My Gen X Playlist: Shape of My Heart – Sting

Daily writing prompt

What’s your favorite game (card, board, video, etc.)? Why?

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I grew up in a relatively large family with two brothers and a sister. We are all close in age and when we were young, we often played together. The great thing about having many siblings is that there are more players for card games. I remember playing fun games such as go fish, war, various card tricks and even poker and blackjack as we got older. When my siblings were not around, I could still go solo and play an occasional round of solitaire to pass the time. Although we did enjoy board games as well, cards seemed to be the only game that transitioned with me to adulthood.

My first thought for the playlist was Kenny Roger’s The Gambler. “Know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em”. You remember the tune. We used to sing this as kids when it came on the radio. It was fun and catchy. But then my thoughts shifted to Shape of My Heart by Sting. For me, this has always been a “smooth bob your head” type of song and I never really listened to the lyrics until now. Sting sings of an emotionless gambler that only lives a life focused on chance and outcomes.

The philosophy of the card player does not allow him to show emotions, either positive or negative, and this makes him a rather difficult person in ordinary life relationships. 

– Lot of Sense

Often times I find myself calculating outcomes if I say this or say that; do this or do that. I worry about the “what ifs” in life, sometimes even on trivial matters that cause me to expend way too much energy and stress on. How tiresome this can be! I’m finding that as I contemplate these daily prompts, a theme emerges in my thoughts: Let life happen. You can’t control everything. Everything will be alright. Maybe how I’m relating to the song is a little bit of a stretch to Sting’s intentions. But aren’t we allowed to find our own personal meaning? I raise my hand and vote yes. I think we can be given a little leeway on this one. After all, that’s the beauty of music.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

He deals the cards as a meditation
And those he plays never suspect
He doesn't play for the money he wins
He doesn't play for respect

He deals the cards to find the answer
The sacred geometry of chance
The hidden law of a probable outcome
The numbers lead a dance

I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart

He may play the Jack of diamonds
He may lay the Queen of spades
He may conceal a King in his hand
While the memory of it fades

I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
That's not the shape, the shape of my heart

And if I told you that I loved you
You'd maybe think there's something wrong
I'm not a man of too many faces
The mask I wear is one

But those who speak know nothing
And find out to their cost
Like those who curse their luck in too many places
And those who fear are lost

I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
That's not the shape of my heart
That's not the shape, the shape of my heart