Being born in Fall of 1977 means the early 80’s are a blurry mist in my mind. While I’d love to remember the faces and voices of long-deceased relatives who were healthy and active during this time, my memory has mostly faded along with the few photos that remain. Fortunately there are sights and sounds that do trigger strong memories of this time, one of them being certain songs.
Growing up in a rural community meant long drives into town for groceries and other necessities. It was almost 40 years ago when I first heard the song “King of Pain.” As a 5 year old staring out of the window of my mom’s Cutlass Supreme, I was haunted by the lyrical imagery of a “butterfly trapped in a spider’s web” and a “dead salmon frozen in a waterfall.” While my young brain couldn’t fully process every metaphor, I understood the song’s distressing intent. From that moment on, I was drawn to the music of The Police and after they disbanded, Sting.
Now in my 40’s, with a long commute to work, I’m still listening to their music. My mind revels in the darkly lyrical creativity often contradicted by jolly musical notes. In fact, I’ve listened to The Police through every decade and phase of my life to date. Their music has enriched my mind with new concepts, helped me cope with loss and grief, and question love and relationships.
This series of articles will be devoted to our favorite musicians and the songs that have traveled with us through different phases of life. That’s why I’m calling it “The Enduring Life of Songs.” Some songs persist with us at different stages of life and take on different meanings and understandings. Check back soon for my article featuring Sting’s overlooked song, “All This Time.”