Week 16: My Crush: Joshua Radin & Other Musings

I begin with a confession: I have a huge crush on Joshua Radin. HUGE! Sadly, he doesn't even know me. But he sings with his heart in his whisper rock and I loove him.

I actually got to see him live in Portland, OR at the Aladdin Theater for my birthday this year. Awesome.


More awesomeness is the discovery of my CD player in my car, Little Blue. Yes, she has more than meets the eye. She has a CD player. My brother, Jonathan, found it for me...I've only had Little Blue for 2.5 years. I know, I know. I was actually pretty mad when I realized it. I don't know how many terribly over-played Top 40 hits I've suffered through and how many road trips I've put up with poor reception or static...too many times. But the upshot is that Josh can now sing to me in my car (via CD)...So I wrote a senryu haiku (See Week 2 also) about it:

You sang to me
I wanted so much more
Now CD player sings

And now for a small tribute to Josh's mad lyric skills...Someone once "sang" something a lot like this to me...if I had had a bit more time, I would've uploaded the actual song for you to hear, but I'm a month away from (supposedly) graduating...

"Free Of Me"
lyrics by Joshua Radin

Something's wrong from the hilltop
I know you can’t see
I look strong
All together
Though inside I'm weak

Still I bleed
Still I wait to heal
A wound from my crime
What I need are more bandages
They've torn over time
You're shelter from the rain
Turn around, walk away

Go now and don't look back
My life's come off its tracks
And you should be
Free of me

I can be who you wanted
somewhere down the road
When I'm whole,
when the rains are done,
when I've reaped all I've sown

But here and now,
on my hands and knees
I crawl through the mire
And your bed is so soft and warm,
I'm weary and tired
You're shelter from the rain

Turn around,
walk away
Go now and don't look back
My life's come off its tracks
And you should be free of me

Leave me alone
I'll find another home
I'm on my knees crying out please

Go now and don't look back
My life's come off it's tracks
And you should be free of me
Free of me
Free of me
Free of me

But see the sad thing is: everyday that someone is absent is another day that isn't as it should be. It's another day of someone not having returned. It's another day of wanting healing. It's another day of wanting to be free, but knowing you never can be entirely free. It's another day with unfinished business...It's why I don't know if I believe in closure.

And so I wrote another senryu haiku....

Why did you leave us
so confused and feeling lost
Absence always stays