Too Many Memories

Too Many Memories Take me back Too many memories Take me back So many memories Take me back (I can't remember all of the lyrics... this is the best I can do) Everywhere I go and every place I imagine I still see her face Oh there ain't a way I can erase Too many memories That make me cry Too many memories That never die No they won't ever die I will go on dying everday Oh baby if you don't come home to stay Oh there ain't a way I can erase Anyway, I can't remember any more, at least in any coherent form. That song is by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and was released along with Walk Like A Man, Sherry, and Big Girls Don't Cry sometime in the 70's. I know this because it was on 8-track and it was owned by my mother. It was a compilation of sorts but I don't remember the name of it. My mother may still have the 8-track and she probably has something to play it on. Anyway, as early as 1977 I can remember listening to and singing that song. I remember because our Chihuahua, Taffy, died on January 22, 1977. I remember that because it is my aunt's birthday. I remember crying to that song because it was sad. It spoke of loss and pain. Years later, while the 8-Track player still functioned, I sat down and transcribed the lyrics and put them in my writing folder. I know they are written on lined notebook paper and there is a sticker on the paper of a green dragon. It is written in neat 12-year old handwriting, as though it was very important. It was important and it still is because I gave it significance. As so I can say, there is the instant where my love affair with music began. It is where I began attaching significance to memories and reliving those memories encased in music. Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train Goin' anywhere Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train Goin' anywhere A singer in a smoky room The smell of wine and cheap perfume For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on That's Don't Stop Believin' by Journey. Those lyrics always bring my bud AZ to mind as he was raised in Detroit and I was raised in a small town and, well, it means something to me. To me, that song is us. It is the essence of us and will forever be the essence of us, if only in my mind, in my memories. Its soft like a pillow and I lay down on it frequently. A lot of people attach significance to songs because they were playing at a certain time in our lives, when something significant happened. I can remember a couple of instances of that happening. Everybody Wants You -- Billy Squire You see 'em comin' at you every night Strung on pretension, they fall for you at first sight You know their business, you think it's a bore They make you restless, it's nothin' you ain't seen before Get around town, spend your time on the run You never let down, say you do it for fun Never miss a play, though you make quite a few You give it all away - everybody wants you Thunderstruck - AC/DC (Thunder) I was caught In the middle of a railroad track (Thunder) [...of a lightning attack] I looked round And I knew there was no turning back (Thunder) My mind raced And I thought what could I do (Thunder) And I knew There was no help, no help from you (Thunder) Sound of the drums Beatin' in my heart The thunder of guns Tore me apart You've been - thunderstruck I used to dance to those two songs at the bar that AZ worked. He worked on the second floor which overlooked the dance floor if you stood at the far end of it and occasionally I would catch him watching me. Yes, I was an attention whore, not to mention, I really love to dance. I'm not much for today's dance music though unless you count "Dirrty" by Christina Aquilera and the Moulin Rouge song Lady Marmalade. Right now I'm listening to Skid Row's Slave to the Grind which includes such memorable tunes as Psycho Love, Get the Fuck Out, Quicksand Jesus and Wasted Time. I remember being in the mosh pit at the Skid Row/Pantera show sometime during the Slave tour and before Sebastian Bach made his exit. I remember watching Rachel Bolan's hair swinging along with his nose ring to earring via chain ensemble to Piece of Me. Caught a lonely lady Crying on a cigarette I got nasty, nasty habits And that's all she's gonna get from me One for the money, two for the show A 'round and 'round and 'round we go Take a look at what-a you might need You better hurry To get a piece of me I don't have looks, I don't have money But I know one thing's for sure One night ain't enough of my love She wanted more, more, more When I came home the other night I immediately started looking for Skid Row and found Slave to the Grind, which is cool but I also found Cinderella's Night Songs, which includes Push, Push, Somebody Save Me and Shake Me. She’s lookin’ fine Flashin’ like a neon sign She thinks it’s love I said that comes with time I’m gettin’ ready The love’s lookin’ steady It’s gettin’ sticky I thought she might miss me She looked at me and said I need a little Push, push Come and give a little Push, push If ya take a little Push, push Then you’ll get a little Push, push AZ and I were discussing the greatness of the late 80's, early 90's... the time before responsibility, a time of fun and parties, headbanging, air guitar. He spoke wistfully, however... I still know that Push, Push is great song to strip to. I think he needs reminding that although he now has three jobs, a house and all the trappings of being a "real" adult, as long as the music lives, the memories live and as long as the memories live we're still 21 and 28, I'm still drunk, sleeping in my car waiting for him to come home. He still owns a blue and green bathrobe and has long hair. I think its time to remind him.