I know that there have been many writers over the years who have written about the power of a song, linking us to some nostalgic memory of our past days, but today I feel compelled to ponder on this a minute.  What is it about the simple task of driving to work while listening to the radio? A song or two before work can make or break your day, and for me, hearing a favorite song can put me in an uplifting mood.  Why? I honestly believe it is because we can connect the song to a distant memory, where we were once upon a time. It is incredible to imagine that simply listening to a song that was popular when I was seventeen can make me feel the same youthful moments I experienced the first time I heard the song. Yes, indeed, songs are linked to memories, and I"ll be damned if I can't transport myself back 20 years.....for just a few brief moments before work.  That, my friends, makes music have power.  On the same note, if I hear a song that reminds me of a breakup, maybe a song I have not heard in a long time, the bittersweet crush of rejection emerges. I have to admit, and perhaps this is only sensitve me, but I have been overwhelmed how a song tortures me, forcing me to relive that pain.  At that moment, I bring myself back to the present, muttering "stupid girl" and quickly change the station in search for a better high.  We can shake those memories, stuff them down into non-existence until some other obscure song brings them to light again.  Any Smiths song can do that for me.

One other thought before I go:  Have you ever listened to an old familiar song that suddenly makes new meaning? It is as if you finally get what the lyrics mean...it makes sense perhaps to a current situation....I mean, you liked the song before, but now the words seem to help you solve a puzzle, and you connect with the band on a new level of understanding? It is an Ah-ha moment for me everytime.....always learning....and songwriters are the mentors.