Simple Things

Like most people, I have many different playlists on iTunes and Spotify for many different situations and moods: pure piano music playlists to help calm me when I'm writing; country playlists that I must listen to when I'm out on the lake; dance mix playlists for when I want to bust out my mad moves; an all-time-favorite-songs-that-I-know-all-the-lyrics-to-which-I-listen-to-when-I'm-on-a-plane-to-keep-my-mind-off-of-all-of-the-other-things-that-I-shouldn't-be-thinking-about-when-I'm-on-a-plane playlist; and a playlist of about 40 of the cheesiest songs that have ever been written, but that I love anyway (and yes, DeBarge is on that list).
No judging, please.

But whenever people ask me what my favorite song is, I'm usually stumped.
Do I go classic 80's pop?
If so, that's easy. "Goodbye to You"(Scandal), "Rio"(Duran Duran),  and "Karma Chameleon"(Culture Club) - not necessarily in that order.
Hey, I said no judging.
If I'm thinking 90's, it's "Hey Jealousy"(Gin Blossoms) and "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"(Green Day) -- easy choices.
If I try to choose a song (or three) from the past few years it gets harder, but in a pinch I'd go with "Arms"(Christina Perri), "If I Was Your Man"(Bruno Mars) and "Sight of the Sun"(Fun.), and then probably say, "No no no! I mean something by P!nk! No! Carrie Underwood! No! Kelly Clarkson!" which would most likely make you judge me, even though I've asked you politely -- and repeatedly -- not to.

But there's one song that I always forget. A song that is obscure and was never a mainstream hit. A song that because I listen to it at least twice a week I shouldn't forget. A song that always, always makes me stop and listen.

The song is called "Simple Things" and was written in 2001 by Jim Brickman, my very favorite pianist. (And yeah, I have a 'very favorite pianist'. The list is only comprised of two others, but Brickman tops it.) The lovely vocalist on the song is Rebecca Lynn Howard, who, after doing a quick Wiki search, I've discovered is (was?) a country artist. Not really important. It's the lyrics that are.

In case you're reading this post on a phone and don't get to see the YouTube videos I embed, here's the print version. However, you're missing out on the lovely tune and (of course) piano, so I'd highly recommend listening to it on your computer when you get home, or you can try to listen HERE.

Hey, time won't wait, life goes by

Every day's a brand new sky

Every tear comes to dry

All that really matters in this crazy world

Is you and I together baby, just remember

The first leaves off the tree, the way you look at me

A thousand chiming church bells ring, the simple things are free

The sun, the moon, the stars, the beating of two hearts

How I love the simple things, the simple things just are

So here we go, let's just dance

Teach my soul to take this chance

Put my heart in your hands

Out of all the moments that we leave behind

Turn around and tell me baby, we'll remember

The thunder and the rain, the way you say my name

After all the clouds go by, the simple things remain

The sun, the moon, the stars, the beating of two hearts

How I love the simple things, the simple things just are

Oh, the ocean and the sky, the way we feel tonight

I know that it's the love that brings the simple things to life

The sun, the moon, the stars, the beating of two hearts

I love the way the simple things, the simple things just are

I love the way the simple things, the simple things just are

At first listen, you might think it's the perfect song for a first dance at a wedding, and as is evident by the fact that it's included on an album called "Ultimate Love Songs" might pigeonhole it into that category as well. And yes, it certainly fits that bill.
But when I hear it, I think about so much more than my husband.
It's a song about truth.
It's a song about perspective.
It's a song about stopping and appreciating every thing, not just the big events and moments, but the routine and mundane -- because those are the moments that really make up your life. And best of all? Those moments are free.
My favorite line in the song is when she says, "Out of all the moments that we leave behind, turn around and tell me (baby) we'll remember..." and what follows are a few of the most basic moments we experience every day.
The rain.
The thunder.
The way someone says your name.
The sun.
The moon.
The stars.
How we feel…right now.
Because how we feel -- good or bad -- it's all part of it.
And we have a choice to ignore all the small moments (which is easy to do) and wait for the handful of big important ones to show up and make a splash in our lives, or to stop for a moment every so often and appreciate them.
It's not a groundbreaking idea. We all know it's true.

My favorite quote. Yeah, I have one of those, too.

But how often do we do it?

I think it's why I listen to this song so much. Because whenever I do I can't help but stop and think of all the simple things in my day -- in my life -- that I'm so thankful for.

I hope you can, too.

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