Music…

Cuts Like A Knife

Cuts Like A Knife

Bryan Adams
and Words

Drivin’ home this evenin’
Coulda sworn we had it all worked out
You had this boy believin’
Way beyond the shadow of a doubt, yeah

Well, I heard it on the street
I heard you mighta found somebody new, yeah
Well, who is he, baby? Who is he?
And tell me what he means to you, oh, yeah

Lyric excerpts from Musixmatch.


I performed astonishingly poorly on my freshman year in high school.  While I definitely could’ve gotten better grades, I basically didn’t care.  I spent much of that year ditching school, though doing nothing of consequence.  It’s not as if I spent it doing drugs or the like; I honestly can’t tell you how I spent that wasted time.  Interestingly, I do have an educated guess as to what triggered that disastrous year, but I won’t bore you with that today.  It was really by pure chance that I only failed one semester of one class (World History); I could’ve done a lot worse damage.

However, once I started my sophomore year, my trajectory drastically shot upwards.  I discovered that I could easily remember details from the lessons; all I needed to do was attend class.  I only missed one day of school that second year; that day was after a bike accident.  Those grades were slightly elevated by my class selection (fewer honors classes), but not by much.

Continue reading “Lessons in the classroom and beyond”

Music…

You Belong With Me

Fearless

Taylor Swift
and Words

You’re on the phone with your girlfriend, she’s upset
She’s going off about something that you said
‘Cause she doesn’t get your humor like I do

I’m in my room, it’s a typical Tuesday night
I’m listening to the kind of music she doesn’t like
And she’ll never know your story like I do

Lyric excerpts from Musixmatch.


On a weekend afternoon, we finish our shopping at the local Trader Joe’s.  The modestly sized market sits a few minutes from our home.  Some employees recognize us and greet us.  They often play 80’s music, which consistently brightens my mood.  While we don’t spend a whole lot of time in the store, I’ll spend the short time, anticipating the next track, and furiously trying to recognize the song as quickly as possible, much like my own personal game of Name That Tune.

Today, their music threw me a curve.  They played a song that I didn’t immediately recognize, though it certainly sounded familiar.  A woman’s voice sung clearly and optimistically.  I no longer cared that I had lost this little mental contest, I needed to know.  I had an educated guess, but the response from Shazam confirmed my suspicion.  This was Taylor Swift.

Continue reading “Swift Integrity”