But in my dreams, I slew the dragon
There was a time in 2005 when Spring was just in full bloom, and things were starting to shift around on the seismic levels of my life. I found myself headed up to the shiny lights of Seattle, where the forest creeps right down to the edge of the endless waters that surprise you at every turn in the road. I would be spending a handful of days there before taking a bumpy little ferry over to Vancouver Island for a the weekend, and of course I made a “Blue Seattle” mix to accompany me for this week in my life, stuck somewhere between endings and beginnings.
Garden State had just come out, and the smoky, melancholy Colin Hay song “I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You” played a prominent role on that Seattle mix I carefully crafted, alongside folks like Amos Lee (“Seen It All Before”), Jeb Loy Nichols (“Mostly Bittersweet”) and Jackson Frank (“The Blues Run The Game”). That Colin Hay song is just so damn sad and wistful, as are most of the songs on the mix I came up with, songs that made me want to lean forward on the railing of a small ship as it cut through the grey, and watch the white foam left in our wake.
I’ve successfully managed to completely disassociate Hay from Men At Work, and now when I hear his nuanced solo work, I just think of things like fog and the sea, dotted with emerald islands.
Recently a sailor from my summer voyage pointed me in the direction of this marvelous song, one that I’d never heard before, and I’ve listened to it dozens of times since then. Any minute now, my ship is coming in / I’ll keep checking the horizon, I’ll stand on the bow, feel the waves come crashing.
Waiting For My Real Life To Begin – Colin Hay
Colin also recently did a Daytrotter session, with four other earthy, acoustic tunes for your enjoyment. His newest solo album American Sunshine came out this summer on Compass Records.
Name: Heather Browne
I first heard “Waiting For My Real Life to Begin” when it was played during an episode of Dawson’s Creek. No joke.
Rob — November 15, 2009 @ 10:13 pm
oh, super!!!
browneheather — November 15, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
Any chance you’d share the entirely of your Seattle playlist? Sounds like just the kind of music I’d appreciate.
Kate — November 16, 2009 @ 8:26 am
sure kate!
Blue Seattle Mix: May 2005
Honey I Been Thinking About You – Jackie Greene
When The Stars Go Blue – Ryan Adams
Perfect Blue Buildings – Counting Crows
Naked As We Came – Iron & Wine
Mostly Bittersweet – Jeb Loy Nichols (love this song)
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go – Bob Dylan
Burn – Ray LaMontagne
What Happened Yesterday – Neil Young
All At Sea – Jamie Cullum
Why Georgia – John Mayer (don’t laugh, great song)
Blues Run The Game – Jackson Frank
Drifting – Pearl Jam
Little Victories – Matt Nathanson
These Are Things (live on KFOG) – Wheat
Keep What Ya Got – Ian Brown
Colorblind – Counting Crows
Ol’ 55 (Tom Waits cover) – Sarah Mc Lachlan
Solitary Man – Chris Isaak
I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You – Colin Hay
All The Wild Horses – Ray LaMontagne
Seen It All Before – Amos Lee (such a MARVELOUS album)
–fin–
browneheather — November 16, 2009 @ 8:45 am
fabulous!
i love all the songs that i know from it… will have to check out the rest!
thank you!
Kate — November 16, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
fantastic!
spookycat — November 16, 2009 @ 6:53 pm
I first discovered this song when it was performed (quite beautifully I think) by the cast of Scrubs in season 2.
Here’s the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcsrnT7Tv1o
Matt — November 17, 2009 @ 7:59 pm
any chance you can up this mix for all to enjoy?
prodrewcer — November 18, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
Excellent call on the Jackson Frank. More people need to hear him!
Lucas — November 20, 2009 @ 9:52 am
I, too was (re)introduced to Colin Hay through Garden State and further through Scrubs. I’ve been meaning to post a song or two, and the two you mentioned are the ones I had in mind.
Here’s another scrubs clip starring Colin and Overkill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ45xrtNnzk&NR=1&feature=fvwp
That photo of Seattle is amazing, by the way.
Payton — November 22, 2009 @ 3:12 pm