My Gen X Playlist: Turpentine – Brandi Carlisle

I had a few appointments that I schedule on the same day – my blood test for my annual physical and going in person to get my Real ID from the DMV. I tried to schedule both close enough to knock it out on the same day. In doing so, I had to go to an unfamiliar city not too far away. I had three hour break in between and found a coffee house to kill some time.

This was my kind of place. They roast their own coffee beans and the decor was similar how I’d like my coffee house to be if I opened my own. It had an industrial flair inside – brick walls, concrete floors. The baristas prepared coffee in the middle of the room with a long bar surrounding the preparation space. The bar was full, laptops open, the sound of conversations blended with music playing overhead. I half listened to a young guy striking up a conversation with a young girl at the end of the bar. All I could think of is that I wished for my twenties back, even for a few days. They reminded me of young energy.

Outside in the back, was an open space with trees arching their extended arms to provide shade from the noon sun. Despite the summer heat, tables were full of people enjoying conversations and the summer weather. I made a mental note to check outside the next time when the weather was cooler. I love that it was a hidden space that contrasted to the industrial feel.

As the noon hour was coming to an end, the long bar began to clear out a bit. But even half empty, the vibe still remained. When I come back in my second life, I’m going to open up a place like this. It definitely felt like home.

I always said I’d have live acoustic music playing at my coffee house. Maybe something like this – Brandi Carlisle playing Turpentine.

. . . the lyrics are pretty self-explanatory for “Turpentine,” but it’s such a beautiful song . . . It’s a coming-of-age song about losing a childhood friendship (in Brandi’s case, with her brother). 

I love this version of this song. She has the coolest voice ever.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

I watch you grow away from me in photographs
And memories like spies
And salt betrays my eyes again
I started losing sleep and gaining weight
And wishing I was was ten again
So I could be your friend again

These days we go to waste like wine
That's turned to turpentine
It's six AM and I'm all messed up
I didn't mean to waste your time
So I'll fall back in line
But I'm warning you we're growing up

I heard you found some pretty words to say
You found your little game to play
And there's no one allowed in
Then just when we believe we could be great
Reality it permeates
And conquers from within again

These days we go to waste like wine
That's turned to turpentine
It's six AM and I'm all messed up
I didn't mean to waste your time
So I'll fall back in line
But I'm warning you we're growing up

We're OK I know we're OK
These days we go to waste like wine
That's turned to turpentine
It's six AM and I'm all messed up
I didn't mean to waste your time
So I'll fall back in line
But I'm warning you we're growing up