May 04, 2009

Song #9

GAH! i'm upset at the internet. i wanted to post an mp3 or a video of my #9 song for you to examine and subsequently completely love (because i have super taste and because you are impressionable) but i cannot make it happen. i could embed a subpar live version or a cover, but it's not the same. i'm upset. i need to watch THIS again because i'm irrationally bothered that i cannot snap my fingers and put this song on my bliggityblog.
Sigh.

So, my #9 song is 'Square One' by Tom Petty. When i first started crafting my Top 15 list i began with a handful of artists who i loved and who have formed me into the supreme being you want to live and shop with. Tom Petty was one of the first i listed. i can remember his Wildflowers album coming out when i was in junior high, and how the song 'You Don't Know How It Feels' became my personal anthem for a while. That song, coupled with the title track, made me believe that even if i was a weird-looking, dorky, confused kid for the rest of my life, Tom Petty would still care about me. It was one of the first cds i ever bought (and i don't buy very many cds) and i had the entire album memorized. Front-runners for the 'Tom Petty Representational Song on Kallie's Top 15' included 'Don't Fade on Me' and 'Higher Ground' as well as 'Wildflowers'. There are other songs worthy of being called his best, but i eventually settled on 'Square One', off the more recent 'Highway Companion' album that John bought while we were housemates. (John bought a new cd at least every week and i would dutifully steal them, upload them into my iTunes, and return them). i chose this song because i felt it best represents Tom Petty's optimism, lyricism, and musicality, my three favorite things about his work. Since i can't embed the song, here are the lyrics and you are hereby assigned to buy it from iTunes and listen to it in its entirety. Then repeat.

Had to find some higher ground
Had some fear to get around
You can't say what you don't know
Later on won’t work no more

Last time though I hid my tracks
So well I could not get back
Yeah my way was hard to find
Can't sell your soul for peace of mind

Square one, my slate is clear
Rest your head and meet my dear
It took a world of trouble, it took a world of tears
It took a long time to get back here

Try so hard to stand alone
Struggle to see past my nose
Always had more dogs than bones
I could never wear those clothes
It's a dark victory
You won and you are so lost
Told her you were satisfied
But it never came across

Square one, my slate is clear
Rest your head on me my dear
It took a world of trouble, it took a world of tears
It took a long time to get back here

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