The Fifth of Twenty-five

Here we are with the last of my Music Footprint. I’ve had to spend the last couple weeks getting ready to go back to work, so I’ve had to put this on the back burner.

Kentucky Pill – Johnny Flynn

This is a song about growing up. I found a quote from an interview that Johnny did years ago, which I think does a far better job explaining this song than I ever could.

It’s generally a song about a sense of growing up. It’s about finding yourself to be slightly more dangerous and effective as a human being than you thought you could be. When you’re young, you live in a state of innocence, but eventually you realize that actions have wider consequences than you thought. As you grow up, as you get a sense of time, you stop living in your immediate presence. Your emotional world grows and you can kind of start being hard.

It’s an abstract thing, but the song’s about all these situations you experience growing up that stop you from being innocent. It’s about wanting to hurt people and get hurt.

Interviewer: Marah Eakin for the avclub.com

Ain’t the the truth.

Last Goodbye – The Gufs

The Gufs are one of my favorite underrated bands that no one seems to know about. I saw Goran Kralj of the Gufs open for Caroline’s Spine back in the day. I think that might have been the first time I heard them.

This song looking back and feeling full of regret about letting someone go that you probably shouldn’t have. It may or may not have been a mistake, nevertheless, it sucks. And believe me if I had known then, that it would have been the last time and it was going to end, I would have wanted time to slow and and bottled that moment.

Here’s to Everyone – Martin Zellar and the Hardways

I’ve spoken about my admiration about The Gear Daddies a few posts ago, so it goes without saying that I’m also a fan of Martin Zellar.

Here’s to Everyone is a fairly straightforward song, celebrating life, friends, memories and everything that makes life good and worthwhile. I hear this song and it makes me think of lots of loved ones and I smile at the memories of our past adventures, our quiet moments and secrets. I love my friends and I wish them nothing but happiness for all of their days.

For My Brother – Blue October

This live version from Blue October’s Argue with a Tree is my favorite. It’s no secret that lead singer Justin Furstenfeld has had his struggles with depression and addiction. He is a absolute brilliant songwriter whose words are so much more than just lyrics. You know how people say if a song is any good it can stand on its own acoustically? Well, I feel that way about Justin’s lyrics. They don’t need the music behind them. They transcend. Below is just one of my favorite parts of this song.

Believe you can shine when you’re silver,
And I promise you gold, 
I promise you gold
And whenever you’re dark inside, 
Don’t let go

Remember there’s rain, 
And there’s candy,
And Christmasy winter snow,
The snow, the snow

And remember I love you the same,
And I’ll strangle your pain
And he tells me to sing,
So I sing, and I sing for my brother,
Who keeps me sane,
And tells me everything will be,
Okay

I’m never alone, 
No I’m never alone,
I’m not alone, 
Not alone

Justin wrote this song about his brother, Jeremy. In this version Justin invites his brother Jeremy, who is the drummer in Blue October, up to sing with him. It’s very emotional and I dare you not to tear up. I do, even when this is the 987th time I’ve listened to the song this year.

I have not been through the things that Justin has, but I do have two sisters who have been with me through all our moves as kids, who also were subjected to bullying in school. My sister’s and I get each other and really, there isn’t anything we wouldn’t do to support one other. We love each other unconditionally, just as Jeremy loves his brother.

Matthew Sweet – Sick of Myself

Who hasn’t had an infatuation for another person so bad that the person literally made you sick of yourself? Surely not just myself and Matthew Sweet (I assume as he wrote this song)? Everything is catchy about this song of self-loathing; the guitar, the way he sings and the lyrics.

I don’t know if this song really meant anything to Matthew Sweet or not, but for me, this song does have its place in my past.