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My Gen X Playlist: Sing Your Life – Morrissey

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I woke up to sounds of a garbage truck hauling away our trash and the thought this was the last day of 2024, both at the same time. Odd. What does one have to do with the other? Probably nothing. But the two thoughts swirling in my head simultaneously was weird.

2024 was a good year for me. It was a year of rest and recovery. I spent the year focused on health, both mental and physical. I feel the healthiest I’ve ever felt in a very long time and this validated my decision to step back from work. So the blend of the garbage truck and being thankful for the year is a strange mix. Sometimes two events occur without any connection, meaning or metaphor. This may be one of them.

People ask me what I did on my year long sabbatical. They are expecting me to describe month long jaunts across the Italian countryside or backpacking adventures deep into the mountains. My story is a lot less exciting. Early morning coffee at dawn, an hour or two by the pool, a little bit of writing, a stroll through a farmers market with Spotify or a podcast in my ear. A book, a Netflix series, lunch with my mom, walks after dinner. I picked up a pen, a paintbrush, a sketchbook, a guitar. Some for just a month or two. Others a lot longer. Overall – run of the mill, slow, mellow, chill.

Some have a disappointed look, as if I spoiled a grand opportunity to travel the world. And I see their point of view. I had so much time to explore. I smile and nod. Sometimes I put in the effort to explain the reason for my time off was to heal, to let go of toxicity that my career was spewing. But I got tired of the effort that it took and I also realized that I didn’t have to defend myself nor my choices. And my friends really meant nothing by it. They were just daydreaming what they would do if they were in my Converse sneakers and given this rare opportunity. I don’t hold it against them.

I’ll admit, sometimes regret crept in, not because I truly felt a void of a lost opportunity. It was more regret created by other’s grand expectations and not living up to them. But then I remembered the reason for my sabbatical was to heal and live my life on my own terms. To live for myself and not out of obligation or expectation. And that settled me whenever this feeling seeped in and I was at peace with my choices. All of that other nonsense can be hauled away with the trash.

OK, there is a somewhat remote connection after all. Funny how randomly writing on a thought can sometimes make a full circle back, no matter how much of a stretch. I’ll take that. Good enough on this last morning of 2024. Now the hard part. Trying to find a song.

After a some time thinking and searching, I landed on Sing Your Life by Morrissey. There wasn’t much of a backstory online, but I strangely interpreted the lyrics in a positive light. And I say strangely because, well, this is Morrissey we’re talking about and he is anything but positive. But my probable misinterpretation of the lyrics will have to do on this last morning of the year.

Oh sing your life
Others sang your life
but now’s your chance to shine
and have the pleasure of
saying what you mean
the rare pleasure of
meaning what you sing

Wishing everyone a wonderful happy 2025. May we all enjoy singing our lives throughout the new year.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Sing your life
any fool can think of words that rhyme
many others do
why don't you?
do you want to?
Sing your life
just walk right up to the microphone
and name
all the things that you love
all the things that you loathe
sing your life
all the things that you love
all the things that you loathe
oh sing your life
oh sing your life
Others sang your life
but now's your chance to shine
and have the pleasure of
saying what you mean
the rare pleasure of
meaning what you sing
oh, make no mistake, my friend
all of this will end
so sing it now
all the things you love
all the things you loathe
oh sing your life
all the things that you love
all the things that you loathe
oh sing your
oh sing your
Don't leave it all unsaid
somewhere in the wasteland of your head
and make no mistake, my friend
your pointless life will end
but before you go
can you look at the truth?
You have a lovely singing voice
a lovely singing voice
and all of those
who sing on key
they stole the notion
from you and me

20 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Sing Your Life – Morrissey”

  2. Wonderful! May we all sing our lives in 2025. I enjoyed reading the story of your sabbatical. So glad it has been healing for you. I thought of the trash truck as representing the removal of what you no longer need. Happy New Year, S!

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  3. Happy New Year 🥳
    This got me thinking, do you write and then find the song that connects to what you wrote or sometimes have a song in mind already and write based on the song?

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    1. Great question. I write then try to find a song. It’s pretty challenging sometimes because my unwritten rule is it has to be a song I already know and like. The cool thing is when I find a song that fits and then the backstory fits as well. It’s made the music more interesting. I’ve thought of reversing it, starting with the song. But I decided to keep it the same instead.

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  4. Unwinding and regrouping is sometimes what we need the most. My escape from the real world was, like, four years long (I enrolled in college), so there’s that. ^_^ Have a good new year!

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  5. I wasn’t familiar with that song, though it looks like by the era, I should be.
    I think you used your time to heal perfectly. Travel to me, is for other things, adventure etc
    I’m glad to have enjoyed your musical staycation through your blog.
    Happy New Year!

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    1. I don’t think this got much airplay. I know it because I had the CD and listened to it way back when.

      I appreciate your words and comment. It was a wonderful healing season for me.

      Wishing you a wonderful new year!

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  6. Great song, aptly chosen. I like Morrissey, but find some of his songs sound just like others… this one is unique.

    I applaud you for standing your ground despite the outside noise and keeping in mind the intention you set when stepping off the hamster wheel. I suppose it’s natural to want to fill time, just like we often try to fill voids in conversations. Sometimes, long silences in sittings with my men friends are just what’s needed in that moment. It’s probably what you needed most as, even if we don’t figure it out ourselves, our bodies usually tell us what’s needed.

    I was going to say right off that the garbage truck was taking away the last of the junk, weariness and bad juju from your old work life, but you got to it. Here’s to 2025!

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    1. Long silences being needed at the moment. I really appreciate that. It really resonated when I read that. Thank you. And you are right, our bodies do know better. I should listen to my body more.

      Ah yes… hauling away the junk. It’s been awhile since I’ve had this burden lifted. It feels good.

      Happy new year, Steve. Wishing you the very best in 2025!

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  7. The intro of the garbage truck and the new immediately connected.
    That is such a beautiful sabbatical you had. The simple joys of living each day .
    Happy New Year to you and your family! Wishing you a brighter and fulfilling year ahead 🥳💥✨️

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  8. Happy New Year! I’m glad you had a happy and healthy 2024! I believe it was a wonderful year!
    Cheers to another wonderful year full of fun, happiness, and endless blessings. 🎉✨

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