So tonight I watched “The Boat That Rocked”. Best movie I’ve watched in a long time!! Which to be fair given I’m a bit of a music fan it’s not too great a surprise in hindsight.

But anyway, it got me in a good mood, which according to a couple of people is a change to how I’ve been over the last few days. Now the story behind that is too long, tragic and boring to bother typing out, but … meh.

When the movie finished I rapidly vented my good mood onto facebook:

Sometimes, even when things seem colossally shit, all you can do is put on some good tunes and dance.

And as my mind spun around in a happy buzz I rapidly added:

In fact, let me add to that… it is when life seems most crappy, that dancing is most important. Music is like air, how can you live without breathing?

which lent itself to the quote that inspired me to babble on a bit more for everyone to ignore here!

But prior to jumping on here, my quote took me to YouTube, and led me to “Breathe (2AM)” by Anna Nalick. Now, it’s always been a song I liked, but it sort of echoes the thoughts in my mind. They lyrics for the song are…

2 AM and she calls me ’cause I’m still awake,
“Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?,
I don’t love him. Winter just wasn’t my season”
Yeah we walk through the doors, so accusing their eyes
Like they have any right at all to criticize,
Hypocrites. You’re all here for the very same reason

‘Cause you can’t jump the track, we’re like cars on a cable
And life’s like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, girl.
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe… just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe

May he turn 21 on the base at Fort Bliss
“Just a day” he said down to the flask in his fist,
“Ain’t been sober, since maybe October of last year.”
Here in town you can tell he’s been down for a while,
But, my God, it’s so beautiful when the boy smiles,
Wanna hold him. Maybe I’ll just sing about it.

Cause you can’t jump the track, we’re like cars on a cable,
And life’s like an hourglass, glued to the table.
No one can find the rewind button, boys,
So cradle your head in your hands,
And breathe… just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe

There’s a light at each end of this tunnel,
You shout ’cause you’re just as far in as you’ll ever be out
And these mistakes you’ve made, you’ll just make them again
If you only try turning around.

2 AM and I’m still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper, it’s no longer inside of me,
Threatening the life it belongs to
And I feel like I’m naked in front of the crowd
Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
And I know that you’ll use them, however you want to

But you can’t jump the track, we’re like cars on a cable,
And life’s like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button now
Sing it if you understand.
and breathe, just breathe
woah breathe, just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe.

What it all boils down to seems to be (at least to me) that even though things go wrong and the path you have to take seems hard or scary or unclear, taking a step back and taking a breath, you can get through things. Music about getting through the hard times, which wonderfully illustrated my thoughts and feelings as a song that helped me realise that being down about things wasn’t solving anything and without anything conscious, it put me in a good mood.

I guess what I’m trying to say, is that for all of you out there walking through this big bad world feeling that life is getting you down or stressing about this or that, take a breath, put on some good music and remember that tomorrow is another day. I don’t know if tomorrow will be any better than today was, or than yesterday was, but I do know that if I don’t try it sure as shit doesn’t hold much promise. Life is one big string of decisions, and while I’m sure I’ll get down many more times before it’s over, for now I’m choosing to take a minute to dance.

And to help you all start to get that smile on your face here’s Anna Nalick with Breath. I insist that you crank it up and sing at the top of your lungs (you’ve got the lyrics so no excuse!), dance like a mad man (or woman), and remember that life will never improve unless you try to improve it.