"Any Day Now" by Missy Higgins

Here, Missy performs one of my very favorite songs of hers called "Any Day Now" at the Aquashell in Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia.  Lyrics provided below.

"Any Day Now" - Missy Higgins

How long, how long, how long will we take to come undone?
If you know the answer tell me now and I'll write up a calendar for our count down.
'Cos what if what we see is all, is all we've got?

Say you've kept some fire aside to set light to me some surprising night. 
And say you've locked some fire away to set light to me some surprising day. 
Any day now...

How come, how come, how come I'm now on a road holding out my thumb? 
If you know my destination please buy me the fastest car and throw me the keys. 
'Cos what if what we see is all, is all we've got?

Say you've kept some fire aside to set light to me some surprising night. 
And say you've locked some fire away to set light to me some surprising day. 

'Cos finger by finger we're losing grasp and
I'm questioning the reasons why nothing beautiful does last...

Say you've kept some fire aside to set light to me some surprising night. 
And say you've locked some fire away to set light to me some surprising day, 
To me some surprising day...

Any day now...

"Nightminds" by Missy Higgins

"Nightminds" is my first Missy Higgins experience.  2.5 - 3 years ago, one of my best friends told me to look this song up.  As you guessed or already know, I got hooked.  

Since then, I've followed Missy's musical life, seen her twice in concert, taken a road trip (with said best friend) to see her, met her, and got her autograph.  So I guess this song means even more to me now because, without it, I wouldn't have had some of the most amazing experiences of my life and I would have missed out on some outstanding singer-songwriter lyrics, chords, and vocals.  

Thanks, friend.  This post is for you and our nightminds.  :-)

"Nightminds" - Missy Higgins

Just lay it all down.
Put your face into my neck and let it fall out. 
I know, I know, I know.
I knew before you got home. 
This world you're in now, 
It doesn't have to be alone, 
I'll get there somehow, 'cos
I know, I know, I know,
When even springtime feels cold. 

But I will learn to breathe this ugliness you see, 
So we can both be there and we can both share the dark. 
And in our honesty, together we will rise, 
Out of our nightminds, and into the light
At the end of the fight.

You were blessed by a different kind of inner view: it's all magnified. 
The highs would make you fly, but the lows make you want to die. 
And I was once there, hanging from that very ledge where you are standing. 
So I know, I know, I know, 
That it's easier to let go. 

But I will learn to breathe this ugliness you see, 
So we can both be there and we can both share the dark.
And in our honesty, together we will rise out of our nightminds
And into the light at the end of the fight. 

And in our honesty, together we will rise out of our nightminds
And into the light at the end of the fight.

"Destructive" by LeAnn Rimes

This is one of my very favorite angry, I-hate-the-world, leave-me-alone-I'm-raging-pissed songs.  For me, it's all in the lyrics and vocals.  For others, it's in screaming and loud noises.  Those of you that prefer screaming and loud noises may not appreciate this song the same way I do, but that's okay.  Anyway, I got SO excited when I found out she was performing a sessions-type version of this song for Live from Abbey Road.  Ever since I first heard this song on her album Whatever We Wanna, I wanted to see her passion when performing it.

Here, at 08:05, LeAnn talks about the song before performing it. The lyrics are provided below.

I cannot embed the video with the 08:05 start time without it autoplaying, so either navigate to that start time or click HERE to go to vimeo and watch starting at that time.

"Destructive" - LeAnn Rimes

If I could smoke a cigarette right now, I would
Rip out of my skin, commit the sins, oh I could
If I could break a heart and throw it all away for just one night
My conscience wouldn't care if I just went ahead and wrecked my life.

I want to be destructive
Trash everything in site
Beat the Devil at his game
Abuse myself all night
I want to bitch the world out
One loud aching scream
Don't want anybody wanting anything from me

Yeah, yeah…

I'm sick of being perfect
With your perfect little smile
Pick a fight with danger
Be a stranger to myself for a while
I want to come unraveled
And have it out with my soul
I'm tired of all the voices telling me which way to go,
I wish you'd silence your opinion
That's the last thing that I want to know

I want to be destructive
Trash everything in site
Beat the Devil at his game
Abuse myself all night
I want to bitch the world out
One loud aching scream
Don't want anybody wanting anything from me

I'll fell better when I'm sane
But now I want to feel no pain
I'm really sick of thinking
I just want to be destructive

Oh, oh, oh…yeah…

I want to be destructive
Trash everything in site
Beat the Devil at his game
Abuse myself all night
I want to bitch the world out
One loud aching scream
Don't want anybody wanting anything from me

Yeah, yeah…

"First Train Home" by Imogen Heap

Here, Imogen Heap summarizes the context of her song "First Train Home." She is giving her description moments before the song's first play on US radio. Remember the part about the party...that will come up again. After it airs for the first time, Immi describes how it feels.

This is the official music video for "First Train Home" with the lyrics provided below.

"First Train Home" - Imogen Heap

Bodies disengaged, our mouths are fleshing over.
It's just an echo game, irises retreating to ovals of white.
The urge to feel your face, and blood rushing to paint my hand print.
A Frisbee one by one; your vinyl on laminate, just prefer some kind of contact.

First train home, I've got to get on it.
First train home, I've got to get on it.
First train home, I've got to get on it.
Got to catch, to catch, to catch-catch, catch.
First train home, I've got to get on it.
First train home, I've got to get on it.
First train home, I've got to get on it.
First Train home

Temporal dead-zone where clocks are barely breathing.
Yet no one cares to notice for all the yelling, all night clamor to hold it together.
I want to play--don't wait--forms in the hideaway
I want to get on with getting on with things
I want to run in fields, paint the kitchen, and love someone
And I can't do any of that here, can I?

First train home, I've got to get on it.
First train home, I've got to get on it.
First train home, I've got to get on it.
First train home.

So what? You've had one too many.
So what? I'm not that much fun to be with.
So what? You've come silly hatter.
So what? I didn't want to come here, anyway.

What matters you, doesn't matter, matter to me.
What matters to me, doesn't matter, matter to you.
What matters to you, doesn't matter, matter to them.
What matters to them, doesn't change anything.

Got to get on it.
First train home.
Got to get on it.
First train home.

First train home I've got to get on it
(I've got to get on it)
Got to catch, to catch, to catch-catch, catch.
(First train home)
First train home I've got to get on it
First train home.
(First train home)
Got to, Got to, Got to, Got to, Get, Get, Get, Get, Out, Out, Out, Out, Now, Now, Now, Now.

Now that you have seen the "official" video, take a look at the alternate video called "Imm's Party Version." Remember her mentioning that party in that first clip? Here's what Imogen has to say about this version of the video:

"This is the First Train Home alternative video I directed. I came up with the idea in a cab on the way home late one night and filmed it the next week.

"It's shot in the room I wrote the song in, which is above my studio where I recorded Ellipse. It's me and a load of my friends I borrowed for the day to boss around.
...
"So many of you have been following and getting involved in Ellipse...[that] it felt wrong to do a video that was so impersonal which I felt the original one was. Even a bit cold and detached. This new video won't win any awards but I felt I wanted to make it. Some of the people dancing about have been around me so much during the making of Ellipse.
...
"... Good times. Hope you enjoy it. The odd thing of course is that this is my IDEAL party and not at all the party I was singing about...which I desperately didn't want to be a part of...and got on the first train out of Brighton to get away from it."

Enjoy.

This song is a masterpiece. It is obvious that each millisecond of this track has Imogen's heart and soul in it. Each moment has such meticulous detail. It's simply beautiful from the beginning hints of a railroad to the rather abrupt ending.

By the way, Imogen recently won a Grammy for her album Ellipse. I highly recommend buying it. ;-)  This is one of the best albums I've heard.

Can't wait to see you again tonight, Immi!  You're brilliant!

"Strong" by LeAnn Rimes

Here is my third favorite song.  Honestly, the lyrics describe it all.  Oh how I love you, LeAnn.  The "money maker" at the end is my favorite part.  :-)

This comes from LeAnn Rimes' international album called Whatever We Wanna.  Unfortunately, it has become a bit difficult to purchase.  Anyway, this is arguably LeAnn's best album.  Country?  In short, no...not at all, thank you.

"Strong" - LeAnn Rimes

The light of my life's been stolen
I've walked in every shade of black
And I never thought I would get me back
It's funny how life can change you
And make you who you are today
I wonder if God set it up that way
For me to be...

Strong, even when it hurts
The heat, it's gonna burn
Gotta let it go
Strong, Strong
Make a big mistake and never run away

There's nothing like this feeling
To be free and unafraid
Who ever thought I could be this brave
Learning every day?

Strong, even when it hurts
The heat, it's gonna burn
Gotta let it go
Strong, Strong
Make a big mistake and never run away

I wanna push away the boundaries
I wanna love outside the lines
I wanna stare at the sun beam
Don't care if I go blind
Whatever comes
Whatever breaks
I'll stand up straight

Strong, even when it hurts
The heat, it's gonna burn
Gotta let it go
Strong, Strong
Make a big mistake and never run away
Never run away,
No, no, no!
Strong!

Strong!

Aaron the Whole Foods Boy

"Aaron the Whole Foods Boy" by Jason Hoggan
(Inspired by Kristin Chenoweth's "Taylor the Latte Boy")

There's a boy I'll meet at Whole Foods
Who is very diet contentious
He is very diet contentious because of many things.

I come in at 7:30 (PM, of course) and head straight for the bulk whole raw cashews.
We all love our bulk whole raw cashews
They make our taste buds grow wings!

So today at 7:30 (PM, of course)
I realized this is probably where I'll meet him
This is probably where I'll meet him
But near some obscure gluten-free food

So today at 7:30 (PM, of course), when I headed straight for the bulk whole raw cashews
I took a sharp turn to the right instead
And headed toward the blessèd nut thins

And I pondered, "Are these obscure enough?"
"Probably not.  They're pretty picked over and popular."
I bet his name will be Aaron,
Which provides the inspiration for this poem:

Aaron the Whole Foods boy
Bring me gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, bring me joy!
Oh Aaron the Whole Foods boy
I love him, I love him, I love him...

So I'd like to get my nerve up
And search a new GF aisle
He'll be on a new GF aisle
By an extremely obscure food
So today at 7:30, I went down another GF aisle
There I see a boy humming LeAnn Rimes with hot, sexy red hair!

As I quickly glide toward him, I chime in to his humming
It's "Something I Can Feel"! (Thank goodness not something cliché!)
So I gently tap his shoulder, and mouth the words to the song
And I knew his singing back meant that Aaron loved me too!
I said, "What's that in your hand there?  And by the way, I love your red hair..."
He said, "Gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free cookies and this box right here is just for you!"

*sigh* 

Aaron the Whole Foods boy
Bring me gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, bring me joy!
Oh Aaron the Whole Foods boy
I love him, I love him, I love him...

I used to be the kind of guy
Who'd cringe when love stood in front of him.
But finally a blood test whispered, "Love can be yours
If you venture into Whole Foods for GF delights!"

Aaron the Whole Foods boy
Bring me gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, bring me joy!
Oh Aaron the Whole Foods boy
I love him, I love him, I love him...

So many months my heart has dreamèd,
Who'd have thought that love could be so gluten-free?

Aaron the Whole Foods boy

I love him, I love him, I love him...
I love him, I love him, I love him...

"Taylor the Latte Boy" by Kristin Chenoweth (Lyrics provided below.)

There's a boy who works at Starbucks
Who is very inspirational.
He is very inspirational because of many things.

I come in at 8:11, and he smiles and says, "How are you?"
When he smiles and says, "How are you?"
I could swear my heart grows wings!

So today at 8:11
I decided I should meet him
I decided I should meet him
In a proper formal way.

So today at 8:11 when he smiled and said "How are you?"
I said "Fine, and my name's Kristin,"
And he softly answered, "Hey."

And I said "My name is Kristin, and thank you for the extra foam..."
And he said his name was Taylor,
Which provides the inspiration for this poem:

Taylor the latte boy,
Bring me java, bring me joy!
Oh Taylor the latte boy,
I love him, I love him, I love him...

So I'd like to get my nerve up
To recite my poem musical.
He would like the fact it's musical
Because he plays guitar.
So today at 8:11, Taylor told me he was playing
In a band down in the village in the basement of a bar.

And he smoothly flipped the lever to prepare my double latte,
But for me he made it triple! (And he didn't think I knew)
But I saw him flip the lever, and for me he made it triple,
And I knew that triple latte meant that Taylor loved me too!
I said, "What time are you playing? And thank you for the extra skin..."
He said, "Keep the $3.55," because this triple latte was on him.

*sigh*

Taylor the latte boy,
Bring me java, bring me joy!
Oh Taylor the latte boy,
I love him, I love him, I love him...

I used to be the kind of girl
Who'd run when love rushed toward her.
But finally a voice whispered, "Love can be yours,
If you step up to the counter and order."

Taylor the latte boy,
Bring me java, bring me joy!
Oh Taylor the latte boy,

I love him, I love him, I love him...

So many years my heart has waited,
Who'd have thought that love could be so caffeinated?

Taylor, the latte boy,
I love him, I love him, I love him.
I love him, I love him, I love him. 

Special thanks to Maren Ritter for being the reason I love this song so!

"Steer" by Missy Higgins

On my list of favorite songs, this is number two: "Steer". Here, Missy Higgins recalls the moment she was inspired to create this remarkable and inspirational song. Lyrics are provided below.

"Steer" - Missy Higgins

Feel it falling off like clothing
Taste it rolling on your tongue
See the lights above you glowing
Oh and breathe them deep into your lungs

It was always simple, not hidden hard
You've been pulling at the strings playing puppeteer for kings
And you've had enough

But the search ends here
Where the night is totally clear
And your heart is fierce
So now you finally know that you control where you go
You can steer

So hold this feeling like a newborn
Of freedom surging through your veins
You have opened up a new door
So bring on the wind, fire, and rain

It was always simple, not hidden hard
You've been played at a game called remembering your name
And you stuffed it up

But the search ends here
Where the night is totally clear
And your heart is fierce
So now you finally know that you control where you go
You can steer
Ohh, yeah now you finally know that you control where you go
You can steer

'Cos you've been listening for answers
Oh, but the city screams and all your dreams go unheard

But the search ends here
Where the night is totally clear
And your heart is fierce
So now you finally know that you control where you go
You can steer
Ohh, yeah, get out of the box and step into the clear
Ohh, 'cos now you finally know you can steer

How intimidating and liberating it is to come to this realization. To understand that you have the steering wheel for your life in your own hands is a remarkable moment. You should see her perform this LIVE! Ah! I highly recommend her album On a Clear Night.

May 24, 2008 @ 00:11, Aspen, CO, USA

May 24, 2008 @ 00:11, Aspen, CO, USA