Wednesday, November 20, 2013

music: dusk & summer

"Katie, this album is so 2006."

Yes, I know. BUT, I was recently challenged to blog about rediscovering old favorite music. I tend to just hang on to music long-term, so I didn't think there was much to rediscover. But then, on a whim, I listened to Dashboard Confessional's Dusk & Summer start to finish.

This album came out the same year I got my first iPod, which was during college. (Love you forever, little red square nano.) (Why did you run away?) (And seriously, WHERE did you run away to. There's still so much closure I need. Come home I still love you kthxbye.)

I digress. Back to Dusk & Summer.

This album was on repeat (along with some angsty "Teenage Dirtbag") (yeah that one still happens) (#nevergrowoutofthe90s) for a good portion of a particularly up and down couple semesters. Love, not love, almost-love, almost-not-love, heart swell and squish and bruise and break, etc. All the works. I listened to it in its entirety the other day and I immediately felt several years younger. And small. That year made me feel small.

I was mostly struck by the way I could still pick out the exact lyrics that moved me then and just nailed it all down. If I was into scrapbooking and crap, I'd just copy and paste like a champ, add some glitter and say, "This about sums that time period up, children."

So if it interests you...
Don't Wait
The sky glows
I see it shining when my eyes close
I hear your warnings but we both know
I'm gonna look at it again
Don't wait, Don't wait
To lay your armor down

Reason to Believe
I have reason to believe that I have victories to taste
I can feel them on my teeth, upon my lips and in my chest
I can roll them on my tongue, they are more supple than defeat
...My heart is sturdy, but it needs you

The Secret's In the Telling
The signal is subtle
We pass just close enough to touch
No questions, no answers
We know by now to say enough
With only simple words
With only subtle turns
The things we feel alone for one another

Stolen
We watch the season pull up its own stakes
And catch the last weekend of the last week
Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced,
Another sun soaked season fades away

Rooftops and Invitations
Where every move and each impulse brings clarity
To stay like this is everything you'll ever need

So Long, So Long
I was certain that the season could be held between my arms

Currents
And if this is ever meant to end, then I hope it ends where it began
So hot with love, we burned our hands

Heaven Here
We are tangled and brave
We are leaking and saved
When heaven's not waiting, it's spilling its secrets
It's right here between us, and we've no other choice but believe
We've no other choice but believe

...do you have lyrics like this? Words that just sum everything up from a particular era of your life? Do tell. I have like eleventy such albums and songs...probably a new one every week. I have a driving compulsion to find songs that say things for me before I'm ready to write them down my own way. I love lyrics that just really gut me and put all my insides out for display. That sounded really grotesque. Uh, goodnight.

6 comments:

Allison said...

Oh this album... I could probably still sing every line of every song. I was convinced "Stolen" would be my wedding song :)

Kristen said...

Dashboard and I got acquainted back in 2003, before they became popular. They remain to this day one of my favorite bands and bring back the most emotions/memories while listening to them.

Although I have to say this album isn't my favorite of theirs. I think some of their earlier songs were better, but they have some of the BEST LYRICS ever.

Unknown said...

This album has always been one of my favorites. We have pretty much all of the same parts, too!

FWIL Sentimental Blog Content said...

The breakup A Mark, A Mission, A Bran, A Scar got me through would not have happened without that album! My belief in love in again would not be possible without this one. Dashboard has a special place in my heart!

Savannah said...

gahhh. i still can't listen to 'stolen' without actually really starting to cry. it was my mom's favorite song for one summer and she played it nonstop in family car rides before everyone started going to college & growing up and serving missions etc. etc. etc. and it makes me feel so nostalgic and sad and old.

good though. such a good album. :)

Budget Splurge Beauty said...

ughhh posts like this are why I'm obsessed with you.
(totally not weird) (I just think we would be bff in real life)
funny that you asked which lyrics sum up certain times in our life or whatnot...mine is also dashboard.

Get me right is the song. It's really the whole song but especially this part "I made my slow way home
Limping on broken bones
Out of the thickest pine
Across the county lines
On to your wooden stairs
I know you can repair
I know you've seen the light
I know you'll get me right"

Also the song Until Morning
"If this is heaven
Or if it's just a warning
Say you will stay with me
Even if it's just til' morning

If this is over
Then why is it so hard?
Just say you will stay with me
One more night

Stay here
And we can start again
And we can be made over
You'll hear us shouting

When you gonna wake up?"

ugh it actually still pains me to even post those. They were relevant to a boy and a time in my life so, so much...