"St. Peter's Autograph"

2 January 2024: I'm spending this afternoon and this evening reading for my next entry, using some Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's albums as my soundtrack. I've also been thinking about how best to help and comfort a friend who is going through grief and mourning. This song--though about a specific situation that doesn't exactly fit--offers some guidance, I think. 

"Middle of Morning"

7 July 2023: 

That opening wail...it really speaks to me. One of my favorite tracks on the new Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit album. 

"Tupelo"

14 July 2022: It doesn't make complete sense given the lyrics, but this song always calms me down a bit. (And maybe there's something meta there: a version of what the singer is telling himself--that it will be okay soon.) Anyway, a lot on my mind tonight after a kind of strange day, so "Tupelo" it is...

"Traveling Alone"

3 October 2020: Was in an pretty awesome mood most of the day--one where I even caught myself in the midst of it and wondered why. Said to myself--out loud--"you are having a good day." 

Things shifted a bit tonight, but hanging in there. Music hurts and helps in equal measure. 

"The Problem"

28 September 2020: What a powerful and beautiful song. Brave, too. 

And Lord, what sweet relief to hear those simple words: "I'm on your side." In any context, they are so welcome. 

"Dreamsicle"

17 May 2020: Treated myself to Jason Isbell's new album the other day and I'm really digging it so far. "Dreamsicle" seems to fit in kind of well with what I've blogged about the last two days: crystal clear images of youthful times; moments loaded with more meaning, even if the kid could only sense it and not fully understand them.

"Something to Love"

10 May 2020: Listened to this song earlier today. It's a really lovely set of wishes from a father to his daughter, but it feels appropriate for Mother's Day and graduation weekend. I think it's what I would tell my students as they head off into the world...

"I hope you find something to love,
Something to do when you feel like giving up.
A song to sing or a tale to tell.
Something to love
It'll serve you well..."

"Don't quite recognize the world that you call home.
Just find what makes you happy girl and do it 'til you're gone."

"Anxiety"

26 January 2020: Got a lot done today, but towards the afternoon, very little went according to plan. Nothing too awful, but just frustrating. Like trying to set up the new router Xfinity sent that they said would take twenty minutes to set up. Two hours later, my HD cable channels don’t work and I have to reset the wifi settings on every device in the house. And then, in the midst of all that frustration, I start thinking about everything else and spiraling a bit. Sunday blues and all that, too...

And this Jason Isbell song came to mind as I felt my jaw tightening and my mood darkening over things that in the grand scheme of things were pretty minor.



Things are better now. The cable will get fixed, the devices are (mostly) working again, and I am trying to chill for a bit.

You know what else helps? This Jason Isbell song, which speaks to me even if I can’t literally relate to a bit of it.

"If We Were Vampires"

14 July 2017:

"If we were vampires and death was a joke
We'd go out on the sidewalk and smoke
Laugh at all the lovers and their plans
I wouldn't feel the need to hold your hand
Maybe time running out is a gift
I'll work hard 'til the end of my shift
And give you every second I can find
And hope it isn't me who's left behind" --Jason Isbell, "If We Were Vampires"

Heard about this song on the latest episode of Mark and Sarah Talk About Songs (the episode is actually about Ben Folds' "The Luckiest") and the hosts' lovely personal reflections on it convinced me to have a listen. It's an absolutely sigh-worthy song even if it makes me a bit (or a lot) envious about relating to it only in an aspirational sense.