16th Avenue

There is a reason every post in this blog starts with a song title. Music affects my mood (or reflects my mood) greatly, and I find the words to so many songs poetic and inspirational, and thought-provoking. I turn to music to work through the deep dark moments, and as an outlet for my exuberance.

Last weekend, my husband and I went to a Kathy Mattea concert. She was phenomenal. At one point in the evening, she talked about how you can listen to a song for years and then one day part of it jumps out at you in an entirely different way....

Ever since I first heard it, "16th Avenue" has been my favorite song. It's held that spot for more than 20 years. 16th Avenue is about walking away from everything to make your dreams come true.

From the corners of the country, from the cities and the farms
With years and years of living tucked up, underneath their arms
They walked away from everything just to see a dream come true

I am goal-oriented. I always have been. I really believe that sometimes you have to be willing to say no, give up things, walk away from everything, if you're going to pursue your goals or make your dreams come true. If you can't do that, then you're just hoping things will fall into place for you. Life takes grit and perseverance and often, quite a bit of it. Sometimes other people don't understand your dreams, or try to talk you out of them because your dreams don't mesh with theirs. And so you have to make choices. The song "16th Avenue" refers to the street in Nashville where so many of the recording studios are located--and the song ends the way it should...

Ah but then one night in some empty room
where no curtains ever hung
Like a miracle some golden words rolled off of someone's tongue
And after years of being nothing they're all looking right at you
And then for a while they'll go in style on 16th Avenue.

For years, my second favorite song has been "Baby Girl". It also talks about working to pursue your dreams:

This time, I’m gonna make our dreams come true...

I know that I’m on my way
I can tell every time I play
And I know it’s worth all the dues I pay

And that's where Kathy Mattea's words jumped out at me. "16th Avenue" and "Baby Girl" are the same song. Only "Baby Girl" adds in the love of family. She turns to her parents for help when she's pursuing her dreams. And when she reaches her dreams, she tells her parents how much she loves them.

Whaddya know, we made our dreams come true
And there are fancy cars and diamond rings
But you know that they don't mean a thing
They all add up to nothin' compared to you
Well, remember me in ribbons an' curls
I still love you more than anything in the world...
Love, your Baby Girl

The only thing I can think of that is better than pursing your dreams, is doing it with people you love. I think, after 20 years, I need to re-order my favorite songs and put "Baby Girl" on top. I've been fortunate enough to pursue--and reach--so many of my dreams. Now I am enjoying watching my daughters pursue theirs. They know I'm here to help them if they want me to, but the dreams are theirs to pursue, not mine. "16th Avenue" will take second place on my list.

"Fishing in the Dark" has always been third.

Dreams come true...
--Sugarland