My Gen X Playlist: Galveston – REM

Describe your most memorable vacation.

WordPress labeled today answered before I could even say hello. Today’s prompt is the first prompt I completed almost a year ago. Apparently, I just lapped myself. I re-read my original answer and am surprised I went in that direction. Here is that first post.

Wichita Lineman – REM

I pulled that song from an REM documentary. In keeping in that same spirit, here is another cover from that same documentary. It’s REM covering a bit of Glen Campbell’s Galveston in sound check.

Galveston is a city on the coast of Texas that attracts lots of hurricanes. Webb was on a beach in Galveston when he wrote the song. He made up the story about a scared soldier heading off to war and the girl he left behind in his hometown. Most songwriters never find themselves in places like Galveston or Wichita, but Webb found inspiration in the people he encountered in these places.

– songfacts

I’d heard both of these songs growing up but never really paid much attention to them. It’s only from watching this documentary did I recognize how cool they really were. Who’d have thought a minute and a half sound check would make me a Glen Campbell fan.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea winds blowin'
I still see her dark eyes glowin'
She was 21 when I left Galveston

Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea waves crashing
While I watch the cannons flashing
I clean my gun and dream of Galveston

I still see her standing by the water
Standing there lookin' out to sea
And is she waiting there for me?
On the beach where we used to run

Galveston, oh Galveston, I am so afraid of dying
Before I dry the tears she's crying
Before I watch your sea birds flying in the sun
At Galveston, at Galveston