There are several different translations of Auld Lang Syne out there, but Old Long-Ago was my favorite.
I actually hadn't ever really paid attention to the words. Here are the original words from Sir Robert Ayton that Burns built the poem from that would then be built into the song we know and drunkenly slur on New Year's Eve.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never thought upon,
The flames of love extinguished,
And freely past and gone?
Is thy kind heart now grown so cold
In that loving breast of thine,
That thou canst never once reflect
On old-long-syne
And never thought upon,
The flames of love extinguished,
And freely past and gone?
Is thy kind heart now grown so cold
In that loving breast of thine,
That thou canst never once reflect
On old-long-syne
Beautiful, right?
I'm not one to make resolutions.
I think it plays to that part of us that believes we need to be perfect in order to be valuable. And it took me too long to figure out that that thinking is bullshit. And resolutions tend to fall into that category: make me smaller, make me richer, make me lovable. But, it's hard not to spend today looking back at the year that was. It's hard not to look at the time that's passed and wonder where it went, but at the same time marveling at how far away that person is who started out the year.
This has been an epiphanic year for me. It's the year I woke up. The year I decided to be alive. In every respect of the word.
So here I sit. Reflecting on Old Long Ago.
And I feel proud. I was brave. I was dauntless. Love wins.
I imagine we all were. Let's let 2013 be about authenticity and the power that comes from there. And instead of comparing ourselves to other's highlight reels why don't we just figure out what we want.
I was sitting around a friend's house after dinner and we were talking and I was whittering on about my career and whatever theory I had or what I thought I was destined for and she asked one simple question that stopped me in my tracks, "What's your dream?" I stumbled around for a few seconds and threw out a few half-sentences and burbled non-responses and then finally admitted, "I don't know."
Do you? Do you know what your dream looks like? Rather than resolving to punish and deprive myself in the new year, I plan on thinking about that: my dream and what it really looks like.
Here are my favorite tracks from 2012
I fell in love with Frank Turner this past year and this song with lyrics like, "But on the day I die I'll say at least I fucking tried. That's the only eulogy I need."
These guys are amazing. Their Tiny Desk concert solidified them for me. Just brilliant. Their cut Same Love made me sob - still does...every damn time. And Thrift Shop? Forget it. But, this track is just unstoppable. You can't not move to it. And yes I throw my hands up every time he tells me to.
Oh, Robyn. You bizarre little elf, you. But, goddamn can you make a jam tho. I love Call Your Girlfriend, as well...but this one just makes me happy. This is also the song I got cold busted singing along to in my car and couldn't even stop long enough to play it off like that wasn't what was happening.
I've been a big fan of Laswell's for a while...his voice just melts me. This song just kicked me in the face when I heard it. The addition of Sara Bareilles just turns this up a notch and the subject matter of a friend trying to pull another one out of the doldrums is awesome. "All of your wallowing is unbecoming..." So good.
There was this moment. I had driven upwards of 2,000 miles by myself during the summer and I finally pulled into Cayucos to meet up with my family for my mom's birthday. I missed everyone and was just... ready not to be alone anymore. I was met by the whole family and then my nieces and I got in the car to run an errand in town. We were driving down the coast of California at dusk, the sun was setting and the sky was every shade of orange and yellow you could imagine, our windows were open and this song was playing. We were all singing and laughing and ... it was perfect.
I saw Brandi Carlile live at the Greek and she was fucking spectacular. I can't even. She sang this song and hinted that it might not make it onto her newest album. At the time, I was writing Nowhere but Home and it just spoke to me. It became that book's anthem. My anthem.
Yes, I'm going to be the douchebag that says that I liked these guys before they blew up. They did a Chapel Session (which is the version I've posted) for my favorite music blog and I fell. Hard. This song is my favorite of the year. I have yet to weary of it, even after it's been played every 3 seconds. It's just transcendent and I love it beyond the telling of it.
I first heard First Aid Kit when they came out with the majestic Lion's Roar. It's ridiculous. They're ridiculous. Two Swedish sisters who ... just their voices. Oh my god. They're amazing. I love everything they do. But, this song just gets me. Emmylou Harris is one of my favorites - one of my mom's favorites, too - so this song just means more, I guess.
These guys just swept me off my feet. The breathy main girl's voice all Icelandic and reminding me of Bjork. Beautiful. And this song - i love that it talks about a love affair where the woman has the lionheart. I'd never heard that imagery before in a song - about a relationship. It's just amazing. And the little switch toward the end when she says, "You're my king and I'm your lionheart." Swoon.
This was my niece's favorite song when we would drive PCH and it just makes me happy listening to it. Thinking of her, us...the coast. I was drawn to it initially because it's about a writer, duh. But, it's just this sweeping, majestic tune that gets going and sweeps you away. I love it.
This song was in my favorite movie of the year, Celeste and Jesse Forever. I can't... that movie. WRECKED ME. I loved it. And this song was playing during this particularly amazing party scene and it's just... it's awesome. The opening chords just make me happy.
I remember sitting at home and watching Ocean on Saturday Night Live. And just sitting there with my mouth hanging open. How... how is this guy...wait... what??? (quiet sobbing) This song is beyond anything. It's the most beautiful love song I've ever heard. Of course, it's not surprising seeing as how it's by the same man who wrote perhaps the most beautiful thing I read this year. So...
That's right. This is one of those songs where you're all -ugh, right? This song (turns it up) I can't even (turns it up) with this song (launches into singing along.) I'm in this song to win this song. Fo real.
I heard this song on one of my music blogs and researched them immediately. And sometimes when I do that, I find a meh album and just this one awesome song. But not these guys - or the new Lord Huron album - holy shit with that... Their entire album is amazing, but this song - this sweet sweet song - just breaks my heart. I love it.
Here's the thing: I love Taylor Swift. I love her. I think she's awesome. I will defend her to THE DEATH. And yes, I -- in all my music snobbery - am having a very tough time with my love for her. I know. I'm just as shocked as you are. But here we are.
I have these two friends who are just as enamored and we have long conversations.. LONG CONVERSATIONS... about certain songs and and and... And this song? This is off the super secret album you could only get at Target? Yeah, this shit runs deep, yo. This song has yielded the line of the year... "And I would have been so...happy." Man. Sing it, Taylor.
I am a film score whore. Imma own that shit right here. I'll do anything for em. ANYTHING. And this song from the Brave soundtrack with Emma Thompson and apparently the cutest little girl in the world? Yeah... this song wrecks me. It's heartbreaking and beautiful. Gets me every time.
This is my album of the year. This soundtrack. Holy shit. It's... what music is supposed to be. It cuts through everything and just pierces through your heart. I was writing some business email while listening to this album and found myself getting all emotional and tears streaming down my face and and and... it's that powerful. Buy it. Listen to it. Be a wreck!
Happy New Year everyone.
May your year be as awesome as Dwight Schrute in a pumpkin head.
1 comment:
Love it! Cheers, girl...
Post a Comment