Songs for Each of Us

Couples often have their songs that mean a lot to them. In my family though everyone has a song or several. My mom has songs for each of her children, for events, and for different moods, and she passed this habit on to me. Whenever something big happens it gets a song. I don't remember all the songs I've favored at different points in my life offhand, but then one will surprise me on the radio and I'm taken back to that moment and what was going on in my mind.

My Mom has told me my song and my sister and brother's songs several times and even though I wasn't there or at least wasn't able to remember those births the songs say so much about where she was in life then and what she was feeling. For my sister the song is "For Once in my Life." The Lyrics start with "For once in my life I have someone who needs me. Someone I've needed so long. For once, unafraid, I can go where life leads me. And somehow I know I'll be strong." Now that I have my own kids I imagine the feelings of C's birth and the birth that first made me a Mommy and I can imagine my Mom looking at my sister in her arms and those same feelings. My brother's song is "You are my Sunshine." This is the perfect song for her happy blond baby boy who surprised her coming early and only 15 months after his big sis, for the son who she still sees as her baby boy though he towers above her now.

My mom was at a much different point in her life when she had me (16 years after her first, 15 years after her second) and our song reflects this too. Our song is "You and me against the world" by Helen Reddy. It begins "You and me against the world, Sometimes it seems like you and me against the world, When all the others turn their backs and walked away,You can count on me to stay." Again this is the perfect song to show how it felt growing up like Mom and I were a partnership, best friends as well as Mother and daughter. Facing whatever came along together. Another part of the lyrics that stands out as perfect for us again "And for all the times we've cried I always felt that God was on our side." My mother's faith astounds me and she has always been a great reminder to let go and let God, that He is always watching over us, and to trust in Him.

As I was growing up I found other songs along the way. I remember when my grandfather passed away my mom and I heard "God is Watching us, from a distance" on the radio and that still brings me comfort when missing him and other family members that have passed since.

I found my song for my father and I which we danced to at my wedding: "I loved her first" by Heartland. I also had other songs for both my parents. I still remember several "Honky tonk" and older country songs which bring me back to making breakfast in my Dad's kitchen and us dancing as I stood on his feet and he guided us in circles. I also still sing several of the lullabies my Mom used for me to my children now. "Sweetest Little Fella," "Hush Little Baby," and "Rise and Shine" still remind me of those moments when my Mom would help me out of the bath, wrap me up in a towel and rock me and sing to me before bedtime.

My mom shared more of her songs with me too. Her favorites are "Rhapsody in Blue" and "Chariots of Fire" both which don't have lyrics, but will always remind me of her and put me in the mood to sit and relax or set off running as they do for her.

My husband and I found our own songs early in dating. Our first one was Linkin Park's "My December" when we first met in December and when we were chatting online and my screen name included December as well, then almost a year later we found "When you say nothing at all" which is the song we can't hear without stopping to dance together. I still remember when we first heard it. We were in a store in the Asheville mall and it came over the loud speakers and we started dancing in the middle of the store. It was like everything around us disappeared and it was only us dancing in the clouds. I still get that feeling when I hear it today. After the song ended and we returned to reality we realized the shop owner was watching us and aw-ing and she gave us the CD she'd played it from lol.

Of course I have songs for my kids as well, a couple each in fact. C's main one is "God is Watching over you" by Phil Joel which I heard on the radio after being told she had a spot on her neck which might be an indicator of other issues (Thank God it wasn't). I remember I first heard it while laying in the bath tub talking to her in my belly and I found the trust in God and peace that everything would be okay and God was Watching over us. The other two songs that remind me of her birth and which I sang to her throughout the pregnancy and after her birth and since are "Baby Mine" and "I knew I loved you before I met you."

J's pregnancy and birth was very Beatles heavy. His was my relaxed birth and my surprise. Daddy listened to "I am the Walrus" a lot that pregnancy but I was more about "Hey Jude." During this c-section I was awake so I got to choose the music on the speakers in the operating room and J was born with the Beatles singing that actually. His other song which says more about us and our relationship and is more our song I think is "Your Song" by Elton John though I heard it first in Moulin Rouge. The main line that I sing to my little boy who surprised me arriving only 12 months after his big sis, is "I hope you don't mind that I put down in words, how wonderful life is now you're in the world."

E's main song is "You'll be in my heart" by Phil Collins from Tarzan. Another song that was often played and sang in her pregnancy is "The Voice of Truth" this is used in a lot of VBAC montages and is a wonderful song of strength and trusting in God that what you're choosing to do is possible and the best choice for your child. I played this song a lot during early labor especially. I also often sing to her "If I had Words" and "Beautiful Soul."

I know this has gotten a bit long and that I've listed a lot of songs but each one does mean a lot to me and brings back those memories. I know as time passes my family will have more songs for each of us and many wonderful memories. Just these past few weeks C and J have been singing "Stuck Like Glue" and I will never forget how cute that is and it's given that song a special place in my heart too with that memory. I love that my Mom has given me her habit and music is such a part of our lives and memories.

Edited to add 12/13/11
K's here and of course has songs of her own as well. The main one being "Sweet Child of Mine." Also during her pregnancy I loved and still love to sing to her: Make You Feel My Love -Adele and If you want to sing out, sing out, Cat Stevens. :)

Edited to add 1/19/14
L's songs are I will wait by Mumford and Sons and Baby Mine (shared with big sis)