Favorite Songs

Days ago, I woke up with Charlene's singing in mind. I was not familiar with Charlene's voice, but I did remember the song she sang: I've Never Been To Me. It's in a movie I saw years ago. That name of this movie is "Queen of Desert." I don't understand why I suddenly has the sing in mind. But I really enjoy this deep thoughtful song.

I've Never Been To Me Charlene(Ken Kirsch / Ronald Miller)
Hey lady, you, lady, cursing at your life
You're a discontented mother and a regimented wife
I've no doubt you dream about the things you'll never do
But I wish someone had talked to me like I wanna talk to you
I've been to Georgia and California, anywhere I could run
Took the hand of a preachman and we made love in the sun
But I ran out of places and friendly faces
Because I had to be free
I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me
Please lady, please, lady, don't just walk away
Cause I have this need to tell you why I'm all alone today
I can see so much of me still living in your eyes
Won't you share a part of a weary heart
I've been to Nice and the isle of Greece
While I sipped champagne on a yacht
I moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo and showed 'em what I've got
I've been undressed by kings
And I've seen some things that a woman ain't supposed to see
I've been to paradise
But I've never been to me
(spoken)
Hey, you know what paradise is? It's a lie
A fantasy we create about people and places as we'd like them to be
But you know what truth is?
It's that little baby you're holding,
And it's that man you fought with this morning,
the same one you're going to make love with tonight
That's truth, that's love
Sometimes I've been to crying for unborn children
that might have made me complete
But I, I took the sweet life
And never knew I'd be bitter from the sweet
I spent my life exploring the subtle whoring
that cost too much to be free
Hey lady, I've been to paradise
But I've never been to me


Another song I love is Tori Amos's "Silence all these years." It was my sister who introduced me to this amazing song.

Silence all these years Tori Amos
Excuse me but can I be you for a while
My dog won't bite if you sit real still
I got the anti-Christ in the kitchen yelling at me again
Yeah I can hear that
Been saved again by the garbage truck
I got something to say you know but nothing comes
Yes I know what you think of me you never shut-up
Yeah I can hear that

*But what if I'm a mermaid in these jeans
　of his with her name still on it
Hey but I don't care cause sometimes
I said sometimes
I hear my voice and it's been here
Silent all these years

So you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts
What's so amazing about really deep thoughts
Boy you best pray that I bleed real soon
How's that thought for you
My scream got lost in a paper cup
You think there's a heaven where some screams have gone
I got 25 bucks and a cracker
Do you think it's enough to get us there (*)

Years go by will I still be waiting
For somebody else to understand
Years go by if I'm stripped of my beauty
And the orange clouds raining in my eye
Years go by will I choke on my tears
Till finally there is nothing left
One more casualty
You know we're too easy easy easy

Well I love the way we communicate
Your eyes focus on my funny lip shape
Let's hear what you think of me now
But baby don't look up
The sky is falling

Your mother shows up in a nasty dress
Well, it's your turn now to stand where I stand
Everybody looking at you
Here take hold of my hand
Yeah I can hear them

But what if I'm a mermaid in these jeans
　of yours with her name still on it
Hey but I don't care cause sometimes
I said sometimes
I hear my voice, I hear my voice, I hear my voice
And it's been here silent all these years
I've been here silent all these years
Silent all these
Silent all these years


"Silent All These Years" was written during Amos's search for self. These two songs were telling different women's stories. Both simple, but deep.