'An Anchor for My Every Choice'

Growing up, I heard my father’s records playing throughout most of the day. Even now, music accompanies me in every phase of my life.

Songs I listen to when I lift weights and I need that extra shot of adrenaline. Songs I listen to when I write, so I can convince the Muse to come sit next to me for a while. Songs I listen to when kissing my lady. Songs I listen to when I feel like celebrating. Songs when I need to release Godzilla-sized emotions.

Not surprisingly, my musical taste is all over the place, and refuses to stick to any one genre or time period.

Whenever I’d discover a new band or a song I liked, I’d call my father to share it with him. And he’d do the same with me. For the past few years, this has no longer been an option. Not on this plane of existence, at least. So, since I can’t call him, I figure that every now and then I’ll share with you sweet people about some of the music I love. Who knows… maybe you’ll think my musical taste sucks. And that’s ok. My father definitely told me so a few times. But maybe you’ll discover new sounds to add to the soundtrack of your life.

Today, I’ll tell you about a band I find myself listening to more and more— Dropkick Murphys. Like many people, I first heard of them after Scorsese included "I’m Shipping Up to Boston” in his 2006 film, The Departed. From the first few notes, that mix of Celtic folk and punk rock forces listeners to choose a side: you either love it or hate it. There’s not a whole lot in between. For MMA fans, you may also recognize the tune as Forrest Griffin’s walkout song. Check it out.

Next up is one of my all-time favorite songs, and my # 1 favorite by Dropkick Murphys: “Rose Tattoo”. I have listened to it hundreds of times, and yet somehow it still manages to stir something in my soul every single time. Probably, it’s because it captures a unique alchemy of two emotions that don’t often go together (except in my brain): despite the high energy of the tune, there’s a certain level of heartbreak throughout it; a kind of sadness familiar to anyone who has been through too much. And yet… that’s not where it ends. Going hand in hand with it is a defiance that refuses to let life’s tragedies stop us from enjoying it, in spite of it all. Considering that I once wrote a chapter entitled “answering hopeless with a defiant smile and raised middle finger”, and this attitude is at the core of my worldview, you can see why this song speaks to me. Bonus points for the fact that my daughter has the perfect voice for “Rose Tattoo” and I can’t wait to hear her record a cover.

Even though Dropkick Murphys are primarily known for their hard-hitting punk rock sounds, they also write beautiful ballads. “I Wish You Were Here” is one that regularly rips my heart out. It doesn’t happen too often, but once in a while I manage to listen to the whole thing without crying. It doesn’t help that the song was written for the death of Al Barr’s father, and its lyrics are a punch in the gut:

Did I fail you some way
That you're not telling now?
Did I fail you some way
Somewhere, somehow?
When you took that last step
Beyond the door
I can't follow you there
I can't follow for sure

It's a road that you take
All on your own
One you don't come back from
And there's no place like home

I wish you were here
How I wish you were here
I'm out on my own
I'm so far from home
And I wish you were here

Are you watching me now
All alone in this place?
Are you seeing me cry
Oh, how I miss your face?
And the warmth of your smile
The light in your eyes
There was no fare thee well
And there was no goodbye

And I wish you were here
How I wish you were here
I'm out on my own
I'm so far from home
And I wish you were here

When I'm looking back
On the time that we shared
Oh, we know you were loved
And that I always cared
I always cared

I know in my heart
That we'll meet again
I know deep inside
This isn't the end

And I wish you were here
How I wish you were here
I'm out on my own
And I wish you were here
Oh, I wish you were here
How I wish you were here
I'm out on my own
I'm so far from home
And I wish you were here

For something a bit more lighthearted (well… hell… anything would be more lighthearted), here’s “The Boys Are Back”:

Definitely not lighthearted but a kickass song, “The State of Massachusetts”

Here’s one they just released a few days ago: “Sirens”. Some of the lyrics are always true, but even more so at a time of extreme political division:

“One thing I’ll never comprehend
Is how they turn us on our sisters, brothers, children
Neighbors, strangers, and friends
The billionaire profits
While the worker bleeds
1% of the wealth
Hoards from millions in need
We’re fighting for thе scraps
We struggle and suffer
Wе’re falling for the trap
We’re turning on each other.”

For an alternative to awful Christmas music, check out the video of “The Season’s Upon Us”.

There are plenty of musicians who create one, two, maybe three songs that are head and shoulders above anything else they produce. That’s not the case with Dropkick Murphys. For the sake of not overwhelming you with too many videos, I’ll stop here even though I haven’t even brought up songs like “Blood”, “Worker’s Song”, “Take ‘Em Down”, “Prisoner’s Song”, “Paying My Way”, “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya”, and “Going Out in Style”… and there probably a bunch of other great ones that I either haven’t heard yet or are not at the tip of tongue right now.

The hour is late and I need sleep. Thank you for reading this and good night!