Music has been a part of my life for a long time.
During my teenage years I would buy at least one album a week. Me and my childhood best friend Kwame were obsessed with music. We would talk for hours about the lyrics, how we would have changed the album covers, how we wished some albums had more than 10 songs etc. Over the years music has become a friend, encourager, motivator and so much more. I agree with the lyrics that Brandy sings in her love ballad dedicated to music entitled....Music lol (look it up).
“ I wake up to you, go to sleep to you, and all between I’m hearing you.”
Many of my friends laugh at me when I tell them that I don't have a TV in my apartment. The question I often get is " what do you do for entertainment?". The answer is " Listen to music". There is nothing like winding down to a great album or playlist and being submerged by its beauty and power. There is literally a song for every emotion.
Music helps me to process things and serves as the soundtrack to many stages of my life. I have found certain songs to be so impactful that they actually changed my mood and/or perception on certain things that I'm going through. I have always been a lyric fanatic.
I love to research lyrics, interpret their meaning and pull away pieces that stick with me.
I want to share some of the songs that helped me along the way. This is just part one because my song catalog is mad strong!
What are some songs that have saved your life?
In Love, Peace, and Style,
Lonnie
Break The Shell - India. Arie Listen Here | Songversation [2013]
India, India, India! I feel like she is the Queen of healing lyrics. Her songs are like lyrical therapy and emotional yoga all in one. Always so meaningful, calming, thought provoking, and thoughtful. Woooo Weee, this song right her brought me through some tough times. This song is about that moment when you realize what you need to do but the only thing holding you back is actually making the move (breaking the shell).
Notable Lyrics
Child it's time to break the shell
Life's gonna hurt but it's meant to be felt
You cannot touch the sky from inside yourself
You cannot fly until you break the shell
Forgiven Me - Mary Mary Listen Here | The Sound [2008]
If you find yourself holding on to something that you did or didn't do in the past and placing yourself in a mental prison of guilt to the point that you can no longer love yourself or function, this song is exactly what you need to listen to. The lyrics help you to assess your situation, gives you the keys to taking responsibility and owning your story as you move forward in love.
Notable Lyrics
I never ever wanna press rewind, never wanna go back in time.
Not much glory in that story but it's mine so
I'm moving who I am today, the past has past away
finally I have forgiven me
Scared of Beautiful - Brandy Listen Here | Two Eleven [2012]
Self love is key and so many times I was afraid of my potential to be great that fear held me back from even trying. This song reminded me that sometimes it's the truth that we fear more than the lie and that we have to appreciate our inner beauty in it's fullness in order to be our best selves.
Notable Lyrics
No wonder why there's no mirrors on these walls no more
You can't tell me why your so terrified of beautiful
Scared of the good, more than the evil,
scared of the light more than the dark.
Scared of a truth so much more than a lie
I'm scared for me, scared of beautiful
Can't Take That Away [Mariah's Theme] - Mariah Carey Listen Here|Rainbow [1999]
Throughout life I've encounted people who attempted to tear me down. The impact of this type of negative energy can really be hurtful. Mariah is the queen of an authentic lyric and this song reminds all of us that our light simply cannot be dimmed and we must remind ourselves often.
Notable Lyrics
Although they do try hard to make me feel that
I don't matter at all, but I refuse to fall
Tell me what I believe or loose faith in my dreams'
Cause there's a light in me that shines brightly
They can try but they can't take that away from me
Some Kind of Way - Jidenna Listen Here | The Cheif [2017]
Sometimes during my childhood I would come home upset about being bullied or feeling out of place and usually as I sat down for dinner with my mother with a sad look on my face, my mom would ask "what's wrong?". I would usually reply "nothing" or "I'm fine", but momma always knew when something was bothering me. Usually I would open up after she pried, then I would tell her that I had been bullied or was dwelling on an insecurity. Like clockwork she would begin the " You are enough" speech. She would say and I quote " You are not better than anyone else and no one is better than you!" You will be too fat for some, too skinny for some, too tall for some and too short for others but you have to know who you are at all times. It took me until my late 20s to really appreciate that advice. What mom was saying is that no matter what you do, somebody is going to still critique you, so you have to know your worth and live in your truth. Jidenna created a song which I consider the song version of the "You Are Enough" speech called " Some Kind Of Way" I love that Jidenna performs this song because as an educator I am so excited to share this with the high school students that I work with because at that age we are so heavily influenced by the pressure of what others thing of us.
Notable Lyrics
No matter what you say
Or where you go or what you do
Or how you pray
Somebody's gonna feel some kind of way
Somebody's gonna feel some kind of way about you
You can't hide your face
We're waiting for you to come out and play
Somebody's gonna feel some kind of way
Somebody's gonna feel some kind of way about you