From the Mind of Bob

What I think, what I hear, what I see

Overcome and move forward

2021-12-14 Music Bob Ossler

Send away for a priceless gift
One not subtle, one not on the list
Send away for a perfect world
One not simply, so absurd
In these times of doing what you’re told
Keep these feelings, no one knows
What ever happened to the young man’s heart?
Swallowed by pain, as he slowly fell apart

Shinedown - .45


This is a great song with a powerful message. Despite what many folks thought, this song is not about suicide or really staring down the barrel of a .45; it’s about picking up the pieces and moving forward.

Believe

2021-12-14 Music Bob Ossler

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching
In the night
Streetlight people
Livin’ just to find emotion
Hidin’ somewhere in the night

Journey - Don’t Stop Believin’


I’ve seen Journey a number of times. Their shows with The Babys were phenomenal. Wish Steve Perry and the band could have worked things out; they’ve had some great songs. This song was used as a theme for the White Sox championship season in 2005.

There is also a backstory to choosing these lyrics, but that will have to wait for another day.

When it's time to let go

2021-12-14 Music Bob Ossler

Have you seen my hands, just look at ‘em shake.
And the song just keeps on repeating, drop the needle again.
And I dance with your ghost.
But that ain’t the way…
I can’t move on and I can’t stay the same.
And all my friends say…
“Hey, turn the record over. Hey, I’ll see you on the flip side.
There you go, turn the key and engine over… Let her go, let somebody else lay at her feet.”

The Gaslight Anthem - 45


Some times you have to just let go of bad situations. It’s not about giving up, it’s about accepting when things can’t be fixed and time to move on. I’m really impressed by The Gaslight Anthem. They have some really great songs and very intelligent lyrics. There will be additional posts from their songs. This is from the album Handwritten; a favorite of mine.

The love that got away or when it's not meant to be

2021-12-13 Music Bob Ossler

Did you sleep last night and do you remember dreams?
Do I ever cross your mind and do you ever think of me?
When you think about your life are there things you would reverse?
I still remember holding you, just out of sight of her
In the deep, dark parking lot pressed up against my car
With your hands around my neck I felt the pounding of your heart

The Gaslight Anthem - Mulholland Drive


This is my favorite song off of the album Handwritten. The music and lyrics set the mood perfectly. There’s always one that gets away. There are lots of reasons why good relationships don’t last. Sometimes you are in the right place, but at the wrong time. This is the juxstaposition of memories; it might be a sad event, but all of the good memories around it make you smile.

As a bonus tonight, there is a second set of lines from the song that I also find very powerful…

And I can still recall the hour when you first let down your walls
I thought I might’ve died right there floating up above it all
But it scared you love, to need someone, so you killed it all instead

The Gaslight Anthem - Mulholland Drive

Without the music it doesn’t quite do the song justice. Maybe I’ll come back and post an audio clip…

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Summertime and young love

2021-12-13 Music Bob Ossler

Those crazy nights, I do remember in my youth
I do recall, those were the best times, most of all
In the heat with a blue jean girl
Burnin’ love comes once in a lifetime
She found me singing by the rail road track
Took me home, we danced by moonlight

Journey - Stone In Love


I love to think back to my summers growing up in Chicago Heights. Great friends, great times! Music was always a big part of it, too. One summer, I got to see Journey three times in a two-month span. Isn’t young love grand? There is so much more this memory brings, but I’m not ready to share it all yet. Gotta leave some for future posts…

Old school -- written by hand

2021-12-13 Music Bob Ossler

And we waited for sirens that never come
And we only write by the moon, every word handwritten
And to ease the loss of youth and how many years I’ve missed you
Pages plead forgiveness, every word handwritten

The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten


I’m not sure why this verse appeals to me so much. I guess it is because it seems so pure and honest to write something by hand. I don’t consider myself a “writer”, I’ve been know to pen a letter, but it’s been many years since I wrote anything by hand. I’m a geek; I use a keyboard.

Savor every moment

2021-12-13 Music Bob Ossler

Let’s pretend our days are numbered
And live them out
We’ll live them in the order given
By those who gave them out
Because there is no… reason to run
There is no reason to run

The Inventors - Beehive


The Inventors are rising stars out of Chicago. They are a very tight 4-man band with intelligent lyrics. This song is off their 2015 EP The Procedure Room. It’s my favorite song on the EP and I just love the opening verse. I’ll admit I have some bias, my son Grant used to be the drummer and appears on this EP, but these guys are AWESOME!

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