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My Gen X Playlist: Country Road – James Taylor

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Daily writing prompt
If you could erase one movie from your memory and watch it again for the first time, which one would it be?
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I’ve mention The Way a few times on this blog. Starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Esteves, a father walks the Camino de Santiago with his son.

The Way (2010), starring Martin Sheen and directed by his son Emilio Estevez, follows Tom, an American ophthalmologist who travels to France to collect the body of his estranged adult son, Daniel, who died in a storm on his first day walking the Camino de Santiago. Driven by grief and a desire to understand his son, Tom decides to complete the 500-mile pilgrimage himself, carrying Daniel’s ashes and traversing the Pyrenees and Spain to Santiago de Compostela.

IMDb

I loved this film for a few reason. First, the idea of a pilgrimage. I’m drawn to a story about a spiritual walk of self discovery.

It’s also a film about the relationship between a father and son. I once joined a men’s discussion group. As I listened to everyone’s personal stories, it became apparent that a father/son relationship plants an unspoken seed on how we view ourselves, our connections with others and affects the voice that interprets our joys and challenges in life.

It’s a movie that inspires me to want to walk the 500 miles across northern Spain and maybe even a little bit further. After reaching Santiago de Compostela, there is an additional 50 miles that finishes at the ocean at Cape Finisterre. In pre-Christian times, Finisterre was thought to be the edge of the world, a place to see the last sun of the day. I hope I follow through on this top item on my bucket list.

This is the only movie I purchased and downloaded on my phone. Even though I’ve watched this film over ten times, nothing beats the inspiration felt watching it the first time.

Most of the soundtrack is the original score by Tyler Bates. There are a handful of song, though. I’ve already included Alanis Morissette’s Thank U to the playlist. The only other song I recognize is James Taylor’s Country Road.

“Country Road” is, at first glance, a simple little tune about taking a walk. But in that wonderfully James Taylor-esque way, it’s actually about much more: freedom, solitude, the quiet pull of nature, and even a brush with the divine.

Songfacts

Freedom. Quiet pull of nature. Brush with the divine. A little of each is sprinkled on The Way. Nice song choice, Emilio.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Take to the highway, won't you lend me your name?
Your way and my way seem to be one and the same.
Mamma don't understand it, she wants to know where I've been.
I'd have to be some kind of natural born fool to want to pass that way again,
But I could feel it on a country road.

Sail on home to Jesus, won't you good girls and boys.
I'm all in pieces, you can have your own choice.
But I can hear a heavenly band full of angels and they're coming to set me free.
I don't know nothing 'bout the why or when but I can tell that it's bound to be,
because I could feel it, child, yeah, on a country road.

I guess my feet know where they want me to go walking on a country road.

Take to the highway, won't you lend me your name?
Your way and my way seem to be one and the same.
Mamma don't understand it, she wants to know where I've been.
I'd have to be some kind of natural born fool to want to pass that way again,
But I could feel it on a country road.

Walk on down, walk on down, walk on down, walk on down, walk on down a country road.
Na na na na na na na na na na na, country road, yeah, walking on a country road...

16 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Country Road – James Taylor”

  2. Sounds like a very good movie. I’ve never seen it. Will look for it. BTW I see you are using prompts again, like at first. Has WP renewed them?

    Friends of ours have walked the Camino a few times. I think it would be cool to do, too.

    I didn’t see a link to the song in the post but listened to it here: https://youtu.be/wr_ZRLgduiU?si=Y1JhQlgljDFo_s0D That’s a lovely song and seems a great choice for the film.

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    1. I learned recently WP started new daily prompts. I thought I’d see how long I could go again. It’s a great way to do a little writing daily. Last time my goal was 365 days. This time, no goal. Just a little fun and a song.

      Great that your friends did the Camino! I love hearing when others do!

      And thanks for the heads up on the link. Much appreciated!

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  4. That sounds like a good film. I’m gonna add it to my list.
    I ❤️ JT, which to me will always stand for James Taylor—not Jayson Tatum or Justin Timberlake, as my kids like to argue

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      1. Totally agree! I read Carly Simon’s book which had a lot of details about his heroine addiction. She loved him so deeply though. It’s sad they broke up.

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  6. I remember watching this film. Martin Sheen has always been someone I’ve followed although not regularly. It is a very moving story and definitely explores the idea of “the life we live and the life we chose”. Jack, Sarah and Joost along with Martin’s character Tom certainly make for a ragtag band of characters.
    It was shot on location so no doubt this adds to your desire to complete this bucket list item 😊

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    1. I’m so glad to meet someone who also enjoyed the film! I kind of felt the group was like characters in the Wizard of Oz. Just felt that way for me. That saying resonates with me. Looking back, it’s seems I’m choosing a life rather than living one.

      I heard they are making a sequel. Can’t wait.

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      1. I definitely spent many years “living a life” due to the demands of my career and being a single parent for 13 years.
        It’s only now really, in retirement, that I’m getting to choose my life. The dichotomy of this being that I got so used to living a life that to break out of that style is actually quite hard and something I have to sometimes remind myself to choose to do!

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