My Theme Song for June

Bear with me for a non-shortbread introspective post which I hope you'll enjoy, shortbreadheads.   

Who among us tail-end baby boomers remembers that Styx song from 1977 high school dances: Come Sail Away?  It was one of the first vinyl albums I bought with my $2.50/hour minimum wage job back in 1978.  As I contemplate my business, my post-IBM life, and my mid-life ephiphanies, this song keeps popping up all over the place.

Not once, not twice, but three times while I was working on my recent restaurant review guide for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and losing myself in Vermont's international flavors while recording the amazing stories of its chefs, this song played on either my car radio or in a restaurant I visited.  It spoke loudly to me, almost moving me to tears each time.  And no, those weren't perimenopausal tears, they were tears of joy about finally, finally, finally happily beginning to understand how to sail MY life's purpose. 

I've just purchased the piano sheet music to this song online so that I can play it on my pianos.  Remember the cool piano intro at the begining.  It was loaded with cute little trills. This is a perfect piano piece and it's quite different from the usual Chopin and Schumann I play (yawn).  Written in the key of C, it's pretty easy to play.  Apologies to my fave romantic composers, I must follow Styx in June.

Thus, I have dubbed Come Sail Away as the official shortbread and Anniezee theme song for June 2007.  Won't you "sing" along with me?   

It goes like this: 

(Written by Dennis Deyoung)

I'm sailing away, set an open course for the virgin sea
I've got to be free, free to face the life thats ahead of me
On board, I'm the captain, so climb aboard
Well search for tomorrow on every shore
And I'll try, oh lord, Ill try to carry on

I look to the sea, reflections in the waves spark my memory
Some happy, some sad
I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had
We live happily forever, so the story goes
But somehow we missed out on that pot of gold
But well try best that we can to carry on

A gathering of angels appeared above my head
They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said
They said come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me

I thought that they were angels, but to my surprise
They climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies
Singing come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me

Comments

[Michael at Eddiesenergy.com]

Not only is the Styx song you are talking about, one of the greatest Styx songs ever,but it does have nice lyrics now that I think about it. It's like the ups and downs of someones entrepreneurial adventure. Maybe I should find my song for June...I'm liking this song of the month thing.
Michael

[Dina at Wordfeeder.com]

My entrepreneurial theme song is "Freedom" by George Michael. I was thinking that it'd be a great opener to one of those massive marketing conferences... pounding through the walls as everyone's milling in. Yee-haww! I think I will play it on Rhapsody now.

:)

[Lori, DavisVA.com]

Annie Zee,

Thanks for the memories! Styx was such an integral part of my teenage years and Come Sail Away is obviously one of their classics. I'm also partial to Renegade.

I suppose if I had to choose a theme song it would have to be "Making It" by David Naughton, of Dr. Pepper and An American Werewolf in London fame. A short and punchy little diddy which always makes me smile and sets my toes to tappin'!

Yeah, the song is a tad bit egotistical, and that's all right with me. What I don't understand is why everyone else on the planet doesn't feel the same way ... "I'm as bad as they come, number 2 to no one." "Make some room now, DIG what you see." EVERYONE should feel the exact same way. 'Nuff said.

MAKIN' IT
David Naughton

Makin' it, oo makin' it

I'm solid gold
I've got the goods
They stand when I walk
Through the neighborhoods

I'm makin' it
I've got the chance, I'm takin' it
No more, no more, Fakin' it
This time in life, I'm makin' it (ooo)

Makin' it

Hello uptown, Goodbye poverty
The top of the ladder is waiting for me

I'm makin' it,
I've got the chance, I'm takin' it
No more, no more fakin' it
This time in life, I'm makin' it (ooo)
Makin' it, makin' it

Listen everyone here
This coming year's gonna be my year
I'm as bad as they come
Number two to no one
I've got looks, I've got brains
And I'm breakin' these chains
Make some room now
dig what you see
Success is mine
'Cause I've got the key
I'm makin' it
(repeat chorus)

[Anne]

Well I'll be...I always thought the words were, "set an open course for emergencies!" Of course, in my youth I always thought that holiday ditty sang, "later on we'll perspire while we sit by the fire." Made sense when I was seven.

Anyhow, sail on Shortbread lady! May this be the early part of the journey to explore many wide open, wonderful seas.

Styx....wow!

The best from "The Eclectic Writer" herself

[Dina at Wordfeeder.com]

I'm finding this post/thread highly amusing. Ann, I think you should find a way to load that song onto your blog when people click. Okay, maybe too much stimulation.

What about a Vermont Shortbread music video!

Anne's response is making me laugh. Reminds me of my recent flub with the AC/DC song, "Dirty Deeds" or whatever it is. The line is, "Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap."

I always thought it was, "Dirty Deeds and the Thunder Chief." Like it was about some famed character, possibly a native American warrior. I always pictured him looking stern in his feathered headdress. The Thunder Chief. Of course.

[Mark Gunkel]

Hi Anne,
This brings back memories for me of several songs that I had wrong for so long! A Beatles song and one by the Police... It really made me smile!

Thinking more about the Sailing song and I can picture you playing it on your piano late at night! I look forward to hearing it sometime!

Cheers,

Mark