Name 10 songs that over the course of time, have meant something to me, and say why

I listed the ten songs that I feel have affected me the most. I would like to thank Aatmiya Yogini for inviting me to do this and for being an all around source of optimism and motivation.

I also would like to heartily recommend this item to EVERYONE.

1) Chain of Love by Clay Walker.

This is the most beautiful story I’ve ever heard in a song. I’ve listened to it countless times and I still cry every time the waitress says, “I love you Joe.” I can’t imagine finding a song that touches me more.

You don’t owe me a thing, I’ve been there too. Someone once helped me out, Just the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, Here’s what you do – Don’t let the chain of love end with you.

Have you seen the movie Pay It Forward ? It embodies this song perfectly. The idea is that you go out of your way to do kind deed toward others and that the snowballing effect of this will make the world a better place for all of us. And, it may be one of your very own kind acts that provides the seed for your biggest salvation. :-)

I can’t recommend this song or that movie enough. Plus, the movie has my favorite actor, Kevin Spacey.

2) I Get Knocked Down by Chumbawamba.

What can I say? This song just motivates the crappy thinking right out of me. Listening to this, I don’t have the time or energy for pity-pot thinking or any aspect of the victim mentality. This song reminds me that no matter where I am, I can always get back up and fight again. And if I can fight again, I still have a shot at victory.

I get knocked down, But I get up again. You’re never going to Keep me down

3) Just Another Day in Paradise by Phil Vassar.

This song came out when I was struggling with quite a load of difficult situations. My wife had just been denied access to the United States, I was having to drive 200 miles round trip to go to work, and a couple guys at work decided it would be fun to try and get me fired. This song helped me put things into perspective.

Well, it’s ok. It’s so nice, It’s just another day in paradise. Well, there’s no place that I’d rather be. Well, it’s two hearts, And one dream. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, And I ask the lord every night, For just another day in paradise

I still love this song.

4) Tell Her About It by Billy Joel.

I could probably populate this whole list of ten with songs by Billy Joel and not feel too bad about it. I grew up listening to his music and identifying with his view of love and life.

This song, however, holds a particular place in my heart because it helped me to see the importance of letting someone know that I liked them. That relationship didn’t go anywhere, but it did help me to see that telling someone I like them wasn’t going to kill me regardless of how they responded.

5) Next Time I Fall by Peter Cetera

I shouldn’t be putting this song up here. The one that belongs instead is, Glory of Love, also by Peter Cetera.

The reason I went with this song rather than the one that belongs is because the one that belongs was the song of my first wife and I. We both fell in love, too young, and weren’t properly prepared for the challenges of life. We were married but then separated as I was in the Army and she was in the Air Force.

For many years, this song would leave me in a deep depression due to how I didn’t prove to be her “knight in shinging armor.” It no longer affects me that way.

But, since I finally had to move on and heal, I’m choosing Next Time I Fall rather than The Glory of Love as my number five song.

6) You’ll Think of Me by Keith Urban

Take your records, take your freedom. Take your memories I don’t need’em. Take your space and take your reasons, But you’ll think of me. And take your cat and leave my sweater, ‘Cause we have nothing left to weather. In fact I’ll feel a whole lot better, But you’ll think of me, you’ll think of me

This song came out about the same time that my wife walked out on me. I had tried so hard to make that marriage work and so when she packed up her stuff and moved out, I figured it was for the best. This song was such a comfort to me at that time.

And, as it turned out, she did think of me a lot. She even wanted to get back together again, but I decided I didn’t want to go there again.

7) I Wanna Die by Miranda Lambert

OK, don’t get the wrong idea here. This isn’t a cry for help. I just LOVE this song. First of all, Miranda Lambert puts so much raw emotion into her singing. Then there’s the fun, toe-tapping beat. Plus, it does such a great job of describing what my love life has been—“First you love it then you hate it.”

I can relate to so many of the words:

“I know you ain’t a liar, but you don’t tell the truth.”

“I know you’re a player, but you don’t play by the rules.”

“Somebody always loses and we still play the game. Yeah, the fire will always burn you and we still light the flame.”

8) Unanswered Prayers by Garth Brooks

This is one song I always come back to. I don’t understand why I’ve had to go through some of the garbage I’ve survived, but I can’t help but think there’s a reason. The more I go through, the more I’m able to help others who are going through something similar. So, while I wish I wouldn’t have had to endure a bit of what I’ve gone through, I’m glad that it’s prepared me to help someone else.

9) How Do You Like Me Now by Toby Keith.

This is a song about not giving up on a dream just because nobody think’s you can do it. The key to any project is to believe in yourself and plug along regardless of the obstacles.