12-31-11 - "Snake Hill" ~ Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

If you thought Conor Oberst was the only lyrical master in this group, prepare to think again.  This track was written and sung by fellow MVB guitarist Taylor Hollingsworth, and it's a doozy.  Feels like a good one to close out the year, too, for some reason.


It's easy to imagine that the song is about self-destructive tendencies in general, but also quite plausible that the "poison" is the passion of love when it goes awry.  I think there's more than that on Hollingsworth's mind here, though.  The lines about being born with the poison in his body sound to me like the realization that all mankind has some evil inside, even the best of us.  No matter how hard we try, we hurt the ones we love and those around us time and again.  The challenge of each of our lives is to minimize the occasions where we harm those we care about, and maximize our efforts to heal the wounds we create.


But hey, it's open to interpretation, as are all songs.  I definitely empathize with the emotions in this one, and that's why I wanted to share the song with you all.  I hope you enjoy it, and have enjoyed experiencing a wide variety of great music over the past year.  See you in 2012!

(shout out to Jake for hooking me up with this album, and for coining the nickname "Snake Hill" for our residence after having numerous close encounters of the slithering kind whilst mowing the lawn last year...)


"And it was only self defense

but I coiled up and I bit

I let my venom run into her veins..."

12-30-11 - "Skeletons" ~ Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr

Catchy indie pop tune from Detroit duo with witty name.  Heard this on the radio the other day, and it's pretty swell.  Light and fluffy music and vocals with some hints of darker things creeping around the edges...

And because we can, here's a live acoustic performance:

"Anything you say has already been said a million times..."

12-29-11 - "Answers and Questions" ~ Earlimart

Here's a song from a few years back that I'm pretty sure I discovered just by clicking on some "related videos" on YouTube after watching some other band's song... sometimes you strike out doing that but sometimes you find a good one.  I like this song, so there you go.


Not entirely sure of the precise meaning, but it's got that wistful, melancholy vibe going on.  Kind of seems like a breakup song, only more complicated than that...

"I'm wide awake I'm watching you

all of my lies they tell the truth..."

12-28-11 - "Sprawl II" ~ Arcade Fire

If you've been paying attention, you'll know that I love juxtaposition.  First, the word itself is something special.  Second, the contrast between joyful music and depressing / somber / provocative lyrics or imagery, or maybe satirical commentary on modern civilization, or just plain self-destructive tendencies.  This song is just that - if you listen to the tune without paying attention to the lyrics, it is inconceivable that you won't be dancing, or at least tapping your toes; but if you pay close attention, the song is about the never ending consumerism, drudgery, and mediocrity that is suburbia... not quite as cheerful as the sonic array would lead you to believe.  I choose to view the music as giving a hopeful edge to the lyrical bleakness, and lines like "dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains" do indicate the expanse of the blight, but "mountains beyond mountains" also rings of hope.  The phrase is partially a tribute to a book by the same name, by a doctor who has spent significant time in Haiti working with disaster relief efforts.  To quote the description: "At the heart of this book is the example of a life based on hope and on an understanding of the truth of the Haitian proverb 'Beyond mountains there are mountains' – as you solve one problem, another problem presents itself, and so you go on and try to solve that one too."  I have yet to read it, but it's high on my list for the new year.


If you want to dig deeper into the lyrics and their meaning, this one's a good one to pull up on songmeanings.net - complete with a plethora of comments discussing things.


Now for some fun.  Arcade Fire recently released an intense and awesome and epic (further superlatives escape me) website / interactive music video.  If you have a webcam, I highly recommend using it - and if you don't have a webcam, you can still experience (some of) the fun by clicking around during the song:

 Sprawl2.com 

(If you are lacking confidence in your dance skills and need inspiration, watch this and this first.  And if you're totally lame, you can watch the "traditional" version of the music video on the site instead of the interactive version...)


And just for you audiophiles or lovers of Arcade Fire, here are some live performances to further sate your appetite:


 (live studio acoustic session)

(New Orleans Jazz Festival 2011, with special guest Cyndi Lauper - yes, that Cyndi Lauper)

(different song, but had to include - the prelude to the above, in which Arcade Fire's encore began with a cover of Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"... featuring the original artist herself.  If you're clever, you'll watch this one *before* the above...)

(plain ol' music video, for you lame folks)

"They heard me singing and they told me to stop

quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock

sometimes I wonder if the world's so small

can we ever get away from the sprawl...?"

12-27-11 - "Fixin' To Die" ~ G Love

I've been remiss for the bulk of this year in not posting this song.  I first heard it around this time last year, and was spinning it frequently throughout last winter, but apparently never whilst I was pondering which song to select for the day's blog post.  So here you go.

G Love teamed with The Avett Brothers (acting as producers, among other things) on his latest album, and since TAB are pretty swell in my opinion, odds were good that I'd like the collaborative effort as well.  This track is old-fashioned foot-stompin' bluegrassy rock, crying out to the good Lord as he ponders his final days and the fate of his poor children if'n he passes...

(Scott and Seth appear courtesy of their being awesome...)

"Well, I don't mind dyin',
but I hate to leave my children cryin'.."

_____________________________

PS - poke around on philadelphonic.com for some free stuff, if you so desire...

12-26-11 - "The Way I Will" ~ The Elms

Here's a little ditty by one of my all-time favorite bands, The Elms.  These guys rocked hard for the last decade, and this one was one of my favorites from their 2006 release, The Chess Hotel. It's just a little love song, with the slight twist that it's to a girl who's apparently...eh... otherwise engaged... but I'm sure she'll come around after hearing this:

From the band's final performance in their home state of Indiana:

Album version: The Way I Will (grooveshark)

"No, he won't bring you summer like the way I will
And he won't make you shiver like the way I will
And he won't love your mother like the way I will
And he won't last forever like the way I will..."

12-25-11 - "O Holy Night" ~ Josh Groban / Il Divo

This Christmas tune is a pretty tough one to pull off properly, but Josh Groban is not half bad at it.  My little brother insisted I consider Il Divo's version as well - the quartet definitely have pipes to pull this off, as does Groban.  Both artists treat the song with respect - not showboating, just hitting the melody smoothly and sweetly, as it was intended (I have the same complaints when people embellish too much on the Star Spangled Banner).  Il Divo does have the benefit of harmonic ability, which Groban of course lacks as a solo artist... but ultimately, both versions pass my rigorous critiquing.  Enjoy, and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Joyful Festivus, and all that jazz!

12-24-11 - "White Christmas" ~ Bing Crosby / The Drifters

This one likely doesn't need much explanation, but here's a bit of it anyway.  My family just watched "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and that other girl (the one with the brown eyes...)  It's a pretty entertaining old flick, which involves an unseasonably warm December in Vermont.  And no, a white Christmas is not looking promising here in PA this year... we'll just have to make do.  But the film features some snappy song and dance routines along with some witty one-liners:

"Well, now, isn't this cozy? Boy, girl, boy, girl..."

"You're not exactly Superman, but you are awfully available..."

"In some ways, you're far superior to my cocker spaniel." 

And of course, the finale is the titular song.  Here's Bing Crosby's famous / classic version (don't believe me?  The Guinness Book of World Records cites it as the best selling single of all time):

And here's a spiffy version by The Drifters, which you may recognize from Home Alone:

"...and may all your Christmases be white..."

12-23-11 - "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" ~ The Decemberists

Oh, you know, it's December, so a Decemberists song seems fitting.  As usual, the lyrics are a tapestry, woven into allegories with likely deep and significant meaning... but I'm not going to try to break this one down for you.  Songmeanings.net has some interesting efforts at deconstruction in the comments... check it out, if you're so inclined.

This one is somewhat reflective and somber, recalling love's labours lost, or something like that...

"And I recall in spring

the perfume that the air would bring

to the indolent town..."

12-22-11 - "Jerusalem" ~ Matisyahu

How do you blend strong convictions and awesome music?  How do you find a broad audience without watering down your message?  I'd say Matisyahu is a good example.

Matisyahu is a great example of an artist who has a polarizing worldview and unabashedly shares it in his lyrics, but his musical prowess is such that folks will listen even if they may not agree with his strong opinions.  Contrast this with some of the "Christian music industry", which are blatant rip-offs of whatever is popular at the moment, but aren't really very talented (let alone original).  I'm not condemning that, because there are certainly enough examples of riding the wave of pop (Britney beget Christina beget Jessica beget Mandy and so on... blonde bubble gum pop must have been selling, eh?  And for the record, despite her awful start with "I'm missing you like candy", Mandy Moore turned out to be IMHO the best of them all.  I mean, she dated JD on Scrubs and Andy Roddick, not to mention the gem of a cover of Rihanna's "Umbrella", which reminds me that her cover of Switchfoot's "Only Hope" is also legit...)

But we're here to talk about Matisyahu.  I love his style.  It draws from many influences without taking too much from any one source, it's upbeat and danceable, and it stimulates positive reflection and actions. Here's a jam which is both a call to action and a reflection on Jewish history:

And while I'm not quite as big on this version, here's a somewhat reworked (I won't quite say remixed) version:

"If I forget the truth then my words won't penetrate
Babylon burning in the place, can't see through the haze..."

12-21-11 - "Jailer" ~ Asa

Here's a pretty swell track from a French-born Nigerian artist, Aṣa.  She has an interesting backstory, worth a read if you're so inclined.  I'm pressed for time so limited commentary tonight, but check out the tune:

"I'm a prisoner
you're a prisoner too
Mr. Jailer..."

12-20-11 - "Crash Years" ~ The New Pornographers

It's been precisely 11 months since I last posted a New Pornographers song.  Not sure how that happened, but here's a fun one for you.  Maybe not their most original, stretch-your-limits track, but quite entertaining and catchy, with a visually enjoyable video.


Beyond the hook, there is some fodder for introspection here, which might explain why I like the song so much.  Accompanying the catchy tune are some fairly deep and somewhat obscure lyrics.  I'm sure there are a plethora of valid interpretations, so I'll leave you to consider the following and draw your own conclusions:

"The skirts go up before the war

among the madding crowds

they're ruined like the rest of us ruined..."

12-19-11 - "Top Bunk" ~ Gauntlet Hair

I'm going to be honest: I'm not precisely sure what's going on here.  But I like it.


Gauntlet Hair is a noise pop duo from Chicago by way of Denver.  This track has looping guitar riffs and somewhat dissonant interludes, along with nigh-unintelligible lyrics.  (It's my custom to pilfer a line or two and include at the bottom of the post, but in this case, I can't make out enough of a phrase to put anything remotely meaningful.... so... yeah.)

It might not be your cup of tea, but then again you may find yourself drawn to it as I was.  Give it a click, and if it's not for you, just browse to another post, like maybe some Sufjan Stevens if you're a hipster, Arcade Fire if you only liked Sufjan before he went mainstream, Said The Whale if you only liked Arcade Fire before they went mainstream, William Fitzsimmons if you just went through a divorce or nasty breakup, Bob Marley if you're Rastafarian or just like weed, or.... you know what, just browse around!

12-18-11 - "Whiskey In My Whiskey" ~ The Felice Brothers

A few of my friends (you know who you are) got this song in my head tonight the old fashioned way - by singing it.  The Felice Brothers don't match up to The Avett Brothers (in my humble opinion), but they still put on a rip-roarin' show with some boot-stompin' tunes such as this one.  It's just a little ditty about the inherent evils of cheating on your significant other whilst he is familiarizing himself with the inherent evils of mixing alcohol and guns...

"I put some whiskey into my whiskey

I put some heartbreak into my heart

I make my way across that ole dance floor

And put three rounds Lord, in my Eleanor..."

12-17-11 - "Go Outside" ~ Cults

I suppose it shouldn't be shocking that a band by this name would put out a video based on one of the most chilling events in recent history - a mass suicide/murder by a group of people following a fanatical and charismatic leader.  The video's production is impressive, seamlessly inserting the band members into footage from the cult.  You can read a bit about the making of the video here.

Despite the depressing nature of the video's subject matter, I find the song itself encouraging.  The ultimate message is to live life to the fullest, not to "hole up" or "stay inside and sleep the light away..."  Take advantage of opportunities to see the world, spend time with loved ones, and don't take the little things for granted.  And especially, don't let negative or slothful people get in the way of your own enjoyment of this beautiful world.  At least, that's what I'm getting out of the tune...  

Just the song, without the NBC News commentary and whatnot:

Bonus:  The band is featured in a new holiday episode of Yo Gabba Gabba!, which apparently airs on Nick Jr. tomorrow evening.  So if you enjoy this song, be sure to tune in for that and trip out whilst watching a children's program... you know, if you're into that sort of thing.

"Yeah I know what's good 

Exactly those things night cannot behold..."

12-16-11 - "Coal War" ~ Joshua James

Presented with limited commentary:


Old-timey, folksy music is trendy in indie circles lately, but that doesn't mean it isn't great music (well, some of it).  I postulate that this is an example of the good kind of trendy old-timey folksy music.

Download the track for the price of an e-mail address on Joshua James' website! (and at least one more freebie if you click through to the site and poke around)

"I ain't cutting' my hair 'til the good Lord comes…"

12-15-11 - "By Your Hand" ~ Los Campesinos!

Indie pop from Wales, but not Welsh (at least according to Wikipedia...)  I guess stranger things have happened in this world.  Wherever they're from, they caught my ear, and lo and behold, now they have a chance to catch yours.


This track is a bit darker than you might think from the music.  Catchy and engaging synth and upbeat major chords won't have you thinking about your untimely demise, but that's the subject matter which belies the mood of the melody.  The accompanying video has some nostalgic moments with toys from our collective youth, but contrasts these images with some twisted and morbid scenes, a juxtaposition which is quite unsettling:

"By your hand is the only end I foresee..."

12-14-11 - "Cathedrals" ~ Jump, Little Children

Here's a beautiful track from a group who are no longer together.  The subdued string section is woven together with the guitar for a tapestry to backdrop the powerful lyrics. The intensity of the longing to find meaning in life, and find "home", is staggering.  Probably you've had times when you felt that way; I know I have.  There's a lot about the world that is depressing, and even the masterpieces (man-made, like cathedrals, or natural) are prone to decay into entropy.  Yet, the beauty of these things gives us hope, and a desire to preserve the existing wonders of the world, and perhaps to create some new ones.


There are probably ties to human relationships here as well - home doesn't have to be a a physical location; sometimes it's finding the right group of people who make you feel comfortable and loved.


This unofficial fan-made video has some starkly contrasting visuals:

"In the shadows of tall buildings

Of open arches endlessly kneeling

Sonic landscapes echoing vistas

Someone is listening from a safe distance..."

12-13-11 - "Saw You First" ~ Givers

Just a fun little ditty about staking your claim to a cute girl (or guy).  Or maybe that's not it at all.  Either way, I bet you'll enjoy this tune from the Louisiana-based indie poppers (can we say "poppers" like we say "rockers"?)  The band has landed a track (although not this one) on the FIFA '12 soundtrack (that's a video game, for those who aren't gamers; and it's a soccer game, for those who aren't lovers of the beautiful game.)


So yeah, song:

Song again, SXSW style:

and FREE DOWNLOAD of the SXSW performance (can also score another track, "Atlantic".)  Free = Awesome.  Get the mp3s here at Big Ugly Yellow Couch.

"In the light, there’s still stormin’

in the shade, there’s still warmin’

you’ll see ~ what you’ll be

in the grey, there’s still colors..."

12-12-11 - "Botswana Music" ~ Ronnie

If you want to simultaneously warm and break your heart, this one's for you.


The gentleman in these videos is from Botswana, and has unique methods on the guitar (watch to see his work on the fretboard).  If you check out the YouTube channel "Bokete7", you can see more from Ronnie and other Batswana musicians on numerous instruments.  There are several great things about these performances.  They're done with no trappings, no fluff, no agenda - pure love of music.  These musicians perform on whatever they have, sometimes a cheap old guitar that may not even have all its strings, sometimes just a bucket; yet they create intricate and engaging sounds.  No autotune here, folks.


And yet, watching this makes me uneasy, as I can't help but consider my blessings - including several instruments of significant value - which I often take for granted, and of which I often fail to take advantage.


Music is woven into the fabric of life, and brings joy to the listener, no matter his or her situation.  Let's celebrate that joy, and never take it for granted.

(FYI.  I know the video's title says "woman", but if you check the other videos it's actually a guy named Ronnie.)

12-11-11 - "Roosevelt Room" ~ Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band

Do you ever get fed up and frustrated with the world?  Happens to me on a fairly regular basis, and it's probably no surprise that it often happens at this time of year.  November means elections, and then Thanksgiving, and then of course comes Christmas (although given that the TV commercials and department stores start on Christmas in October these days, maybe I have the order wrong.)  These annual events bring to a focus the things that make me sick to my stomach - corruption in politics, gluttonous consumerism, and the disparity between the American populace and that of numerous other countries.


This year, Occupy Wall Street has added fuel to that fire.  Do I agree 100% with the OWS movement?  Probably not, although to be honest I haven't read up enough to know all the details.  But do they have a point that the government and big corporations have been pulling a fast one on the "99%"...?  Conversely, if you take the American "99%" and compare their wealth to that of the rest of the world's population... who's the 1% now?  I'm not going into more detail because this blog is ultimately about the music, but these are things that grind my gears, when I let my mind ponder them.


This song is pretty clearly the result of Conor Oberst ruminating on the state of the world today.  Again - I'm not trying to promote any political views, and I probably don't agree with everything Oberst thinks about the government, but clearly there are things broken in the system and if people don't stand for their beliefs, nothing's going to change.


You'll certainly feel the emotion behind the lyrics and the angry guitar riffs in the song, and hopefully it will inspire you to evaluate your life and the world around you, decide what's important, and make sure you're fighting for it.


Live at Battery Park, Manhattan, Independence Day 2009:

Studio Recording:

"You give death as a consolation

you know only hate and rage

you paid a dowry for your child's rights

now she's living like a slave..."

12-10-11 - "God And Money" ~ The Ike Reilly Assassination

One I heard on the radio today.  It's nothing groundbreaking musically, though it is catchy enough and pleasant in your aural cavities.  The lyrics are what grabbed me, though.  A son questions his mother's ethical teachings, wondering whether her current lifestyle belies a sordid past.  Despite his suspicions of a "do as I say, not as I have done" upbringing, he seems apologetic for times he's failed to live up to her wishes for him.  Or maybe I'm getting it wrong.  Let me know what you think:

"Do the darkest dance and puke upon your memory

and trample on your evil ways

stand up to your darkest days

twist around the things you say

stomp upon your gazing face

spit into your fading gaze..."

12-09-11 - "Heinrich Maneuver" ~ Interpol

A little late tonight, but only here on the East Coast... 


My favorite Interpol song was always Obstacle 1, but I heard this one on the radio today so it's in my head.  As much as I love living in Pittsburgh, I always love visiting the West Coast, so whenever I'm not there, I'm asking the same question as the band does in this song.


Anyway, without further rambling, here's some rock from the Big Apple:

" 'cause I've got a chance for a sweet saint life..."

12-08-11 - "Heavy" ~ Collective Soul

When I decided to post a Collective Soul song tonight, I could have gotten cute again and picked "December"... but I didn't.  This song is pretty heavy (sorry, had to be done), dealing with an overbearing relationship.  Pretty straightforward lyrically; you won't get much exposition from me tonight.


The song is a great example of late '90s / early '00s rock, and sounds excellent through a good set of speakers where the stereo effects can fully hit you.  Also, here's a kinda cool acoustic version performed in the desert in Morocco:

(look for other tracks performed similarly in Morocco... good stuff!)

And here's the studio recording:

"Hold me up to those whom you've deceived

promises you break you still believe…"

12-07-11 - "Somebody That I Used To Know" ~ Gotye (ft. Kimbra)

Belgian-Australian singer/songwriter Gotye had a bad breakup, and out of his misery came an internationally charting tune.  Collaborator Kimbra (a Kiwi, by the way) was not the subject of the song, but her vocals add depth to it.  The song has a somewhat odd and unsettling feel to it, but I definitely like it.  The minor chord progression and xylophone riff set the stage, and the unique voices and dynamic shifts paint the picture fantastically.


Speaking of painting, the music video features some bodypaint and tasteful nudity (you don't see anything you wouldn't at the public swimming pool).  But if you prefer not to watch that, or even if you do watch that, check out the recent live performance from KCRW's studios in Santa Monica, CA.

"You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness..."

12-06-11 - "Time" ~ Hans Zimmer

So I know I'm a little late on this, but tonight I watched "Inception."  It was a pretty wild ride, and lived up to the hype in my opinion.  I love a movie that works on the surface levels (action, drama, misdirection) while also requiring the viewer to think.  Christopher Nolan has proven to be adept at creating such films - from Memento to The Prestige to Inception.  The cast is pretty great; a list of actors such as Michael Caine, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio - all names whose films I can't recall not enjoying, at least the ones I've seen.


Without giving away any spoilers, let me just comment that for someone musically inclined as I am, the soundtrack can be a crucial element in the satisfaction taken from a film.  Just as with the director and cast, Hans Zimmer has never let me down as a composer.  The scores comprising his body of work are numerous, including such great films as Cool Runnings, The Lion King, Muppet Treasure Island (I know, right?), Gladiator, The Last Samurai, the Pirates / Batman series... ok, you get the point, a lot of movies with great soundtracks.


So here's a live performance by Zimmer himself, and below is the recorded version:

I imagine it must be great fun to be privy to the deepest secrets of a movie script like this one, and to get paid to imagine the sounds that should accompany such events as are depicted therein...

12-05-11 - "Spider's Web" ~ Katie Melua

This one may require your thinking cap; the lyrics are weighty.  Or, you can just enjoy the somber melody over arpeggiated guitar and piano - it's quite lovely musically.


Katie Melua was born in Soviet Georgia, lived through the collapse of the Soviet Union, and immigrated to the UK at a young age in the aftermath of the Georgian Civil War in 1993.  Can't say as my childhood was quite that interesting, although we did move from Pennsylvania to Virginia when I was 6.  Like I said, not quite the same as experiencing a communist government and a civil war by 9 years old...


Melua has gone on to be one of the most popular recording artists in Europe, and songs like this show you why.  The subject matter is controversial, and at first listen you may find yourself questioning the message of the first verse, but Melua brings it together if you continue listening.  Hate begets more hate, as has been evidenced in countless situations throughout history.  It takes someone rising above the hatred to bring about a change in attitude, for love also begets love.  


Racism is pretty clear-cut in most cases, but in today's world there are a lot of gray areas on other moral, political, and personal issues - or at least there are a lot of things we convince ourselves are gray areas.  I don't want to get political, but I'm sure you know what I mean.


The ultimate message of the song is hopeful - yes, sometimes the difference between right and wrong is a hair, and sometimes it's difficult to know what is the correct path, but if we each seek to do right by each other, we can do our part to make the world a better place.  In so doing, we can better enjoy the "million colours" - both the literal, visual ones and the beauty of music.

"The piano keys are black and white

but they sound like a million colours in your mind..."

12-04-11 - "My December" ~ Linkin Park

We've all gone through that phase where we were into rap metal, but for most of us it was quite a while ago that we got over it.  OK, so I say that tongue-in-cheek, because who ever really gets over it?  But seriously, maybe we haven't all done that, but we all experience changes in our musical tastes as we grow up and find ourselves at different stages in life.


All that to say, I haven't really kept up with Linkin Park, but apparently they have spent the last several years trying some different things stylistically, which I always appreciate in bands (as opposed to those who have one hit and spend decades writing more songs that sound exactly like that one.)  I'm not sure how well LP's first few albums have held up as I progressed out of my teen/college years, but I can still enjoy some of those tracks from time to time.  This particular song always did strike a chord for me, it's much more mellow and less intense musically than most of their stuff, but the simple lyrics pack a punch.  There's another side to the band besides the angsty, angry vibes of "Numb" and the Ecclesiastic nihilism of "In The End".


This song is about reflection, regret, and reconciliation.  The singer has made some major mistakes, which tore apart relationships.  He's realizing what he threw away and trying to make amends.  Hopefully most of you haven't had things fall apart quite that badly, but we've all said or done things which hurt family, friends, or lovers... 


Here's an acoustic / piano only version they've been doing in concert in recent years:

And here's the original version:

And while we're at it, Josh Groban (possibly the best male vocalist alive) covered the song, so you know it's legit:

(And yes, I posted this song in part to be cute and "oh snap it's a song about the current month!", like last night.  Also in part because my friend Josh tweeted some lyrics the other day.)


"This is my December

these are my snow covered dreams

this is me pretending

this is all I need..."