Ryan just returned from Europe so I’m planning on hanging out with him tonight instead of writing a bunch. But I did commit to writing something every day so I thought I’d put together a playlist instead of an essay. Writing down other people’s song titles counts, right?
Anyhow, these are twenty-five songs that take weight off of my shoulders, help me breathe easier, and slow down my pulse from their very first notes. I have heard them all more times than I can count and not a single one has gotten even the slightest bit old. In fact, the more I hear them, the more they etch themselves onto my heart. If I ever end up on a deserted island I hope that I have all of these songs because a) I won’t get tired of them and b) I’ll likely need them to calm me down about being stranded all alone on a deserted island.
Oh My Sweet Carolina – Ryan Adams
Winter – Tori Amos
Waltz – Craig Armstrong
Let It Be – The Beatles
Ave Maria – Franz Biebl
Shenandoah – as performed by Chanticleer
Poison and Wine – The Civil Wars
Bird on a Wire – Leonard Cohen
A Long December – The Counting Crows
Count to Ten – Tina Dico
Rain – Patty Griffin
Strays – Hem
The Prayer of St. Gregory – Alan Hovhaness
Arms of a Woman – Amos Lee
Wise Up – Aimee Mann
Michigan – The Milk Carton Kids
Rockabye – Shawn Mullins
Latter Days – Over the Rhine
The Beatitudes – Arvo Part
Hymn #101 – Joe Pug
Emphasis – Sleeping at Last
A Friend I Had – Aaron Sprinkle
Martha – Tom Waits
Can’t Go Back Now – The Weepies
Ez – Pete Yorn
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How about you, readers? What songs are on your list?