Do you ever experience something wonderful, heart gripping, awe inspiring, moving or other words like that and then right after it’s over worry that you’ll forget that feeling? I have. I’ve wondered if I’ll forget how I felt when my boys were little. Wondered if I’ll forget how Christmas felt when I was a little girl, and wondered if I’ll forget how I felt on the first date with my husband.
My most recent experience that I didn’t want to forget was how it felt in Tanzania. The people, the places, the feelings. Oh, to forget would be so tragic. And then I heard two songs. Two songs that I happened to listen to on the airplanes and on the buses on the way back from the centers. Songs I listened to while passing Mt. Kilimanjaro and after meeting Topiwo’s family.
And all the feelings came rushing back.
Music can be magical. And just like a smell that can take you back to childhood, music can put you right back into that place you were.
Now that I’ve learned that music can take me back to a moment, a season, an event, I’ve tried to be aware of the fact that I can pick out music, listen to it during something and then I’ll get those feelings back whenever I want.
- If I want to remember the people in Tanzania I listen to Come by Here from Shaun Groves
- I see Tanzania when I hear Such Great Heights performed by The Section Quartet (written by the Postal Service). The song doesn’t really have to have anything do to with the experience, that’s the beauty of it!
- Here’s my oldest when he was two: Chris Rice Deep Enough to Dream
- Here’s our first date, our first date really was seeing George Winston play.
- Here’s Christmas when I was a little girl, my Grandma sang this song right along with the Andrews sisters.
- The song they used in my sister’s book trailer, when I hear it, I’m thrilled all over again about her book. Lesser Love by Will Howard.
I’m currently picking out some songs for autumn. Songs that will bring me back to this season of life one day.
What about you? What songs take you back? Have you ever purposely chosen a song to represent a season of your life?
Leave a Comment
anna says
yes. yesyesyes! i’ve got a song for just about anything – music can take me back (lamb by gorecki), forward (deep enough to dream!) or sideways (pretty much anything by songs of water, and most of their songs don’t even have lyrics!)!
The Nester says
“back, forward, or sideways” LOVE. that.
Nancy says
Music is so powerful! I was just talking about this exact thing the other day. I think I need to start carrying my ipod with me. Wouldn’t it be cool if our lives were accompanied by music all the time like the music score in a movie? Besides helping us remember times, it would let us know when something scary was looming ahead! Second thought, maybe I don’t really want to know that. But the music would still be cool!
The Nester says
um YES it would be soooo great if we had music piped in all the time, that is the next great idea!!
Stacey says
Blessings – “What if the trials of this life are His mercies in disguise” This song touches my heart beyond words <3
Hold Me By Jamie Grace & Toby Mac
Anything By My Son, Joshua Reich <3
I'm so thankful for music in life <3
Sharon says
Thank you for this reminder..I love music..always have and like you..hear a song and it takes me back to a time in my life. I’m gonna get more songs on my ipod to help me remember those special times..thanks again.
Ann says
My granny always sang “Victory in Jesus” as she rocked us to sleep (and that was a LOT) . I knew all the verses by heart as a child, and whenever we sang it in church my little brother always fell asleep in the pew. 🙂 I can’t hear that song and not feel her arms wrapped around me.
Hearing “You’re Gonna Miss This” by Trace Adkins takes me back to the days of being completely and totally overwhelmed w/really little kiddos, baby, and an all too energetic puppy. (I kinda wanted simultaneously punch Trace as he sang it and ugly cry whenever I heard it during that season.)
Now that you’ve got me thinking about it I’m pretty sure I have a song for most every event/season of my life. I’ve never purposefully picked one out – that’s a great idea.
The Nester says
LOVE that Trace Adkins song! also, “My List” by Toy Keith, those country singers get me every time!
Shalena says
How about “Moments like these” by Selah??? Such a powerful meaning behind that song!
Janna says
Yes!! Six years ago I had a brain tumor (a non-cancerous one) that required surgery. I was 26 years old with three kids, four and under. It was a really hard time. Over and over I listened to Phillips, Craig, and Dean’s “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.” And after surgery, the first time I was in church again after surgery they sang “Wonderful, Merciful, Savior.” I listened with tears rolling down my cheeks. (and there are so many others, but those two are particularly special)
Ann says
Sweet! Thanks for sharing.
Connie says
Music has been intertwined in my heart and soul since I was a child. From hymns sang in church to the varied tunes played by my older siblings and my parents, almost every radio station can take me back to a memory. A few of my favorites tied to God moments are:
No Place That Far – Sara Evans
My Jesus – Todd Agnew
Blessings – Laura Story
Sea Inside of Me – Shawn Thomas
Teresa Ahrenholtz says
Whenever I hear a Journey song or REO Speedwagon it takes me back to high school and college. Phillips, Craig, and Dean remind me of when I became a believer–they were the first Christian group I became familiar with and I still love them!
Shelly R says
Yes! I tell my husband my life could be played out in songs. I gave my husband a scrapbook that detailed the events if relationship from the day we met. Instead of pictures it is filled and the songs and lyrics that coincided. Each year on our anniversary i add to it. He dubbed it best present ever. I have scrapbooks started for my girls too.
Barbara Collins @MadreMinutes says
It would have to be several albums long as I am still adding songs today to my life’s album of songs…..thanks for the walk down memory lane. Some of yours are some of mine.
Kindest regards,
Barbara†
@madreminutes
Sarah Comley Caldwell says
I absolutely adore/lurve that you do this with music! As a musician and music lover, I’ve always felt like my life has an evolving soundtrack! (Love your music choices too! 🙂 I am going to do a 31 days of Playlists on your 31 days posts in October – and one of them most definitely is going to be Music for Autumn 🙂 Can’t wait to hear/see your playlist! Thank you for your words – looking forward to meeting you at Allume! 🙂
Nester says
31 days of playlists?! BRILLIANT!
Ann says
No doubt in my mind God knew the strong connections we would make through music. That’s one reason I had to stop listening to popular songs when I became a Christian in 1972. Too many brought back strong memories of an ungodly life. Over time as I grew in faith listening to oldies didn’t have the same impact. But in the interrum time, listening to godly music lifted my soul and still does. Even secular songs like ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ in the 80’s were powerful when replacing the obvious implication of human love with God’s love, thinking about how many people feel just the way the singer projected, with such strong need to know true, genuine love that only God can give.
So thank you for helping so many of us shake our heads in agreement and thank God for music!
Melinda says
Music has always been a memory maker for me, and I do use songs from certain seasons of my life to spark remembrance. I use several as ringtones and ringbacks on my cell even so I can hear them. Lady by Kenny Rogers reminds me of my husbands love and devotion. Broken into Beautiful reminds me of God’s love in dark moments of recovery from childhood sexual abuse. Before the Throne reminds me I am righteous. Those are just a few of my treasures from moments in time.
Dana Butler says
YES!! Music is sooooo powerful. Incredibly so. Here’s one of my long-time faves… from a time in my life when I really needed to be lifted up off the floor… and God did it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE-Krlqi4fk (Switchfoot – Dare You To Move)
Dianne says
Goodness, there are so many songs that take me to a specific place. One song that resonates with me right now is “Losing” by Tenth Avenue North. I tend to be critical about people who do the wrong thing and God has really used this song to soften my heart and give me His perspective. I sing and/or listen to it pretty much daily right now.
There’s an older worship song called “Your Everlasting Love (is higher)” which always reminds me of driving to Breckenridge with my hubby for the couples’ retreat. Of course, driving in the Rocky Mountains and seeing the amazing mountains and sky just fit so perfectly.
I have countless more, but wouldn’t want to write a book here. 🙂
peyton says
my dad made me a mixed tape when I was little. We moved to Virginia and he was still in Georgia. It was a mixture of country favorites but at the end besieged me a happy birthday and “I just called to say I love you” by Stevie wonder came on.. The mere mention Of stevie’s name brings me back to how important and valued I felt.. There are others but that’s the happiest.
Nester says
so. precious, peyton.
Shana Baker says
I have many but one song that just absolute stops time is Snow Patrol, “Chasing Cars.” It came out around the time my daughter was born. She was colicky and a week after her birth my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and died within a month. It was such a hard time that I wanted the lyrics to happen so badly…let’s lay here, together, and it will all be okay. I no longer cry when I hear it and it takes me back…I smile because we survived and the glory for that goes only to Him. Thanks for making me feel normal for thinking my life should have a soundtrack:)
Kimberly says
When I was in the hospital ready to give birth for the first time, my husband put the song Whom Shall I Fear by Darrell Evans on repeat. I tried to sleep a bit between contractions, and every time I stirred I heard the lyrics “The Lord is my light and my salvation…the Lord is the stronghold of my life…whom shall I fear?”. It was beautiful and perfect and those words ushered my baby into life as she took her first breath.
Of course, I also associate this song with excruciating pain, but I try to block that part out:)
anna {girl with blog} says
Oh, I adore George Winston! His ‘December’ plays year round. I suggest his ‘Autumn’ to start your autumn collection. Another autumn favorite of mine is James Taylors’ ‘October Road’ album. I’m currently fasting from it so in September it will be all that richer =)
Loved this post. Thanks Nester =)
Lisa says
“Music can be magical. And just like a smell that can take you back to childhood, music can put you right back into that place you were.” I love this and it’s so true. I’ve hear many songs that send me right back to high school. The right kind of music can be pure magic.
Angela says
I have a lot of songs that take me back. I love “God Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flats. This song reminds me of all the things I could have offered to my husband but didn’t wait long enough to find him and the mercy that God had shown me with giving him to me anyway. It just takes me back to the day I saw him and knew he was the one. 12 yrs later we are still going strong.
Monique says
For me, my sweet Hubby proposed to me while Micheal Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” was playing on the radio. I really like that song;).
Nester says
!!!!!!!!!
Weekend Links Worth the Click says
[…] The Soundtrack of Our Lives : The Songs that Take me back @(in)courage […]
Maria @ A Blooming Spirit says
I am a person that whenever I watch a movie the first thing I notice is the soundtrack. I love music and there are certain songs that immediately come to mind under certain circumstances. My mom says that we all have music playing during our lives and she only hopes we get that CD when we go to heaven! Right now I’m transitioning to my “Fall Season” music…here a few:
• Stepmom Soundtrack (so beautiful)
• Autumn in New York Soundtrack
• Any of the Windham Hill compilations are beautiful
• Let’s Fall in Love by Diana Krall (don’t know why but it makes me think if Fall)
Southern Gal says
Oh, I love that Andrews Sister song and that you remember your grandmother singing it. There are too many for me to name. I love music and where it takes me when I hear it. Here are a few.
My sister and I used to stay with a babysitter who rocked her grandson to sleep while singing “At the Cross” while keeping time patting him on his bottom. I did the same thing with my babies, and now my grandbabies. When Peggy passed away recently her son mentioned how most of the kids she kept associated that song with her.
My sister and I used to take turns singing Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons songs into a hair brush accompanied by their Greatest Hits 8-track tape that my parents had. Any song by them takes me back.
Beach music takes me to…the beach, of course. 😉
Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris songs still give me chills and remind me of God’s grace.
“Cowboy Take Me Away” reminds me of my daughter’s high school years. She loved that song!
See? I could go on and on, but I’ll stop.
Nester says
Oh CHILLS about passing the bottom patting/At the Cross along!
Kathy @ In Quiet Places says
The first song that came to mind while reading your post was Amie by Pure Prairie League, and not because I was ever a great fan, but because when my husband and I were newlyweds and discussing starting a family, we were on a road trip with the car radio on (back in 1983) and the song came on and I said, “If we have a girl, I want to name her Amy!”
We did have a girl about a year later, and her name is Amy. And she knows all about the song that inspired her name, pretty sure it is on her playlist!
Gretchen says
Definitely! There are so many songs that got me through hard times
Gretchen says
Whoops! I wasn’t done!
…Anything by Mark Shultz because that is what I clung to when my mom was undergoing surgery. “The Valley Song” by Jars of Clay got me through a bout of depression during college.
There are also songs that remind me of specific people. “There Were Bells” from The Music Man of my grandpa on my dad’s side, “Rainbow Connection” of my grandparents on my mom’s side, and “Drops of Jupiter” by Train of a good high school friend.
Beth Willliams says
I listen to music all the time. I really like it when exercising, running or going to work. It puts me in the right mood for the day!
Wonderful Merciful Savior is a favorite of mine. I did sign language to that song in church a while back. Love to hear the old quartets, some rock & roll. Any kind of music will put me in the mood!
Lisa C says
I am newish to commenting here, but I love this place! I do have music that can take me right to a place I’ve been and evoke the same feelings. The whole album, December, by George Winston, just makes my heart smile and relaxed me. Pachelbel’s Canon in particular soothes me to no end. Francesca Batestelli’s Hundred More Years takes me all over the place, but was so soothing to me last year when I was really homesick for the south. Right now, Phil Wickham’s, At Your Name, brings me out of funk or fear back to focusing on the God who loves me, it propels me forwards, too, to that day when we will all shout Yahweh Yahweh! and bow our knee to the One and Only! I am so grateful that Hod gave us music!
Lisa C says
I am newish to commenting here, but I love this place! I do have music that can take me right to a place I’ve been and evoke the same feelings. The whole album, December, by George Winston, just makes my heart smile and relaxed me. Pachelbel’s Canon in particular soothes me to no end. Francesca Batestelli’s Hundred More Years takes me all over the place, but was so soothing to me last year when I was really homesick for the south. Right now, Phil Wickham’s, At Your Name, brings me out of funk or fear back to focusing on the God who loves me, it propels me forwards, too, to that day when we will all shout Yahweh Yahweh! and bow our knee to the One and Only! I am so grateful that God gave us music!
Weekend Reading says
[…] The Soundtrack of Our Lives by The Nester @ (in)Courage (after my post about what the music of 1995 means to me, I loved reading this post) […]
lib says
Right now Christa Wells is on retpeat – I’ve been lcimbing my whole life and I’m only at the bottom of the mountain…
and a thousand things are happening tonight!
Blessings!
Gayla says
When you are old like me you will have memories of stand out times when you remember the way it felt, looked and even smelled. What’s weird is that they are little flashes of a second or so when it was not something that I was trying to remember or that they were all that important. I have one of watching my daughter on her rabbit ride on toy when she was less than 2. Another is when I was walking with my granddaughter at about the same age. We were in the courtyard of the apartment complex where I lived and a gust of wind brought down a shower of golden leaves from an ash tree and the baby saw it and went, “ooooowww”. Just that. Another is when it was a beautiful day and I’m sitting on my porch watching the wind snap my sheets that are hung on the line to dry. None are stand out exciting things but so lovely to relive. I’m going to my baby sister’s (age 55) funeral tomorrow and we are to think of some time with her that stands out. I know there are some but they just aren’t popping up, other than her running to shelter with me from a devastating tormado that hit our town. Not anything to talk about at church that’s shows how much we loved her and what she was to me. I stopped here to cry a bit and it all came. Who knew it would be your memories that would finally spark one for me. Thanks so much. God bless you for the wonder that comes from you.
Amy says
I completely agree with what you said here ~ it’s what my blog is all about! 🙂
Moriah@HomeOnTheErieCanal says
I read this article, and thought of my music boxes.
Here is the link to my blog of the music that influences me.
http://homeontheeriecanal.blogspot.com/2012/08/friendly-friday-my-music-boxes.html
Marie Krum says
Music has always been a huge love of my life. I don’t doubt my Mother sang to me. Hymns are my first and most lasting memories of song. As kids our neighbor gang yelled songs at the top of our lungs while we swung away, Each of my children have “nickname” songs: ” You Are My Sunshine” and “There Are Smiles That Make You Happy”. I share “Time In A Bottle” with the love of my life. As I lay in the shadow of the valley of death I heard my beloved daughter singing songs of the Saviour to me. God grant that I may sing praises eternally.
kat says
My whole life has a soundtrack. My bff and I used to take road trips back before we had kids. We always had at least one song that reminded of us each road trip. I can also be heard making up my own songs to go along. The fun thing is that my boys are 7 and 8 and have their own sound tracks as well!
{31 Days of Playlist} Day 14…A Soundtrack of My Life | All Manner of Inspiration says
[…] experience. This post was also in part inspired by one of my favorite bloggers, The Nester, and this post she wrote for Incourage. (I told her this whilst meeting her at the Allume Blogging conference. As she is a blog […]
Choose Your Anthem :: A Giveaway says
[…] choosing a song to help ground an event, and how when you put those songs together they make up the soundtrack of our lives. I like to choose an anthem and match music to big events, transitions in our life, or the […]