Drops of Jupiter

The magic of song lyrics

The past few days I have been listening to my music, in shuffle mode, rather than the most recent style of self indulgence listening to one song for days on end.  I had noticed that I was choosing a song based on my current emotion, set it on replay, just to have background noise.  Problem was, I think it was influencing my mood instead of enhancing it.  So I thought that maybe I should choose some songs that evoke the emotions I WANT to feel.  I have to say it is making a difference.  However a really cool thing happened once I did that.  I started to listen, REALLY listen, to the lyrics of my favorite songs.  I have heard them all thousands of times, most of them I know the words by heart, but I never REALLY listened to the brilliance of their poetry.  I decided that for the rest of the week I would listen with careful purpose to the artistry, to the poetry, not just the music and words as an overall whole.  WOW….I have been so moved by them.  These lyricists are pure poetic genius.  I am actually a bit envious of the depth of soul some of them really have. 

One of my favorites is “drops of Jupiter” by train.  I think it is one of the most brilliantly insightful songs ever written.  However, you might find it interesting to know, that he wrote that song about his mother who had passed away from cancer-believing her spirit was back on earth with him, not about a lover who left him to “search her soul”.  He included things that he thought she would miss about being on earth with him, such as fried chicken and long talks with him.  Although I do strongly believe one of the great things about poetry and music, is that we each can interpret a song or poem to mean what ever inspires our own emotions.  So for me, ‘Drops of Jupiter’ is about me and my ‘soul vacation’ because that is exactly what I am on….a soul journey.  And what better way to do that than traipsing across the constellations, dancing along the light of day.  But the song reminds us about those that we leave behind while sailing across the sun and the things they have to offer us here on “earth”….and that most likely, while fun, we risk losing the things we enjoy with those who love us.  For me that is my son, my friends, and my hobbies…..but sadly….few things about my husband.

I feel I have been trapped for so long that I have to break out of this atmosphere and have a stay on the moon.  I must make it to the Milky Way to see for my self if the lights are faded and heaven is over rated.  Maybe I will fall for a shooting star.  Can Venus blow my mind?  Will it be everything I’m hoping to find?  I don’t know if it will be, I just know I need to see for myself.

~S~

Drops Of Jupiter lyrics
Now that she's back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there's a time to change, hey
Since the return from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey

But tell me, did you sail across the sun?
Did you make it to the Milky Way
To see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated?

Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star?
One without a permanent scar
And then you missed me
While you were looking for yourself out there?

Now that she's back from that soul vacation
Tracing her way through the constellation, hey
She checks out Mozart while she does Tae-Bo
Reminds me that there's room to grow, hey

Now that she's back in the atmosphere
I'm afraid that she might think of me as
Plain ol' Jane told a story about a man
Who was too afraid to fly so he never did land

But tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet?
Did you finally get the chance
To dance along the light of day
And head back to the Milky Way?

And tell me, did Venus blow your mind?
Was it everything you wanted to find?
And then you missed me
While you were looking for yourself out there

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you
Even when I know you're wrong?

Can you imagine no first dance, freeze-dried romance
Five-hour phone conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had, and me?