August 14, 2011

Song Memories

Music is powerful.  It can take you back to another time and place.  I have hundreds of memories that come flooding back when I hear certain songs.  I'm going to share two of mine (both G-Rated!) and would love to hear some of yours if you want to share.

Both these songs are by The Doors and both involve bicycles:

1)  It was 1971.  I was 12 years old and madly in love with Jim Morrison (even though he was dead).  This was long before Sony created the Walkman so I had to rely on the repertoire of music in my own mind when I wanted to hear a song (I started listening to rock and roll at age 4, with my dad :)

So there I was riding my bike - no hands - listening to "Riders on the Storm" in my head, thinking about Jim Morrison.  I didn't see a rock on the street and down I went!  I broke my elbow!

2) Keven and I used to love bike rides.  I rode him on the back of mine up to the time he was big enough for a two-wheeler.  There was a cool bike trail not far from out house.  When he was older, we'd pull off the trail and go "snake hunting" (until the day we actually saw one and both freaked out!).  Anyhow, when it was time to take his training wheels off he was nervous so I made up a song based on "Roadhouse Blues" and I would sing it to him as I jogged along side him, and I like to believe, it helped.  It seems silly now, but I LOVE this memory of the determination on his sweet little boy face.  Sometimes he'd beg me to stop singing**cause the song was "dumb" but I refused :)

Kev, keep your eyes on the trail, your hands upon the handlebars
Keep your eyes on the trail, your hands upon the handlebars
Yeah, we're ridin' a two-wheeler, we're gonna have a real
Good time
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, all down the trail

**He still begs me to stop singing when we are driving in the car.  Again I refuse and he has to live in embarrassment of what the other drivers must think of his Mom.  (I did, however, stop singing in the car when his friends were present once he got into Jr. High.  Most of the time.  Ha.)


Peace, Hope and Love, Barbara

6 comments:

Lou said...

1977..newly married, new baby, and we had just moved from Detroit to Houston, Tx so I could go to college (University of Texas). We arrived in April, 77 in this "strange land" and everywhere we heard "You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille" by Kenny Rogers.

I had a baby girl (don't do the math..LOL), a new husband, going to school full time, and we were flat broke. Kraft mac & cheese cost 21 cents a box, and we ate it least 3X a week.

Every time I hear that song it reminds me how we struggled to pay the bills, how bewildered I was to be a mother, how freakin' hot it was in Texas..it takes me back!

Max said...

You know, you are an incredible mom. I hope you know that. You are proof that a life of drugs has nothing to do with upbringing. Which is, in itself, I guess kinda terrifying.

Dawn said...

Don McLean's American Pie - it came out when I was in Jr High and attending my first dance. It was an awkward time in life. Patsy Cline makes me think of my mom. She always played music when she cleaned and we would sing!! I also remember she and my sister harmonizing while doing the dishes!Music has always been and will always be a big part of my life. I love music, the 70's are a favorite! I was just thinking last week that it's been to long since I have been to a concert - last summer so, I'm keeping my eyes open for who is coming close to me!

Heather's Mom said...

Not that this song has any special meaning to me, but earlier today I was reading about the death :( of Jani Lane from Warrant - couldn't think of what they sang and pulled up the "Heaven" music video. Oh my gosh did that bring me back to the eighties and the guys I liked in high school (graduated 1988). Oh my what BIG HAIR we had...
God bless.

Tori said...

That was so sweet Barbara.

Thanks for sharing.

BMelonsLemonade said...

The Killers, Mr. Brightside...I still see Liam, in his cast from his broken foot that happened during Katrina, singing is heart out in that apartment we were evacuated to in Rhode Island.

Journey, Dust in the Wind...my dad singing, drunk, and embarrassing me...

All the songs that those girls who did not survive their addictions used to dance to...Jenny with the Gorillaz Clint Eastwood, Melanie with her dark dreads and angry punk, Secret with Juvenile's Slow Motion, Frankie and Social Distortion's Story of My Life, and Shannon Hoon's voice will haunt me forever...RIP to all...

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