Song Lyric Sunday – Chocolate by Snow Patrol

I find it strange that no matter how hard I try to go in a different direction, I always seem to end up with the first thing that came into my head when I came up with the theme.  It’s no different this week.  I thought this song was maybe sideways to the theme, but chocolate is technically candy, right?

Ever since I first heard Snow Patrol on the radio, I’ve loved them.  Although the video is slightly weird and I find that the lyrics have nothing whatsoever to do with chocolate, I still love it.  If you stick around for the ending of the video, it’s worth it.  I finally understood what the video was about, anyway, and I think it’s an important message.  We don’t always have to run just because there’s a deadline or a clock ticking down, but we always seem to do it just because we should.  I don’t know, it’s worth thinking about.

Anyway, even though the lyrics don’t fit the theme, I figure the title does (sort of), and that’s good enough for me.

I hope you enjoy!

This could be the very minute
I’m aware I’m alive
All these places feel like home

With a name I’d never chosen
I can make my first steps
As a child of twenty-five

This is the straw, final straw in the
Roof of my mouth as I lie to you
Just because I’m sorry doesn’t mean
I didn’t enjoy it at the time

You’re the only thing that I love
Scares me more every day
On my knees I think clearer

Goodness knows I saw it coming
Or at least I’ll claim I did
But in truth I’m lost for words

What have I done? It’s too late for that
What have I become? Truth is nothing yet

A simple mistake starts the hardest time
I promise I’ll do anything you ask, this time

Written by Gary Lightbody, Jonathan Graham Quinn, Mark Pete Mcclelland, Nathan Connolly • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group

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The Song Lyric Sunday theme for this week was sugar/candy.  Please feel free to click the link, read the rules and post one of your own.

Song Lyric Sunday Theme for 12/31/17

I don’t think I’m alone in being surprised that the year is over.  Where did it go?  It seemed to fly by in a flurry of hospitals, doctor visits and work.  That doesn’t sound too positive, and it really wasn’t, but I’ve decided to have a better attitude and focus more on what’s going right, rather than what’s gone wrong.

I used to come up with the themes on the spot, but I’ve found that some planning is nice.  It helps take the pressure off a bit; however, it also makes it so that the theme isn’t always relevant to what’s going on.  The last few weeks had nothing to do with the holidays (except my own interpretation), so I’m excited that this week’s theme actually sort of fits.

If you’re like me and most of the population, you’ve indulged way too much this holiday season, and just when you thought you were almost done and could start eating healthy, I’m throwing you this.  Let’s make it the last hoorah before starting that health kick that will probably only last a month or two.  What do you say?

 

Anyway, our theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week is “sugar/candy”.  

As always, you can go your own way and post a song that has nothing to do with the prompt.  We’re all here sharing our love of music and lyrics, and most of all, having a great time!

I’m teaming up with Simply Marquessa  and this week’s SLS theme was inspired by her weekly LyricalFictionFriday theme: “He looks like a cool drink of water but he’s candy-coated misery…” from the song Cowboy Casanova by Carrie Underwood.

If you would like to suggest a theme, I am open to suggestions.   Please either pop it in the comments or send me an email at helenvahdati@yahoo.com.

Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due and it’s honestly just a simple Google search
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to this post or my own Song Lyric Sunday post
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

Feel free to use the Song Lyric Sunday badge by copying it into your post or add it to your site to show you are participating.

SoCS – A Fresh Start (or is it?)

I feel like 2017 started with so many resolutions.  We’d just moved into a new house, we were planning a wedding and things couldn’t have been better.  I was still recovering from surgery, but it was all looking so fantastic.  Little did I know how the year would end up and how all those resolutions would be put to the test.  It’s been a rough year, to say the least.

In talking to many different people, it seems that many of us struggled through this year.  Isn’t it strange that we all look around for something to blame?  Was there a full moon every day this year?  Did the stars realign to a point that brought bad luck to everyone?  Was it because Trump is president? (I had to throw that one in there for good measure).

Whatever the reason, it seems to have been a hard year for many of us.  With that comes a sense of wanting to have a fresh new start.  I dislike the idea that something should be started with the new year or the new month or a new week.  It always seemed so strange to me that you wouldn’t just start doing whatever it is.  If you make a resolution, why wait to start it sometime in the future?

However, I fall trap to it every year myself.  For some reason, that fresh start is a powerful thing.  The idea that the slate will be wiped clean and we have a whole new set of months to fill up with whatever we choose.  Of course, as we’ve seen this year, fate or whatever does have some role, so we can’t always choose how things will go.

What we can choose is our attitude.  I’ve had a pretty crappy attitude, especially the last part of this year, and I kept telling myself that I just needed to make it through this year and the next would be better.  I’m thinking I missed out on some months that could have been better, though.

I’m always preaching that it’s best to live in the moment because the past is gone and who knows what tomorrow will bring.  I suppose this little post here is my wake up call.  2018 only being a few days away might have something to do with it too, but I’d like to think that maybe I’ve just grown?

I hope you all have a happy and safe New Year celebration!

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday  is hosted by Linda G Hill. Today’s prompt is “resolution.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

  

#LyricalFictionFriday – “Cowboy Casanova” #fictionfriday #marquessachallenge

It’s that time again folks. The wheels are already turning with this great prompt.

Please click the link below to participate. Comments and pings will be turned off here.

#1MinFiction – Sammy’s First Christmas

I run in the house and make a bee-line for Mom.  She’s standing in the middle of the room and I almost knock her over in my enthusiasm.  She laughs, which encourages me to jump up and lap my tongue against her face.

“Sammy, down!”

I plop down and glance back up just to make sure she isn’t really mad.  It’s then I notice the smell.  It’s the woods, but it’s in the house.  I glance up at Mom and turn my head to the side, confused.

“What is it, Sammy?”

I start following the smell and finally find it.  What are the woods doing in the house?

“It’s the Christmas tree.  What do you think, girl?”

I sniff and continue moving closer and closer.  I try to resist, but honestly, the humans must know what happens in the woods.  My leg lifts.

“Sammy!  No!”

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#1MinFiction is brought to us by Nortina at Lovely Curses.  Please feel free to click the link and join in the fun.

Admission time… this was not written in one minute.  I think I need more practice in order to do it, but I did try and will keep trying.

For other Sammy stories, click here.

Song Lyric Sunday – Sign of the Times by Harry Styles

I heard this song when I was playing a random alternative playlist on Apple music and I fell in love with it.  When I was trying to figure out what song to post for today’s theme, I went and did a little research on this one and found out that Harry Styles was part of One Direction.  Not that the information would have turned me off of this song or his voice.  I think both are masterful.

The reason I picked this one today was how relevant it is.  History has shown us that there are so many dangers, but it seems we keep making the same mistakes and walking straight into danger rather than seeking to make change.  I think our political climate today is indicative of it and I can only hope that the newer generation will actually learn from all our retarded mistakes and make the necessary changes.

The song has been stuck in my head all day and I’m hoping it has the same affect on you.  Enjoy!

Just stop your crying
It’s a sign of the times
Welcome to the final show
Hope you’re wearing your best clothes
You can’t bribe the door on your way to the sky
You look pretty good down here
But you ain’t really good

If we never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets
We never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets

Just stop your crying
It’s a sign of the times
We gotta get away from here
We gotta get away from here
Just stop your crying
It’ll be alright
They told me that the end is near
We gotta get away from here

Just stop your crying
Have the time of your life
Breaking through the atmosphere
And things are pretty good from here
Remember everything will be alright
We can meet again somewhere
Somewhere far away from here

We never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets
We never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets

Just stop your crying
It’s a sign of the times
We gotta get away from here
We gotta get away from here
Stop your crying
Baby, it will be alright
They told me that the end is near
We gotta get away from here

We never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets
We never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets

We don’t talk enough
We should open up
Before it’s all too much
Will we ever learn?
We’ve been here before
It’s just what we know

Stop your crying, baby
It’s a sign of the times
We gotta get away
We got to get away
We got to get away
We got to get away
We got to get away
We got to, we got to (away)
We got to, we got to (away)
We got to, we got to (away)

Songwriters: Alex Salibian / Harry Styles / Jeffrey Bhasker / Mitch Rowland / Ryan Nasci / Tyler Sam Johnson

Sign of the Times lyrics © Cypmp, BMG Rights Management US, LLC

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The Song Lyric Sunday theme for this week was danger.  Please feel free to click the link, read the rules and post one of your own.

Song Lyric Sunday Theme for 12/24/17

I was rather surprised last week at how everyone embraced the prompt.  I thought it was way outside the “norm”, especially considering the time of year, but you all took it in stride and really made me feel like I sort of have a handle on this whole thing.  I’m just hoping you stick with me through this week too.

This prompt is also outside the “norm” of what you might think of for this holiday’s eve, but I will do my best to explain my logic.  This isn’t necessarily a safe time of year.  People go shopping and get angry and upset and they sometimes take it out on strangers.  It’s also not really safe for the old bank account.  Does anyone really save up for it?  If you do, I salute you, because I think that’s amazing.  For me, it was always a burden.  Trying to come up with an “extra” portion of money when there just isn’t any is truly scary and not fun at all.

So, without further preamble, I give you our theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week: “danger”.  

As always, you can go your own way and post a song that has nothing to do with the prompt.  We’re all here sharing our love of music and lyrics, and most of all, having a great time!

I’m teaming up with Simply Marquessa  and this week’s SLS theme was inspired by her weekly LyricalFictionFriday theme: “I’m locked and loaded…completely focused…my mind is open…” from the song Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande.

If you would like to suggest a theme, I am open to suggestions.   Please either pop it in the comments or send me an email at helenvahdati@yahoo.com.

Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due and it’s honestly just a simple Google search
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to this post or my own Song Lyric Sunday post
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

Feel free to use the Song Lyric Sunday badge by copying it into your post or add it to your site to show you are participating.

SoCS – An unconventional attitude (or maybe not)?

You’ll be happy to note that I actually showed up to write some stream of consciousness today.  I know I’m pretty happy about it.  It’s been far too long and I realized yesterday, that there was a part of me that was scared about it.  Do I still have it?  Can I still write?

I answered that question for myself in a pretty satisfying way yesterday, and even though the story wasn’t my best work, at least I wrote something.

This time of year isn’t my favorite, and I’ve pretty well settled in to being the bah-humbug.  I think it’s always a little scary to embrace the opposite of what people consider normal.  To be honest, I’ve been working so much I haven’t even really thought about the holiday all that much.  The only time it really upsets me is when I’m grocery shopping or at lunch and the damn songs are playing.

I think there will be some songs that I will always love (I do love music after all), but the sheer over-abundance of the same songs played over and over (in varying ways) can get a little mind-numbing.  Or, maybe it just makes me feel like it’s all being forced on me when all I want is a little peace from it.

We haven’t received much snow here, but supposedly that’s going to change in the next three days.  I don’t know for sure, though.  All I really know is that I saw the little snowflake on my weather app for the next three days, but knowing the weather app the way I do, that could change from minute to minute.  It could also mean that it’s just “sort of” snow rather than the thick sticks-to-the-ground snow that makes everything truly beautiful outside.  I’m just happy I don’t have to do too much driving in it.

Why do we associate Yule with snow?  Isn’t it a little odd that we consider it magical when the rest of the time we just want the snow to stop?  Maybe we love it because we all have so much time off and yeah, let it snow!  But the rest of the year, we have places to be and it’s just a nuisance.

You know, this isn’t as easy as I thought it would be.  I think the old writing tool is rusty.  But, better to get back into it now rather than continuing to stall in hopes that I will find some magical moment when it just feels right.  I think writing is just like anything else.  Practice makes for easier writing sessions (sometimes).

Anyway, thanks for sticking with me through this rather painful write.

Happy Saturday!

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday  is hosted by Linda G Hill. Today’s prompt is “yule/you’ll/Yul.” Start your post with one of them. Have fun!

  

#LyricalFictonFriday – Whisper My Name

Her parting words resonated through Blake’s head as he boarded his flight.  He was expecting hurt and pain and a lot of pleading, but that didn’t happen.  When he told her he was leaving, she’d sat in perfect silence, staring at her hands.  He bumbled through the words he’d rehearsed over and over again, repeating things he’d already said until he fell silent as well.

He’d realized then that he should have left in the middle of the night like all the rest.  He’d almost done it, but he’d changed his mind at the last minute.  He was hoping that everything they’d shared would be enough.

They’d sat in silence for what seemed like hours, until she finally lifted her head.  With one tear slowing trailing its way down her cheek, she whispered, “You won’t live long enough to regret this.”

Even though he should have expected it, he was still shocked.  “You will always have a place in my heart, Elsa, and I wish nothing but the best for you.  I’m truly sorry it had to end this way.”

The only response he’d received was a slight nod, but her eyes spoke volumes.  They glittered with unshed tears and a hardness that he’d seen plenty of times before, but never directed at him.

He felt some relief once he was settled on the plane.  He watched with anticipation as it lifted off the runway.  He should have felt free, but a chill slowly crept up his spine and he shivered.  He bent down and pulled a small blanket out of his pack.  He pulled it up over his shoulders and leaned his chair back.  He needed to try and get some sleep before landing.

**

It was cold and dark.  He tried to raise his hand, but the blanket was too heavy. He turned his head, trying to find a light, but there was only darkness.

Blake…

He lurched from the sound and tried to move again, but it was no use.

Blake…

It was closer now.  Sweat dripped down his face, but he was shivering from cold and fear.

Blake!

The scream shattered the air and he felt something sharp and hard slam into his chest.  He tried to scream, but realized he couldn’t breathe.  His whole body lurched again, trying to breathe, to move, to live; but it was no use.  He was falling.

**

“Sir, are you okay?”

Someone was shaking him and he somehow managed to drag himself from the pit.  He slowly opened his eyes and took a deep breath.  Two seconds later, he was yelling from the pain.

“Sir, what happened?  Are you hurt?”

He yanked his shirt up to see where the pain was coming from.  His chest was black and blue.  “What the hell?”

“We’re going to be landing soon.  Are you alright?”

He looked up at the flight attendant and shook his head.  His thoughts were racing so fast, he couldn’t form words, and the pain was getting worse.  He closed his eyes to try and escape the terror.  Elsa’s face appeared in front of him, still whispering his name.

The tightness in his chest grew with each whisper until it finally exploded and he succumbed to the darkness.

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#LyricalFictionFriday is brought to us by Simply Marquessa. The lyric prompt she chose was: “I’m locked and loaded…completely focused…my mind is open…” from the song Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande.

I’m so excited to have a day off.  I’m even more excited that I actually wrote something, and I’m planning to be a whole lot more present on the blog from here on out.  I hope you’re ready! 🙂

Happy Friday everyone!

#LyricalFictionFriday: “Dangerous Woman” #fictionfriday #marquessachallenge

It’s that time again. Let’s write some amazing flash fiction for Marquessa’s amazing lyrical challenge.

Please participate via the link below. Comments and pings will be turned off here.