This Is America - Childish Gambino

Artist: Childish Gambino
Song: This Is America
Year: 2018
Album: This Is America (single)

I was watching Saturday Night Live when I saw Donald Glover take the stage as Childish Gambino on May 5, 2018. It was mesmerizing. I was a big fan of his already, but this definitely solidified that status in my mind.






Lyrics:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away

We just wanna party
Party just for you
We just want the money
Money just for you
I know you wanna party
Party just for me
Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, you got me dancin')
Dance and shake the frame
We just wanna party (yeah)
Party just for you (yeah)
We just want the money (yeah)
Money just for you (you)
I know you wanna party (yeah)
Party just for me (yeah)
Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, you got me dancin')
Dance and shake the frame (you)

This is America
Don't catch you slippin' up
Don't catch you slippin' up
Look what I'm whippin' up
This is America (woo)
Don't catch you slippin' up
Don't catch you slippin' up
Look what I'm whippin' up

This is America (skrrt, skrrt, woo)
Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy)
Look at how I'm livin' now
Police be trippin' now (woo)
Yeah, this is America (woo, ayy)
Guns in my area (word, my area)
I got the strap (ayy, ayy)
I gotta carry 'em
Yeah, yeah, I'ma go into this (ugh)
Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla (woo)
Yeah, yeah, I'ma go get the bag
Yeah, yeah, or I'ma get the pad
Yeah, yeah, I'm so cold like yeah (yeah)
I'm so dope like yeah (woo)
We gon' blow like yeah (straight up, uh)

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
You go tell somebody
Grandma told me
Get your money, black man (get your money)
Get your money, black man (get your money)
Get your money, black man (get your, black man)
Get your money, black man (get your, black man)
Black man

This is America (woo, ayy)
Don't catch you slippin' up (woo, woo, don't catch you slippin', now)
Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy, woah)
Look what I'm whippin' up (Slime!)
This is America (yeah, yeah)
Don't catch you slippin' up (woah, ayy)
Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy, woo)
Look what I'm whippin' up (ayy)

Look how I'm geekin' out (hey)
I'm so fitted (I'm so fitted, woo)
I'm on Gucci (I'm on Gucci)
I'm so pretty (yeah, yeah)
I'm gon' get it (ayy, I'm gon' get it)
Watch me move (blaow)
This a celly (ha)
That's a tool (yeah)
On my Kodak (woo, Black)
Ooh, know that (yeah, know that, hold on)
Get it (get it, get it)
Ooh, work it (21)
Hunnid bands, hunnid bands, hunnid bands (hunnid bands)
Contraband, contraband, contraband (contraband)
I got the plug on Oaxaca (woah)
They gonna find you like blocka (blaow)

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
America, I just checked my following list and
You go tell somebody
You mothafuckas owe me
Grandma told me
Get your money, black man (black man)
Get your money, black man (black man)
Get your money, black man (black man)
Get your money, black man (black man)
Black man (one, two, three, get down)

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
You go tell somebody
Grandma told me, "Get your money, " black man
Get your money, black man (black man)
Get your money, black man (black man)
Get your money, black man (black man)
Black man

You just a black man in this world
You just a barcode, ayy
You just a black man in this world
Drivin' expensive foreigns, ayy
You just a big dawg, yeah
I kenneled him in the backyard
No proper life to a dog
For a big dog

Heart Of The Sunrise - Yes

Artist: Yes
Song: Heart Of The Sunrise
Year: 1971
Album: Fragile

I saw Yes in concert in 2018. This song was one of the many highlights during the set. They put on a terrific concert!




Lyrics:

Love comes to you and you follow
Lose one on to the heart of the sunrise
Sharp distance
How can the wind with its arms
All around me

Lost on a wave and then after
Dream on on to the heart of the sunrise
Sharp distance
How can the wind with so many around me
Lost in the city

Lost in their eyes as you hurry by
Counting the broken ties they decide
Love comes to you and then after
Dream on on to the heart of the sunrise
Lost on a wave that you're dreaming
Dream on on to the heart of the sunrise
Sharp distance
How can the wind with its arms all around me
Sharp distance
How can the wind with so many around me
I feel lost in the city

Lost in their eyes as you hurry by
Counting the broken ties they decided

Straight light moving and removing
Sharpness of the color sun shine
Straight light searching all the meanings of the song
Long last treatment of the telling that
Relates to all the words sung
Dreamer easy in the chair that really fits you

Love comes to you and then after
Dream on on to the heart of the sunrise
Sharp distance
How can the wind with its arms all around me
Sharp distance
How can the wind with so many around me
I feel lost in the city

No Flex Zone - Rae Sremmurd

Artist: Rae Sremmurd
Song: No Flex Zone
Year: 2015
Album: SremmLife

A few years ago, I heard this song emanating from my daughter's room. Constantly. Before long, I found it infectious. The song was stuck in my head and it's undeniably an earworm. I've listened to it ever since.





 Lyrics:

No flex zone, no flex zone
They know better, they know better
No flex zone, no flex zone
They know better, they know better
Won a gold medal
And a gold bezel
I treat it so special
Now your ho jealous
Freak Hoes, got several
They tens or better
I'm a trendsetter
I'm a go-getter

Swae Lee, Lee Swae, it's the same difference
H2O, lean, same thing
Niggas throw up sets and gang bang
Free everybody in a chaingang
Been two days since I laid down
Kool Moe Dee five chains on
Versace, them rings on it
Say my fucking name ho
Yea them diamonds so cool
Yea that old school mine fool
Never heard about you
All my hoes they so rude
Tats all on me nigga
Trill ass individual
Dumb check I'm that nigga
Sit on my Balmain zipper
I got a airtight schedule
Fuck your bitch, just met her
Pink…

No flex zone, no flex zone
They know better, they know better
No flex zone, no flex zone
They know better, they know better
Won a gold medal
And a gold bezel
I treat it so special
Now your ho jealous
Freak Hoes, got several
They tens or better
I'm a trendsetter
I'm a go-getter

Young niggas got get to the money
Five chains so they look at me funny
Showed up with the juice and the troops
Roll a seven every time I shoot
She said why you have so many condoms with you
I said I'm a player to be honest with you
Hublot (Whoo!) So shiny
Mind you my crew right behind me
Went shopping, could've bought an island
Talking money when I'm with Italians
Spilling purple on the red carpet
And I'm flyer than a nigga on a hang glider
4-5-6-7 chains on
Just stay in your lane ho
Don't you like these A-wings?
Don't you like these gold fangs?
You a well known flexer
I'm a young trendsetter
These hoes they reckless
They slick, they messy
Three hoes freak dancing
Wit' the loud singing acapella
Chain clang like heavy metal
Slim killed the haters, God bless 'em

No flex zone, No flex zone
They know better, they know better
No flex zone, No flex zone
They know better, they know better
Won a gold medal
And a gold bezel
I treat it so special
Now your ho jealous
Freak Hoes, got several
They tens or better
I'm a trendsetter
I'm a go-getter

Human - Rag'n'Bone Man

Artist: Rag'n'Bone Man
Song: Human
Year: 2017
Album: Human

The first time I heard this on the radio, I literally stopped everything that I was doing and listened. It struck me that much. Some songs just have that unexpected impact on first listen.




Lyrics:

I'm only human
I'm only, I'm only
I'm only human, human

Maybe I'm foolish
Maybe I'm blind
Thinking I can see through this
And see what's behind
Got no way to prove it
So maybe I'm blind
But I'm only human after all
I'm only human after all
Don't put your blame on me
Don't put your blame on me

Take a look in the mirror
And what do you see
Do you see it clearer
Or are you deceived
In what you believe
'Cause I'm only human after all
You're only human after all
Don't put the blame on me
Don't put your blame on me

Some people got the real problems
Some people out of luck
Some people think I can solve them
Lord heavens above
I'm only human after all
I'm only human after all
Don't put the blame on me
Don't put the blame on me

Don't ask my opinion
Don't ask me to lie
Then beg…

Resistance - Muse

Artist: Muse
Song: Resistance
Year: 2009
Album: The Resistance

A song that I interpret as conquering those trying to keep love apart.



Lyrics:
Is your secret safe tonight?
And are we out of sight?
Or will our world come tumbling down?

Will they find our hiding place?
Is this our last embrace?
Or will the walls start caving in?

(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
But it should've been right
(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
Let our hearts ignite
(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
Are we digging a hole?
(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
This is outta control

(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
It could never last
(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
Must erase it fast
(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
But it could've been right
(It could be wrong, could be...)

Love is our resistance
They keep us apart and they won't stop breaking us down
And hold me, our lips must always be sealed

If we live our life in fear
I'll wait a thousand years
Just to see you smile again

Quell your prayers for love and peace
You'll wake the thought police
We can hide the truth inside

(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
But it should've been right
(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
Let our hearts ignite
(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
Are we digging a hole?
(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
This is outta control

(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
It could never last
(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
Must erase it fast
(It could be wrong, could be wrong)
But it could've been right
(It could be wrong, could be...)

Love is our resistance!
They keep us apart and won't stop breaking us down
And hold me, our lips must always be sealed

The night has reached its end
We can't pretend
We must run
We must run
It's time to run

Take us away from here
Protect us from further harm
Resistance!

Sanctuary - J Geils Band

Artist: J. Geils Band
Song: Sanctuary
Year: 1978
Album: Sanctuary

Rest in peace, Allan Stagg. I always tried to catch his radio show, Sanctuary. This was the theme song to that show.

Lyrics:
Times are tough -- frustration
Need relief -- medication
Gone too far -- intoxication
Fight the urge -- temptation
Miles ago -- no destination
Is it real -- hallucination
Lose the dream -- stagnation
You feel so lost -- desperation

Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary

It's much too close -- contamination
Love and pain -- deviation
Just suck it up -- ejaculation
It's much too late -- damnation

Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary

When I was young, my mother told me
She said, "Son, someday everything's gonne be all right"

There's no escape -- there's no salvation

It's much too dark for revelation

Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary...

Falling Away From Me - Korn

Artist: Korn
Song: Falling Away From Me
Year: 1999
Album: Issues

I went to see Korn at the Congress Theater in Chicago, Illinois on February 24, 2012. This is video from that performance. I am somewhere in the crowd to the right and more towards the front of the person who took this video. The mosh pit formed next to where I was standing, to my right. Good times!

Lyrics:
Hey, I'm feelin' tired
My time is gone today
You flirt with suicide
Sometimes that's okay
Do what others say
I'm here standing hollow
Falling away from me
Falling away from me

The day is here, fading
That's when I'm insane
I flirt with suicide
Sometimes kill the pain
I can always say
It's gonna be better tomorrow
Falling away from me
Falling away from me

Beating me down
Beating me, beating me
Down, down
Into the ground
Screaming some sound
Beating me, beating me
Down, down
Into the ground

Falling away from me
It's spinning round and round
Falling away from me
It's lost and can't be found
Falling away from me
It's spinning round and round
Falling away from me
Throw it down

Beating me down
Beating me, beating me
Down, down
Into the ground
Screaming some sound
Beating me, beating me
Down, down
Into the ground

Twisting me
Then walk away
So I pray
Go away

Life's falling away from me
It's falling away from me
Life's falling away from me
Fuck!

Beating me down
Beating me, beating me
Down, down
Into the ground
Screaming some sound
Beating me, beating me
Down, down
Into the ground
Falling away from me
Beating me beating me
Falling away from me
Down, down
Into the ground
Falling away from me
Screaming some sound
Beating me, beating me
Falling away from me
Down, down
Into the ground

Didn't We Almost Have It All - Whitney Houston

Artist: Whitney Houston
Song: Didn't We Almost Have It All
Year: 1987
Album: Whitney

Loved listening to Whitney back in the 80s. After the 80s... not so much.

Lyrics:
Remember when we held on in the rain
The night we almost lost it
Once again we can take the night
Into tomorrow living on feelings
Touching you I feel it all again

Didn't we almost have it all
When love was all we had worth giving?
The ride with you was worth the fall my friend
Loving you makes life worth living

Didn't we almost have it all
The nights we held on till the morning
You know you'll never love that way again
Didn't we almost have it all

The way you used to touch me felt so fine
You kept our hearts together down the line
A moment in the soul can last forever
Comfort and keep us
Help me bring the feeling back again

Didn't we almost have it all
When love was all we had worth giving?
The ride with you was worth the fall my friend
Loving you makes life worth living

Didn't we almost have it all
The nights we held on till the morning
You know you'll never love that way again
Didn't we almost have it all

Didn't we have the best of times
When love was young and new
Couldn't we reach inside and find
Find love of me and you, we'll never lose it again
Because once you know what love is
You'll never let it end

Didn't we almost have it all
When love was all we had worth giving?
The ride with you was worth the fall my friend
Loving you makes life worth living

Didn't we almost have it all
The nights we held on till the morning
You know you'll never love that way again
Didn't we almost have it all

Didn't we almost have it all

Going To California - Led Zeppelin

Artist: Led Zeppelin
Song: Going To California
Year: 1971
Album: Led Zeppelin IV

When a years long relationship ended for reasons that I didn't agree with, I immediately thought of this song and it became my new mantra.

Lyrics:
Spent my days with a woman unkind
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine.
Made up my mind to make a new start
Going To California with an aching in my heart.
Someone told me there's a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.
Took my chances on a big jet plane
Never let them tell you that they're all the same.
The sea was red and the sky was grey
Wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today.
The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake
As the children of the sun began to awake.

Seems that the wrath of the Gods
Got a punch on the nose and it started to flow;
I think I might be sinking.
Throw me a line if I reach it in time
I'll meet you up there where the path
Runs straight and high.

To find a queen without a king,
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings... la la la
Ride a white mare in the footsteps of dawn
Tryin' to find a woman who's never, never, never been born.
Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams,
Telling myself it's not as hard, hard, hard as it seems.

More Than You Know - Eddie Vedder

Artist: Eddie Vedder
Song: More Than You Know
Year: 2011
Album: Ukulele Songs

Eddie Vedder is magical with a ukulele.

Lyrics:
More than you know, more than you know
Lately I find you're on my mind
More than you know

Whether I'm right, whether I'm wrong
I need you so
More than you know, more than you know

Loving you the way that I do
There's nothing I can do about it
And a little bit of love that I get
May be all that you can give
But I can't live without it

Oh how I'd cry, oh how I'd cry
If you got tired and said, "Goodbye"
More than I'd show
More than you'd ever, ever know
More than you know
More than you'd ever, ever know
More than you know