The Mix Tape

I had an amazing feeling when I finally held the tape in my hand. I just thought to myself that in the palm of my hand, there was this one tape that had all of these memories and feelings and great joy and sadness. Right there in the pam of my hand. And I thought about how many people have loved those songs. And how many people got through a lot of bad times because of those songs. And how many people enjoyed good times with those songs. And how much those songs really mean. I think it would be great to have written one of those songs. I bet if I wrote one of them, I would be very proud. I hope the people who wrote those songs are happy. I hope that they feel it's enough. I really do because they've made me happy. And I'm only one person.

Love always,
Charlie

Does Anybody Hear Her

Okay ... so this song is slightly out of date for me, but it meant a lot to me when I first heard it and it still does represent a critical period in my life, so I want to add it to the list. It's a beautiful song and if you can find it somewhere you should listen to it.

She is running
A hundred miles an hour
In the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older and
She's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?

She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason and
She gives herself away

Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her

Never even met her

Does anybody hear her?
Does anybody see?
Or does anybody even knows she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me

Does anybody hear her?
Does anybody see?
Does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Does anybody see?

He is running
A hundred miles an hour
In the wrong direction

-Casting Crowns

Stand In The Rain

She never slows down
She doesn't know why but she knows that when she's
All alone
Feels like its all
Coming down

She won't turn around
The shadows are long and she fears if she cries
That first tear
The tears will not stop
Raining down

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day what's lost can be found
You stand in the rain

She won't make a sound
Alone in this fight with herself and the fears
Whispering
If she stands
She'll fall down

She wants to be found
The only way out is through everything she's
Running from
Wants to give up
And lie down

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day what's lost can be found
You stand in the rain

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
Stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day what's lost can be found

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day what's lost can be found
You stand in the rain

-Superchic(k)

Bad Reputation

I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation
You're living in the past it's a new generation
A girl can do what she wants to do
And that's what I'm gonna do
An' I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation

Oh no
Not me

An' I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation
Never said I wanted to improve my station
An' I'm only doin' good when I'm havin' fun
An' I don't have to please no one
An' I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation

Oh no, not me
Oh no, not me

I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation
I've never been afraid of any deviation
An' I don't really care if ya think I'm strange
I ain't gonna change
An' I'm never gonna care 'bout my bad reputation

Oh no, not me
Oh no, not me

Pedal boys!

An' I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation
The world's in trouble there's no communication
An' everyone can say what they want to say
It never gets better anyway
So why should I care 'bout a bad reputation
Anyway

Oh no, not me
Oh no, not me

I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation
You're living in the past it's a new generation
An' I only feel good when I got no pain
An' that's how I'm gonna stay
An' I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation

Oh no, not me
Oh no, not me
Not me
Not me!

-Joan Jett

Here's to the Night

It's my song of the week. I heard it on the radio and the words rang too true not to post it. I wish they didn't.

So denied
So I lied
Are you the now or never kind
In a day
And a day love
I'm gonna be gone for good again
Are you willing
To be had
Are you cool with just tonight

Here's a toast
To all those who hear me all too well

Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon

Put your name
On the line
Along with place and time
Wanna stay
Not to go
I wanna ditch the logical

Here's a toast
To all those who hear me all too well

Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon

All my time is froze in motion
Can't I stay an hour or two or more
Don't let me let you go
(Don't let me let you go)

Here's a toast
To all those who hear me all too well

Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon
(Too soon)
Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon

-Eve 6

Hate

Love love love love love love

You were everything I wanted
You were everything a [guy] could be
Then you left me brokenhearted
Now you don't mean a thing to me
All I wanted was your
Love love love love love love

Hate is a strong word
But I really really really don't like you
Now that it's over
I don't even know what I liked about you
Brought you around
And you just brought me down
Hate is a strong word
But I really really really really don't like you
I really don't like you

Thought that everything was perfect
(Perfect)
Isn't that how it's supposed to be?
Thought you thought that I was worth it
Now I think a little differently
All I wanted was your
Love love love love love love

Hate is a strong word
But I really really really don't like you
(I really don't like you)
Now that it's over
I don't even know what I liked about you
(Liked about you)
Brought you around
And you just brought me down
Hate is a strong word
But I really really really really don't like you

Now that it's over you can't hurt me
Now that it's over you can't bring me down

Oh... oh... oh... oh oh oh
Oh... oh... oh... oh oh oh

All I wanted was your
Love love love love love love

(Hey!)
Hate is a strong word
But I really really really don't like you
(I really don't like you)
Now that it's over
I don't even know what I liked about you
(Liked about you)
Brought you around
And you just brought me down
(Hey!)
Hate is a strong word
But I really really really really don't like you

Oh... oh... oh... oh oh oh
(I really don't like you)
Oh... oh... oh... oh oh oh
(I really don't like you)
Oh... oh... oh... oh oh oh
(I really don't like you)
Oh... oh... oh... oh oh oh

-Plain White T's

Breakfast at Tiffany's

You say that we've got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we're falling apart
You'll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
Still I know you just don't care

And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."

I see you - the only one who knew me
And now your eyes see through me
I guess I was wrong
So what now? It's plain to see we're over,
And I hate when things are over -
When so much is left undone

And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?"
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."

You say that we've got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we're falling apart
You'll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
Still I know you just don't care

And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?"
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."
(repeat x3)

-Deep Blue Something

Listen to Your Heart

This is the last song I ever thought I would post ... this song suddenly makes sense. So here it is, my thoughts in someone elses words once again.

I know there's something in the wake of your smile
I get a notion from the look in your eyes, yea
You've built a love, but that love falls apart
Your little piece of heaven, turns to dark

Listen to your heart
When he's calling for you
Listen to your heart
There's nothing else you can do
I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart
Before you tell him goodbye

Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile
The precious moments are all lost in the tide, yea
They're swept away and nothing is what is seems
The feeling of belonging, to your dreams

Listen to your heart
When he's calling for you
Listen to your heart
There's nothing else you can do
I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart
Before you tell him goodbye

And there are voices
That want to be heard
So much to mention
But you can't find the words
The scent of magic
The beauty that's been
When love was wilder than the wind

Listen to your heart
When he's calling for you
Listen to your heart
There's nothing else you can do
I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart
Before you tell him goodbye

Listen to your heart, mm-mmmmmm

I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart
Before you tell him goodbye

-D.H.T.

Someday

Someday
When my life has passed me by
I'll lay around and wonder why
You were always there for me

One way
In the eyes of a passerby
I look around for another try
And fade away

Just close your eyes and I'll take you there
This place is warm without a care
We'll take a swim in the deep blue sea
I go to leave and you reach for me
Some say
Better things will come our way
No matter what they try to say
You were always there for me

Some way
When the sun begins to shine
I hear a song from another time
And fade away
And fade away

Just close your eyes and I'll take you there
This place is warm without a care
We'll take a swim in the deep blue sea
I go to leave and you reach for me

Someone said you tried too long
Someone said we got it all
Someone said we tried too long
Is there a place where I belong

So far
So long
So far away
So far
So wrong
So far away

Someday
When my life has passed me by
I'll lay around and wonder why
You were always there for me

One way
In the eyes of a passerby
I look around for another try
And fade away
And fade away
(Repeat to fade)

-Sugar Ray

Ever the Same

This song has been stuck in my head for two days now. I don't know why. I don't see all of the lyrics clearly yet. But it must mean something to me. So here it is. My song of the weekend. The best weekend of my life. I could never ask for anything more. I just wish every day could be as wonderful as the past four days have been.

We were drawn from the weeds
We were brave like soldiers
Falling down under the pale moonlight
You were holding to me
Like a someone broken
And I couldn't tell you but I'm telling you now

Just let me hold you while you're falling apart
Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down

Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you forever in me
Ever the same

We would stand in the wind
We were free like water
Flowing down under the warmth of the sun
Now it's cold and we're scared
And we've both been shaken
Hey, look at us man, this doesn't need to be the end

Just let me hold you while you're falling apart
Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down

Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same
Call on me
I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me
Forever it's you
Forever in me
Ever the same

You may need me there
To carry all your weight
But you're no burden I assure
You tide me over
With a warmth I'll not forget
But I can only give you love

Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same
Call on me
I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me
Forever it's you
Forever in me
Ever the same

Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same

(Ever the same)

-Rob Thomas

You Were Meant for Me

Sometimes music can say the words we never could. My hopes ...

I hear the clock, it's six a.m.
I feel so far from where I've been
I got my eggs, and my pancakes too
Got my maple syrup, everything but you
I break the yolks and make a smiley face
I kinda like it in my brand new place
I wipe the spots off of the mirror, don't leave the keys in the door
I never put wet towels, on the floor anymore 'cause

Dreams last for so long, even after you're gone
I know, you love me and soon you will see
You were meant for me, and I was meant for you

I called my momma, she was out for a walk
Consoled a cup of coffee, but it didn't wanna talk
So I picked up a paper, it was more bad news
More hearts being broken, more people being used
Put on my coat in the pouring rain
I saw a movie it just wasn't the same
'cause it was happy, oh I was sad and
It made me miss you oh so bad 'cause

Dreams last for so long, even after you're gone
I know, that you love me and soon you will see
You were meant for me, and I was meant for you

I go about my business, I'm doing fine
Besides, what would I say if I had you on the line
Same old story not, much to say
Hearts are broken every day

I brush my teeth, Iput the cap back on
I know you hate it, when I leave the light on
I pick up a book and turn the sheets down and
Take a deep breath and a good look around
Put on my pjs and hop into bed
I'm half alive but I feel mostly dead
I try and tell myself it'll be all right
I shouldn't think anymore tonight 'cause

Dreams last for so long, even after you're gone
I know, you love me and soon you will see
You were meant for me, and I was meant for you
Yeah, you were meant for me and I was meant for you

-Jewel

Far Away

This song is for Ryan ...

This time, this place
Misused, mistakes
Too long, too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore

On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything but I won't give up
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore

So far away (so far away)
Been far away for far too long
So far away (so far away)
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know

I wanted
I wanted you to stay
'Cause I needed
I need to hear you say

That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
So keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go

(Keep breathing)
Hold on to me and never let me go
(Keep breathing)
Hold on to me and never let me go

-Nickelback

No Other Way

When your mind is a mess so is mine I can't sleep
Cause it hurts when I think
My thoughts aren't at peace with the plans that we make
Chances we take they're not yours they're not mine
They're just waves that can break

All the words that we said and the words that we mean
Words can fall short can't see the unseen
Cause the world is awake
For somebody's sake now please close your eyes
Won't you please get some sleep

And know that if I
Knew all of the answers I would not
Hold them from you
Know all of the things that I know
We told each other
There is no other way
Mmm mmmm

Too much silence can be misleading
You're drifting I can hear it in the way that you're breathing
We don't really need to find reason
Cause out the same door that it came well it's leaving it's leaving

Leaving like a day that's done and part of a season
Resolve is just a concept that's as dead as the leaves
But at least we could sleep
It's all that we need when we wake we would find
Our minds would be free

To go to sleep and know that if I
Knew all of the answers I would not
Hold them from you
Know all of the things that I know
Cause we told each other
There is no other way
Mmm mmmm

-Jack Johnson

The Luckiest

I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here

And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?

And in a white sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you

Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away

I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong
That I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

-Ben Folds

Unwritten

This is the song that was running through my head as I wrote my valedictorian speech. As always, it speaks for itself.

I am unwritten
Can't read my mind
I'm undefined

I'm just beginning
The pen's in my hand
Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh, oh

I break tradition
Sometimes my tries
Are outside the lines

We've been conditioned
To not make mistakes
But I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, yeah, yeah

-Natasha Bedingfield

Follow Through

Oh, this is the start of something good
Don't you agree?
I haven't felt like this in so many moons
You know what I mean?

And we can build through this destruction
As we are standing on our feet

So, since you want to be with me
You'll have to follow through
With every word you say
And I, all I really want is you
You to stick around
I'll see you everyday
But you have to follow through
You have to follow through

These reeling emotions they just keep me alive
They keep me in tune
Oh, look what I'm holding here in my fire
This is for you

Am I too obvious to preach it?
You're so hypnotic on my heart

So since you want to be with me
You'll have to follow through
With every word you say
And I, all I really want is you
For you to stick around
I'll see you everyday
But you have to follow through
You have to follow through

The words you say to me are unlike anything
That's ever been said
And what you do to me is unlike anything
That's ever been

Am I too obvious to preach it?
You're so hypnotic on my heart

So since you want to be with me
You'll have to follow through
With every word you say
And I, all I really want is you
For you to stick around
I'll see you everyday

So, since you want to be with me
You'll have to follow through
With every word you say
And I, all I really want is you
For you to stick around
I'll see you everyday
But you have to follow through
You have to follow through
You're gonna have to follow

Oh, this is the start of something good
Don't you agree?

-Gavin Degraw

The Real Thing

Every word I say, I mean it
Every single day, I feel it
But sometimes when you talk
It's obvious you want
To show it
So don't blow it

Tell me what we got, tell me it's a lot, tell me it's the real thing
Tell me not to change and always be the same, tell me that's a good thing
It's a good thing
Tell me not to lie, tell me not to wait
Tell me that you want the same things as me
Tell me that it's fate driving me insane
Tell me it's the real thing
That keeps me hangin' on

I can read the signs between us
I feel it inside when you come nearer
There's a stillness in the air
Like no one else is there
And every moment
Stays in the moment
Yeah

Tell me what we got, tell me it's a lot, tell me it's the real thing
Tell me not to change and always be the same, tell me that's a good thing
It's a good thing
Tell me not to lie, tell me not to wait
Tell me that you want the same things as me
Tell me that it's fate driving me insane
Tell me it's the real thing
That keeps me hangin' on

Sometimes it hurts to watch you leave
It feels like you're taking a part of me with you
I never know how it'll be
I guess it's just a mystery
But is it the real thing (that keeps me hangin' on)

Tell me what we got, tell me it's a lot, tell me it's the real thing
Tell me not to change and always be the same, tell me that's a good thing
It's a good thing
Tell me not to lie, tell me not to wait
Tell me that you want the same things as me
Tell me that it's fate driving me insane
Tell me it's the real thing
That keeps me hangin' on

Tell me what we got, tell me it's a lot, tell me it's the real thing
Tell me not to change and always be the same, tell me that's a good thing
It's a good thing
Tell me not to lie, tell me not to wait
Tell me that you want the same things as me
Tell me that it's fate driving me insane
Tell me it's the real thing
The real thing

-Bo Bice

Check out the music video here.

We Belong Together

We belong together,
Like the open seas and shores.
Wedded by the planet floor,
We've all been spoken for.

The hammer may strike,
Me dead on the ground,
A nail to my hand,
A cross on his crown.
We're done if, who we're undone,
Finished if who we are incomplete.
As one we are everything,
We are everything we need.

We belong together,
Like the open seas and shores.
Wedded by the planet floor,
We've all been spoken for.

**Music Video Starts Here**

What good is a life,
With no one to share,
The light of the moon,
The honor of a swear?
Will you try to live the way of which you speak?
Taste the milk of your mother earth's love?
Spread the word of consciousness you see?
We are everything we need.

We belong together,
Like the open seas and shores.
Wedded by the planet floor,
We've all been spoken for.

All this indecision.
All this independent strain.
Still we've got our hearts on save,
We've got our hearts on save.

Someday when you're lonely,
Sometime after all this bliss,
Somewhere lost in emptiness,
I hope you find this gift.
I hope you find this gift.
I hope you find this gift.

-Gavin DeGraw

Check out the music video here.

Dreams

Spending all my money on phone cards
Waiting for my ship to come in
In from that ocean
Come home to this sea
Harboring in me

I don't believe in four-leaf clovers
Or the luck they're supposed to bring
I've used all my wild cards
But there's something I can do
To get close to you

I've got dreams of love and I love you
I know you feel the same way too
I feel your spirit when you're near me and when you're away
Somehow, somewhere I'll see you again
But until then I've got dreams of loving you

Thinking 'bout every little thing we ever did crazy
Sipping on that memory lane
That lane never closes
Seven days of the week
I can drive in my sleep cause

'Cause I've got dreams of love and I love you
I know you feel the same way too
I feel your spirit when you're near me and when you're away
Somehow, somewhere I'll see you again
But until then I've got dreams of loving you

Dreams I will share
When I see you again
And I'll see you again pretty soon
I pray but until then I've got dreams

I've got dreams of love and I love you
I know you feel the same way too
I feel your spirit when you're near me and when you're away
Somehow, somewhere I'll see you again
But until then I've got dreams of loving you

-Gavin DeGraw

Better Together

There's no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard
No song that I could sing but I can try for your heart
Our dreams - and they are made out of real things like a
Shoebox of photographs with sepia-toned loving

Love is the answer at least for most of the questions in my heart like
Why are we here? and where do we go? and how come its so hard?
Not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving
I'll tell you one thing it's always better when we're together

Mmm, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, we'll look at them stars when we're together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together

And all of these moments just might find their way into my dreams tonight
But I know that they’ll be gone
When the morning light sings or brings new things
For tomorrow night you see
That they’ll be gone too
Too many things I have to do

But if all of these dreams
Might find their way into my day to day scene
I'd be under the impression
I was somewhere in between
With only two, just me and you
Not so many things we got to do
Or places we got to be
We'll sit beneath the mango tree now

Yeah, it's always better when we're together
Mmm, we're somewhere in between together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together

I believe in memories
They look so
So pretty when I sleep
Hey now and
And when I wake up
You look so pretty
Sleeping next to me

But there is
Not enough time
And there is no
No song I could sing
And there is no
Combination of words
I could say
But I will still
Tell you one thing
We're better together

-Jack Johnson