Verse by verse, dissect a favorite song you had in 7th grade.
It used to give me butterflies.
I’d hear the song blaring over the speakers in the school gym and pretend that I wasn’t concerned about being asked to dance by a boy.
I would play the song alone in my room and cry. CRY! Moving to a new school, saying goodbye to old friends…none of it is easy. This song said exactly what I was feeling as I sadly sang along.
The vocals.
The harmony.
The talent.
The images.
The MESSAGE!
You’ve probably guessed it by now and you would be correct in assuming “End Of The Road” by Boys II Men is one of the most tragic love songs ever sung in the history of seventh grade.
Sure it’s your typical love story.
Boy loves girl:
We belong together
And you that I’m right
Why do you play with my heart,
hy do you play with my mind?
Girl cheats on boy and leaves:
Said we’d be forever
Said it’d never die
How could you love me and leave me
And never say good-bye?
Boy is heartbroken and feels lonely in bed and would rather stop living in and is spinning in circles:
When I can’t sleep at night without holding you tight
Girl, each time I try I just break down and cry
Pain in my head oh I’d rather be dead
Spinnin’ around and around
Boy tries convincing girl she really does still love him, but just doesn’t realize what what love FEELS like because she’s never been in love but yes…he can assure her it IS love she feels for him:
Girl, I know you really love me,
You just don’t realize
You’ve never been there before
It’s only your first time
Boy considers forgiving girl for any wrong doings and promises her he would never treat her in the horrible manner of which she has treated him:
Maybe I’ll forgive you, hmm
Maybe you’ll try
We should be happy together
Forever, you and I
Boy asks girl if it’s possible to go back to the way things were. There problems could just go away if she would just get in bed with him and hold him:
Can you love me again like you loved me before
This time I want you to love me much more
This time instead just come to my bed
And baby just don’t let me, don’t let me down
The best part of the entire song comes at the end though. It’s a spoken part. what girl doesn’t quiver at the deep, attractive, wanton voice pleading:
Girl I’m here for you
All those times of night when you just hurt me
And just run out with that other fella
Baby I knew about it, I just didn’t care
You just don’t understand how much I love you do you?
I’m here for you
I’m not out to go out and cheat on you all night
Just like you did baby but that’s all right
Hey, I love you anyway
And I’m still gonna be here for you ’till my dying day baby
Right now, I’m just in so much pain baby
Coz you just won’t come back to me
Will you? Just come back to me
Sadly the song ends with more pleading…a touch of despair, but less spinning.
Although we’ve come to the End Of The Road
Still I can’t let you go
It’s unnatural, you belong to me, I belong to you
Come to the End of the Road
Still I can’t let you go
It’s unnatural, you belong to me, I belong to you
Sigh.
It IS unnatural, isn’t it? This whole not loving someone when they love you. This whole coming to the end of the road thing. Doesn’t seem right. Or fair. Or natural.
You know what else is unnatural? For a 14 year old girl to believe a song about wanting a cheating lover to get in bed with you has ANYTHING to do with switching schools and dancing with boys. How easily I looked over every bit of the song except for the two most important lines, “Although we’ve come to the End Of The Road/
Still I can’t let you go”
Sigh again.
Oh to be 14 again.
Now it’s your turn!
Choose a prompt, post it on your blog, and come back and sign Mr. Linky. Be sure to sign up with the actual post URL and not just your basic blog URL (click on the title of your post for that URL). For good comment karma try to comment on the three blogs above your name!!
The Prompts:
1.) Verse by verse, dissect a favorite song you had in 7th grade.
2.) List 5 must have gifts you are purchasing for a loved one this Christmas.
3.) Open letter to Santa Claus.
4.) Describe how you would celebrate the holidays if it was totally up to you and money was not a factor.
5.) Book review time! What winter read has you snuggled in and turning pages?