My Gen X Playlist: Hanginaround – Counting Crows

Before I left for my year living abroad, I saw the Sylvester Stallone movie Cliffhanger in the theater. Survey says: Flop. It wasn’t that great. That was the last movie I saw before I boarded the plane.

Fast forward. I’m living in Japan, an hour outside Tokyo. I wouldn’t call it the sticks, but it was somewhat country-ish. Which also means, no English in sight.

I met some expat friends in Tokyo one weekend and we went to the movies. Cliffhanger was the only English movie playing. Even though I’d seen it, I still tagged along. And surprise: Best. Fucking. Movie. Ever. That’s what happens when you are thousands of miles from home and literally starving for English. I haven’t watched it again since. I don’t want to ruin it.

There also were a few random shows that I watched on TV (thankfully subtitled and not dubbed for the locals). Columbo and Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Columbo was a classic. I never watched Dr. Quinn back home, but never missed an episode in Japan. I hate to admit it. A few sentimental episodes even made me shed a few tears – no lie. Embarrassing, but true. I chalk that up to my starvation of English and home. Too bad the internet wasn’t invented back then. I’m sure I would have had an entirely different experience.

I read on Variety, they are rebooting Cliffhanger. While tempting, I think I’ll pass. I think I’m going to let the original end on a high note for me. Why ruin it this late stage in the game. It’s best to let it rest peacefully in the pastures in my head. No use letting it hang around any longer than it has to. Amen.

The Counting Crows released Hanginaround in 1999. Their debut album was a hit, but it was not an easy road for Adam Duritz.

Counting Crows rose to fame quickly, with their 1993 debut album selling over 10 million copies worldwide. For their founders Adam Duritz and David Bryson, however, it was a longer road, as they each spent a lot of time in Northern California kicking around with different bands before Counting Crows. In our interview with Adam Duritz, he says that is what inspired the song: “We spent 10 years in clubs, so I spent a lot of years hanging around Berkeley, not necessarily sure whether I was going anywhere, but having a lot of fun. Being up late, getting drunk, and playing music. I spent a lot of years not really knowing where that was going.”

Songfacts

I’m all too familiar with the feeling of not knowing where I’m going. I think the absence of a compass fueled me to accept the year long adventure in Japan. If I’m being totally honest, leaving the country was a great delay tactic from adulting. Plus, who doesn’t like fresh sushi and strong sake, anyway? In the grand scheme of things, a year away was a drop in the bucket of life. It gave me countless memories and a brief diversion from growing up. Survey says: totally worth it.

P.S. If you are a Gen Xer, you may remember Richard Dawson yelling “Survey says!” on Family Feud. That’s totally in my head right now…

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

She sat right down on the sofa
I said, "Where have you been? I've been waiting for you.
'Cause last night I had something so good
These days get so long and I got nothing to do"

I been hangin' around this town on the corner
I been bummin' around this old town so long
I been hangin' around this town on the corner
I been bummin' around this old town for way too long

We spend all day getting sober
Just hiding from daylight
Watching TV
We just look a lot better in the blue light
Well, you know I gotta get out
But I'm stuck so tight
Weighed by the chains that keep me...

Hangin' around this town on the corner
I been bummin' around this old town too long
I been hangin' around this town on the corner
I been bummin' around this old town for way too long

And this girl listens to the band play
She says "Where have you been?
I've been lyin' right here on the floor"

Well, I got all this time
To be waiting for what is mine
To be hating what I am
After the light has faded

Hangin' around this town on the corner
I been bummin' around this old town so long
I been hangin' around this town on the corner
I been bummin' around this old town for way, way, way, way, way too long

I Hangin' around this town on the corner
I been bummin' around this old town too long
I been hangin' around this town on the corner
I been bummin' around this old town for way way, way, way, way too long
Way way, way, way, way too long
Way way, way, way, way too long
Way way, way, way, way too long
Way way, way, way, way too long
Way way, way, way, way too long
Way way, way, way, way too long