High school has gone by quickly, and while some of my memories will be forgotten, the best will be preserved through music. Among my most prized possessions are my Spotify playlists, which act as glimpses into the different time periods of my life. While I go through phases with music—and my life—these are the songs that will always hold a special place in my heart.
“Vienna” by Billy Joel
“When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?” As someone who is constantly afraid of the future, Billy Joel reminds me to step back and understand that there is no rush to life. I spent so much of high school worrying about tomorrow that I missed out on today.
“I’ll Follow The Sun” by The Beatles
“One day you’ll find that I have gone / But tomorrow may rain, so I’ll follow the sun.” I believe that this is one of the most underrated Beatles songs. It has always held a special place in my heart and it reminds me to always find the positive. Tomorrow may rain, so follow the sun.
“Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall” by Simon & Garfunkel
“So I’ll continue to continue to pretend / My life will never end / And flowers never bend with the rainfall.” I love this song simply because it is beautiful. The lyrics talk about pretending things are okay, while the music itself is reminiscent of happiness. I see this song as an anthem to my life: pretending things are okay, but being okay with pretending.
“All I Know” by Art Garfunkel
“When the singer’s gone / Let the song go on.” Even when things go wrong, life will always continue. Even if a singer is missing, the song will continue. As someone who easily lets rough patches take over, this song reminds me that life will always continue.
“St. Patrick’s Day” by John Mayer
“And when it snows again / We’ll take a walk outside / And search the sky / Like children do.” This song reminds me of my childhood. While I am losing my youth as an (almost) 18-year-old, I can always return to the things that remind me of my childhood.
“Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?” by Dolly Parton
“And when I think of you / And the love we once knew / How I wish we could go back in time.” This song reminds me that, while I miss my childhood, it is time to move on and accept adulthood. But every once in a while, I wish I could go back in time.
