Songs of hope ... and love?

Besides my friends, music has played a huge part of me moving on with my life. I've got an incredible break-up playlist of 159 songs that I'd like to annotate at some point. I've bought songs from iTMS for the sole purpose of including them in this list. Lately, I've been splitting time between my "Finding Jen" and "Hoping" lists. Since the car isn't iPod ready, I've burned a lot of stuff to CD. Today (OK, Wednesday) I burned some of my "Hoping" songs to disc. Hoping is about future relationships. I put it together with one person in mind. I don't know if I should give him a copy of the CD or not. We'll see. But here we go.

1. Take Me Out ~ Franz Ferdinand
The first time I heard this song, all I heard was the the guitar lick. And then I had to download it. It's got a funky disco bass line and drum beat. It's very catchy. It makes me smile.

So if you're lonely
You know I'm here
Waiting for you
I'm just a cross-hair
I'm just a shot away from you
And If you leave here
You leave me broken
Shattered I lie

2. Here I Am ~ Lyle Lovett
I'm not a huge fan of country music, but I positively adore Lyle Lovett. He's got a great voice, and when he's playing with his Large Band … I would love to see him in concert some day. This version of the song is from Live in Texas. His horn section is awesome. I really relate to the lyrics. Here's the second verse and chorus.

Given that true intellectual and emotional compatibility
Are at the very least difficult
If not impossible to come by
We could always opt for the more temporal gratification
Of sheer physical attraction
That wouldn't make you a shallow person
Would it

Here I am
Yes it's me
Take my hand
And you'll see
Here I am
Yes it's true
All I want
Girl is you

Yes, I would be all about something that was physical right not. But the more time passes, I know I want something that will last. I'm not sure what. The chorus … I guess all I want is a chance. Try it. You'll like it. Really.

3. Just Like Heaven (acoustic version) ~ The Cure
Angst and pain have never sounded so … perky? I still don't know exactly what this song means. What I get out of it is that love is tenuous and fleeting. It's about distance while being right next to someone. I don't know why I'd hope for that. I have always been fond of the third and fourth verses, which I've included here.

spinning on that dizzy edge
i kissed her face and kissed her head
and dreamed of all the different ways i had
to make her glow
why are you so far away?
she said
why won't you ever know that i'm in love with you?
that i'm in love with you?

you
soft and only
you
lost and lonely
you
strange as angels
dancing in the deepest oceans
twisting in the water
you're just like a dream...
you're just like a dream...

Those two lines there — "you're just like a dream" — there's something about Robert Smith's voice and the way he sings them that appeals to me. Another song with great hooks — bass line, guitar riff and piano/keyboards. I love the acoustic version.

4. Yellow ~ Coldplay
I didn't like this song back when it was getting a lot of airplay. I'm weird like that. I hated U2's The Joshua Tree when it was popular. When it stopped getting heavy play, I gave it a try and it's still one of my favorite albums. This song grew on me. It's simple, and the vocals are what do it for me. The first three verses are my favorite.

Look at the stars; look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah, they were all yellow

I came along; I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called yellow

So then I took my turn
Oh what a thing to have done
And it was all yellow

5. Accidentally in Love ~ Counting Crows
This is a goofy, poppy song. It's from the Shrek 2 soundtrack. I have mixed feelings including it. But it's here because that's how I'll end up falling in love at this point — by accident. First two verses and chorus.

So she said what's the problem baby
What's the problem I don't know
Well maybe I'm in love (love)
Think about it every time
I think about it
Can't stop thinking 'bout it

How much longer will it take to cure this
Just to cure it cause I can't ignore it if it's love (love)
Makes me wanna turn around and face me but I don't know nothing 'bout love

Come on, come on
Turn a little faster
Come on, come on
The world will follow after
Come on, come on
Cause everybody's after love

Look, it's still a pretty good playlist, OK?

6. The Game of Love ~ Carlos Santana with Michelle Branch
Michelle Branch makes this song. I've got a lot of her stuff on the break-up playlist. And the lyrics work too. Second verse and chorus. Another song saying "just give me a chance."

...(love) is, whatever you make it to be
Sunshine instead of this cold, lonely sea
So please baby try and use me for what I'm good for
It ain't sayin' goodbye it’s knocking down the door of
your candy store

It just takes a little bit of this
A little bit of that
It started with a kiss
Now we're up to bat
A little bit of laughs
A little bit of pain
I'm telling you, my babe
It's all in the game of love...

7. Falling for You ~ Jem
You get the full lyrics for this one. Musically, I'm not completely sold on the song. But the words, well...

Said there'd be no going back
Promised myself I'd never be that sad
Maybe that's why you've come along
To show me, it's not always bad

Coz I can feel it, baby
I feel like I'm falling for you
But I'm scared to, let go
I'm scared coz my heart has been hurt so

It's true I've become a skeptic
How many couples really love
Just wish I had a crystal ball
To show me, if it's worth it all

Coz I can feel it, baby
I feel like I'm falling for you
But I'm scared to, let go
I'm scared coz my heart has been hurt so
Yeah I can feel it, baby
I feel like I'm falling for you
But I'm scared to, let go
I'm scared coz my heart has been hurt so

And I've got to be sure
Coz it's been so long
And I cannot take the pain again
If it all goes wrong

Coz I can feel it, baby
I feel like I'm falling for you
But I'm scared to, let go
I'm scared coz my heart has been hurt so
Yeah I can feel it, baby
I feel like I'm falling for you
But I'm scared to, let go
I'm scared coz my heart has been hurt so

I want you so much
I need you so much
I want you so much
I need you so much
[believe me my love
believe me my love]

Upon further review, it does grow on you. I like the message, I can relate to the message.

8. Up and Away ~ Dave Matthews
The live bootleg I have of this is fabulous. That's the version that got me to notice this song. He's got Trey Anastasio from Phish playing on it. I like that show so much I'm going to buy a legit version of it. That concert got me through some tough days. Last two verses.

Before you came you know I didn't care
It's just the game I play
All up and away
Oh, all up and away
You take me baby

Up for you, I'd give it all
Cause when I'm thinking of you
When I'm flying above the world
How I wish I was drowning in you
I must admit that I'm oh so in love you know
Please don't ever let me go
You've done nothing to me but up, up and away you go
All up and away
Oh, you take me baby
Yeah
Mmmmm baby
Awwww baby

I want to feel this way about someone again. One of these days.

9. Let Me Down Easy ~ Chris Isaak
What a sexy, mournful voice. If you're willing to risk falling in love, you need to be ready for disappointment as well. I love this song; another neat guitar lick. When I fall, I fall hard.

At first you smile, then turn away
I've been thinking of what I should say
All last night I stayed up dreaming,
I'm still dreaming
I look at you, I'm just a guy
I know my place but still I'll try
You must be tired of people asking,
But I'm still asking
Please. Oh, please let me down easy
Please, just let me down easy

Don't you hear my heart is calling
You don't know how hard I've fallen for you

Another day, you're passing by
Today's the day I'm gonna try
You don't know how much I'm hoping, how I'm hoping
Please. Oh, please let me down easy
Please just let me down easy

Can't you hear my heart is calling
You don't know how hard I've fallen for you

If you told me to follow you know I'd fly to you,
Here I go, I may fall but I will try
So please, let me down easy
Please, just let me down easy
Please, just let me down easy

If you want me to follow, you know I'll fly

This is where I feel like I am right now. This song is full of hope.

10. How Good it Can Get ~ The Wallflowers
I've liked these guys for a long time. Jacob Dylan's voice... wow. Another song asking for a chance. Another song with an ending that grabs me. The chorus is misleading for my situation. It's not a matter of making someone into a lover... it's a matter of making them ... my lover.

Take a deep breath and hold it in tight
Push your face up right into the light
Can't you feel that full moon shining down on you

Help is coming from the great unknown
Just maybe not when you needed it most
Cause I can see that you already know that you're leaving

But I wish you'd stay
And just let me in
Cause everything can change
But you've got to be ready cause you won't know when

You won't believe just how good it can get
We'll make a lover out of you yet

11. Tonight, Tonight ~ Smashing Pumpkins
One of my favorite songs by these guys. Sounds great loud. Full lyrics.

Time is never time at all
You can never ever leave without leaving a piece of youth
And our lives are forever changed
We will never be the same
The more you change the less you feel
Believe, believe in me, and believe , believe!
That life can change, that you're not stuck in vain
We’re not the same, we're different.
Tonight, tonight, tonight
So bright
Tonight, tonight.
And you know you're never sure
But you're sure you could be right
If you held yourself up to the light
And the embers never fade in your city by the lake
The place where you were born
Believe, believe in me, and believe, believe.
In the resolute urgency of now
And if you believe there's not a chance tonight
Tonight, Tonight.
So bright tonight, tonight.
We’ll crucify the insincere tonight (Tonight)
We’ll make things right, we'll feel it all tonight (Tonight)
We’ll find a way to offer up the night tonight (Tonight)
The indescribable moments of your life (Tonight)
The impossible is possible tonight (Tonight)
Believe in me as I believe in you,
Tonight, tonight, tonight,
Tonight

Trust and optimism.

12. Desire ~ U2
Ripped this from the Live in Boston DVD. It's a stripped down version of the songs, but it's got good energy. The song isn't necessarily about love, but it's song that's always kind of made me think of sex.

13. Simply Being Loved (Somnabulist)~ BT
There are a lot of BT songs I like. They're great chillout songs. Or some of the more energetic ones are great for doing chores around the house. I just like this one a lot because it's got a simple message.

So little time, so little time
I'm so frustrated
Some little joy, so little joy
It's complicated
So little time, so little time time
To work it on out
(Yeah yeah)

So little joy, so little joy
It's complicated
I feel I'm stumbling in the dark
Somnambulated
I feel my heart seeking the sparks
I'm praying for love
(Love love)
Praying for love

So little joy, so little joy
It's complicated
Some little time, so little time
When your heart's been faded
So little hope, so little hope
I'm praying for love
(Love love)
Is more than enough

14. This Love ~ Maroon 5
I love this guy's voice. It's a cool video too. This is the live version of the song, which I prefer to the studio version. Another song that isn't really about hope; it's on the break-up playlist, but there are parts of it that seem to fit.

I'll fix these broken things
Repair your broken wings
And make sure everything's alright
(It’s alright, it’s alright)
My pressure on your hips
Sinking my fingertips
Into every inch of you
Cause I know that's what you want me to do

15. No Stopping Us ~ Jason Mraz
Song writers are so damn hopeful. And Jason Mraz is so damn happy and perky.

I will drive a thousand miles or I'll meet you at the station
If only you would take a vacation from this thing you have created
I promise to make it worth your while

So c'mon try. Baby wont you try
It's easy if you do not run
I promise you you'll have your fun
Because once we hit the top we've just begun

There's no stopping us.

16. Meaning (Stripped version) ~ Gavin DeGraw
I am so glad I spent the money to buy this CD from iTMS. I love his voice, I love his lyrics. I love this song. I've quoted it before, so here's my favorite part.

Restless minds; curtain calls follow fanfares
Troubled hearts; just a walk down the hall
Restless hearts; you take a punch just to land one
Troubled minds; it's only fair after all
Mountin' the trail, but you've got it in sight
Sometimes the only way is jumping
I hope you're not afraid of heights
Reach in my pocket for a bill that isn't there
And to face all of the undoings
Still isn't more than I can bear

The stripped version is a bit more personal. I'd love to see Gavin DeGraw in concert. A nice intimate show with the right person. Whoever that is...

17. Sunday Morning ~ Maroon 5
Yeah, these guys again. Acoustic version of this song... To me, Sunday mornings mean lounging in bed with your lover. That's why I included it. In my world, that's what Sunday mornings are for. Well, that and football. What can I say?

Sunday morning rain is falling
Steal some covers share some skin
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
You twist to fit the mold that I am in
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
And I would gladly hit the road get up and go if I knew
That someday it would lead me back to you
That someday it would lead me back to you

That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave\

18. Let's Get It On ~ Marvin Gaye
Is there another song out there that says "fuck me" more than this one? Really. I defy you to find one that is as soulful and filled full of longing as this one. And sex. This song screams sex.

I've been really tryin , baby
Tryin to hold back these feelings for so long
And if you feel, like I feel baby
Come on, oh come on,

Let's get it on
Lets get it on
Let's get it on
Let's get it on

We're all sensitive people
With so much love to give, understand me sugar
Since we got to be
Lets say, I love you

There's nothing wrong with me
Lovin you---
And giving yourself to me can never be wrong
If the love is true

Don't you know how sweet and wonderful, life can be
I'm askin you baby, to get it on with me
I ain't gonna worry, I ain't gonna push
So come on, come on, come on, come on baby
Stop beatin round the bush....

Let's get it on
Let's get it on
Let's get it on
Let's get it on

I'm not one to do karaoke. But given enough alcohol and prodding from friends, this is one song I would consider singing. Not likely to happen any time soon.

So that's it. I spent way too long writing all of this. But it was kinda fun.

Edited because I can't type at that hour apparently...