So TV/movie generation that we are, don't you sometimes wish that your life had a soundtrack? I mean, sure, we all have songs we turn to in times of happiness, sadness, grief, longing, celebration, even boredom. But that isn't the same as a real-time soundtrack that you have no control over that both reflects what is going on right that moment and whispers clues about what's coming. I've always wanted a soundtrack. Alas, I have had to settle for those oh so seldom soundtrack moments. They are rare, before this weekend I couldn't tell you the last time I had such a moment. This one though I won't forget. No matter what happens in the future, that song playing at that moment was just too memorable.
Those songs we all know, have all heard a million times, can all sing along with to a point, do you ever look up the lyrics to see what exactly they are about?
Remember the Simple Minds song from
The Breakfast Club? Pretty sure it plays at the end when the kids are leaving, going their own ways. Ever read the lyrics on that one? Well I hadn't. And as that was my most recent soundtrack moment, I decided to look up the lyrics. Here you go...
"Don't You (Forget About Me)"
Hey, hey, hey ,hey
Ohhh...
Won't you come see about me?
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby
Tell me your troubles and doubts
Giving me everything inside and out and
Love's strange so real in the dark
Think of the tender things that we were working on
Slow change may pull us apart
When the light gets into your heart, baby
Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Don't Don't Don't
Don't You Forget About Me
Will you stand above me?
Look my way, never love me
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down
Will you recognise me?
Call my name or walk on by
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down, down
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Ohhhh.....
Don't you try to pretend
It's my feeling we'll win in the end
I won't harm you or touch your defenses
Vanity and security
Don't you forget about me
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby
Going to take you apart
I'll put us back together at heart, baby
Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Don't Don't Don't
Don't You Forget About Me
As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
When you walk away
Or will you walk away?
Will you walk on by?
Come on - call my name
Will you call my name?
I say:
La la la...
Any surprises in there? The bold parts are the parts I didn't know were there that surprised me. I always hear the song as I saw the movie: in the movie I thought the kids went their separate ways. Period. The hope was that they would remember some of what they had learned that day, but I didn't think any of them would remain in each others lives. And so that's how I always heard the song. A plea to be remembered in some way. But after reading the lyrics, I see more hope in the song. The singer isn't pleading for anything. He is stating his case, and he is telling you not to forget. The singer thinks things will be okay, that what was broken can be made right again, and so now it's up to you... just call his name, and he's there.
Why am I obsessing over this? Well, like I said, this was a recent soundtrack moment for me. I tend to hear the song as kind of a sad song, and I didn't want to have a sad song playing in my head every time I think of that particular moment. The moment itself was difficult enough without adding a sad song. Now that I've read the lyrics, it's not such a sad song to me. It's more hopeful. And so that helps a little. Or at least, it doesn't make it worse.
