after time If you fall, I will catch you, I'll be waiting Time after time
“True Colors.” Believe.
And I'll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let it show
Your true colors
“I’ll Remember.” Madonna. Homage to loved ones gone too soon.
I'll remember the strength that you gave me Now that I'm standing on my own I'll remember the way that you saved me I'll remember
“Like a Prayer.” After a while, the marathon course feels like home. Weird, I know.
Life is a mystery Everyone must stand alone I hear you call my name And it feels like home
“All These Things That I’ve Done.” The Killers. Everything. This song is everything.
“Crossfire.” Brandon Flowers. Don’t give up.
Tell the devil that he can go back from where he came His fiery arrows drew their bead in vain And when the hardest part is over, we'll be here And our dreams will break the boundaries of our fears Boundaries of our fears
“Magdalena.” There’s no substitute for solid, old-fashioned, hard work.
Please don't tell me I can't make it
It ain't gonna do me any good
And please don't offer me your modern methods
I'm fixing to carve this out of wood
“You and I.” Lady Gaga. Persistence.
It's been a long time since I came around Been a long time but I'm back in town And this time I'm not leaving without you (the “you” in this case being a finisher medal)
“Bad Romance.” This is a great song. Building your life around running marathons is an absolutely spot-on example of being in a crazy relationship: “I want your love and I want your revenge/You and me could write a bad romance.”
“Hit Me with Your Best Shot.” Pat Benatar. This entire song because at least once per race this is how I think: “Knock me down/ it's all in vain/I get right back on my feet again.”
“All Fired Up.” Had to blast this song on repeat as I got closer to marathon 100 and everything started to line up just right for the first time in ages.
All fired up (now I believe there comes a time) All fired up (when everything just falls in line) All fired up (we live an' learn from our mistakes) All fired up, fired up, fired up
“Avenging Annie.” Andy Pratt. Who doesn’t love a feisty anti-heroine /marathoner?
“Photograph.” Def Leppard. I just love the music.
“Shut Up and Dance.” Walk the Moon. Stay focused. “Don’t you dare look back. Just keep your eyes on me” (the finish line/goal).
"The Story," Brandi Carlile. Gratitude, dedication, heart.
I climbed across the mountaintops
Swam all across the ocean blue
I crossed all the lines and I broke all the rules
But baby, I broke them all for you
“Wrecking Ball.” Springsteen. Be your own hero/ wrecking ball. “Hard times come /and hard times go/ just to come again/ Bring on your wrecking ball.”
“Lonesome Day.” A reminder that it’s not always easy, but staying the course matters.
Baby, once I thought I knew
Everything I needed to know about you
Your sweet whisper, your tender touch
But I didn't really know that much
J oke's on me, it's gonna be okay
If I can just get through this lonesome day
“What a Fool Believes.” The Doobie Brothers. You’ve got to be a bit of a fool to keep running for years and years. Be your own fool. Believe. “What a fool believes, he sees/The wise man has the power to reason away/But a fool believes.”
“River Deep Mountain High.“Tina Turner. This song is obviously a love song to marathon running, the best sport ever.
And do I love you my oh my
Yeah, river deep, mountain high
If I lost you would I cry
“Disco Inferno.” (TinaTurner version). The beat is phenomenal. “Burn, baby, burn/ disco inferno/
Burn, baby, burn/ Burn that mother down.”
“Run.” Snow Patrol/Leona Lewis. Reminds me of loved ones, now passed, telling me to keep on keeping on.
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
Louder, louder
And we'll run for our lives
“Superheroes.” The Script. It’s all true.
She's got lions in her heart, a fire in her soul
He's a got a beast in his belly that's so hard to control
'Cause they've taken too much hits, taking blow by blow
Now light a match, stand back, watch 'em explode
"You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me." Cher. Old, slow runner fighting words, this song revs me up.
I've been brought down to my knees
And I've been pushed way past the point of breaking
But I can take it
I'll be back
Back on my feet
This is far from over
I am far from over
You haven't seen the last of me
“Titanium.” Sia. I’m Titanium, literally. Many years ago, I completed 30 marathons in a total of 30 different states in 365 days, which earned me the rank of Titanium in the Marathon Maniac running club. In fact, as I finished marathon #30, this song was playing on the loudspeaker. “You shoot me down, but I won’t fall. I am Titanium.” Yes. I am.
“The Greatest.” Positive thoughts to positive words to positive actions.
Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no
I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive
I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest
“Unstoppable.” Talk about a perfect affirmation.
“Chandelier.” You get one life. Live it. “I’m gonna swing from the chandelier. . . I’m gonna live like tomorrow doesn’t exist.”
“Never Give Up.” Sometimes, things are awful, but you must keep moving forward.
And I won't let you get me down I'll keep gettin' up when I hit the ground Oh, never give up, no, never give up no, no, oh I won't let you get me down
“Pink Pony Club.” Chappell Roan. Every word a paeon to following your dreams.
“Femininomenon.” Be an active participant in your own life: “Did you hear me? Play the fucking beat!”
“How Far I’ll Go.” Moana soundtrack. If you can’t stop thinking about it, you need to work on getting it. “The line where the sky meets the sea, it calls me. . . One day I’ll know how far I’ll go.”
“Go the Distance.” Hercules soundtrack. Trust the process.
I am on my way
I can go the distance
I don't care how far
Somehow I'll be strong
I know every mile
Will be worth my while
“Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Simon and Garfunkel. This stanza was meant for me, I think.
Sail on silvergirl, Sail on by. Your time has come to shine. All your dreams are on their way.
“How Bad Do You Want Me.” Lady Gaga. When the finish line taunts you: “A psychotic love theme/ How bad do you want me?”
“Give Me Everything.” Pit Bull and Co. You only get one life.
Give me everything tonight For all we know we might not get tomorrow Let's do it tonight
“Bright Lights Bigger City.” Ceelo Green. Live in the realm of possibility.
Yeah I'm lookin' for some action And it's out there somewhere You can feel the electricity All in the evening air. . .
I 'm just gonna let something brand new happen to me
“Heaven is a Place on Earth.” Belinda Carlisle. The you-only-get-one-life theme continues.
In this world we're just beginning
To understand the miracle of living
Baby I was afraid before
But I'm not afraid anymore
“Africa.” Toto. I just love this song. Always have. Brings me back to a particular time and place when the possibilities were endless, a reminder to be open to what’s out there.
“Roll Me Away.” Bob Seger. Keep trying.
I'm gonna roll me away tonight
Gotta keep rollin', gotta keep ridin'
Keep searchin' 'til I find what's right
And as the sunset faded I spoke to the faintest first starlight
And I said next time
Next time
We'll get it right
“Like a Rock.” An older runner now, but still plugging away.
Oh, like a rock, the sun upon my skinLike a rock, hard against the windLike a rock, I see myself againLike a rockOh, like a rock
“Faithful.” Go West. Positive self-talk.
You can lean on me
Though we sail on stormy seas
Nothing good comes easily
But I, I won't let you down..
“Kings and Queens.” Ava Max. Be your own hero.
No damsel in distress, don't need to save me Once I start breathing fire, you can't tame me And you might think I'm weak without a sword But I'm stronger than I ever was before
“The Good Part.” AJR. I really like the music. The good parts are everywhere.
“More Than a Feeling.” Boston. The endorphin high is so much more than a feeling.
It's more than a feeling (More than a feeling) When I hear that old song they used to play (More than a feeling) I begin dreaming (More than a feeling)
“Foreplay/ Long Time.” If you really want something but are holding back because of the time it will take, well the time is going to pass anyhow. “Time doesn't wait for me
It keeps on rollin'.”
“Don’t Look Back.” You’re not going that way, so what’s the point? “I don't mind/ where I get taken/The road is callin'/today is the day.”
“Lazy Eye” Silversun Pickups. This, each race: “I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life.”
“Go All the Way.” Raspberries. The whole song. To the finish line.
“Right Here, Right Now." Jesus Jones. Stay in the moment.
Right here, right now,
there is no other place I wanna be
Right here, right now,
watching the world wake up from history
“I Go to Extremes.” Billy Joel. Yes. Running 26.2 miles is extreme. But I know folks who do even more.
Call me a joker, call me a fool Right at this moment, I'm totally cool Clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife I feel like I'm in the prime of my life
“Back in the Highlife Again.” Steve Winwood. It ain’t over until it’s over.
But when you're born to run it's so hard to just slow down
So don't be surprised to see me back in that bright part of town
I'll be back in the high life again
All the doors I closed one time will open up again
I'll be back in the high life again
All the eyes that watched me once will smile and take me in
“No Tears Left to Cry.” Ariana Grande. Tough song, honoring sadness but saying it’s time to live.
Right now I’m in a state of mind
I want to be in like all the time.
Ain’t got no tears left to cry. . .
I’m lovin’ I’m livin’ I’m picking it up.”
“Can’t You Say You Believe in Me.” Boston. A reminder to myself. “Can’t you say you believe in me? You know that where there's a will, there's a way.”
“Little Fighter.” White Lion Yes, I know what this song is about. But when I run to it, I’m the little fighter, all 5’1” of me.
Rise again, little fighter And let the world know the reason why Shine again, little fighter And don't let 'em end the things you do
“Coming Home.” Cinderella. “Home” is the finish line.
So are you tough enough for my love
Just close your eyes to the heavens above
I'm comin home, I'm comin home
“The Subway.” Chappell Roan. I just love this song: “She’s got a way/ She got away.” Genius.
“Run.” BTS. Been listening to this song since I met two wonderful young women at the Sydney Marathon race expo who convinced me that I needed to run to it. The song itself is just okay, IMO. But the memory of meeting so many good folks in Australia, including those young women, and finishing that amazing marathon? It’s a reminder that I can do more than I ever even imagined.
No comments:
Post a Comment