This is a Barry Manilow orginal song, I guess. I heard this from one of his albums but David Pomeranz sang this when he had a concert here in our city (Dagupan City) maybe in 2000 or 2001. It was my birthday when we watched his concert.

This song particularly caught my attention because it is the main reason why I claim to myself that love is like a flower which needs nourishment everyday. I thought back then that as long as you say "I Love You" to the one you love, everyday, nothing would go wrong. But something still has to go wrong because uttering those words, even with strong conviction and sincerity is not a guarantee for a relationship to last or for the two of you to last forever.

The song talks about a long distance relationship or at least the couple got separated for relatively a long time. One of the factors that could halt a relationship is the distance. It is like a plant taken away from sunlight for a few days. It will wither.

Too sad relationships has to last because of distance. Now what happens when one has to work abroad for the benefit of the family? It is just sad and sickening!

I have been there and I don't want to go back to that point again. I hope it won't happen again... I hope it stops! The good thing though is one's desire to try and get that feeling again... albeit too late I guess!

Here it is:
Doctor, my woman is comin' back home late today
Could you maybe give me somethin' ?
'cause the feeling is gone and I must get it back right away
Before she sees that

I've been up, down, tryin' to get the feeling again
All around, tryin' to get the feeling again
The one that made me shiver
Made my knees start to quiver
Every time she walked in

And I've looked high (high), low (low)
Everywhere I possibly can (high)
But there's no (no) tryin' to get the feelin' again
It seemed to disappear as fast as it came

Where did it run to? I thought I'd done all that I could
Just to keep the love light burnin'
But whatever I've done, guess I just haven't done it too good
'cause all that's left is THE YEARNIN'

I've been up, down, tryin' to get the feelin' again
All around, tryin' to get the feelin' again
The one that made me shiver, made my knees start to quiver
Every time she walked in

And I've looked high (high) and low (low)
And everywhere I possibly can (high)
But there's no (no) tryin' to get the feelin' again
It seemed to disappear as fast as it came

And I've been lookin', I've been lookin', I've been lookin'

I've been up (up), I've been down (down), and tryin' to get the feelin'
I've been up (up), I've been down (down), I've been tryin' to get
I've tried and I've tried and I've tried to get (up) the feelin' (down)
I've been trying to get the feelin' again
I wanna get that feelin'
I want to get that feelin'
I've got to get that feelin'
I've gotta get that feelin' again (up)
And again (down) and again (tryin' to get that feelin')
Tryin' to get (up) the feelin' (down)
I've been tryin' to get the feelin' again

trying to get the feeling - david pomeranz

by BLOGTEST

When I heard this song, it reminded me of my "sweetheart". Every line of its lyrics describes her in so many ways. It's like a painting or a photograph that captured all the aspects that I liked and disliked about her. She isn't perfect but she almost perfected me. Except that she dumped me. That is the meanest way of saying it and she's mean too, but I liked her.

Weighing all her physical, emotional and spirtiual aspects, all her good attributes keep coming back. The bad ones do return but I laugh about them now because I am just glad those are her attirbutes that completed her. Without those, I wouldn't have recognize her, she would not have stood out from the rest of the women I've met in my whole life.

So to you, when you here Billy Joel sing this song to you, please imagine it to be me who's really singing.

Here is the lyrics:

She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child, but she's always a woman to me

She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth, but she'll never believe
And she'll take what you give her as long it's free
Yeah, She steals like a thief, but she's always a woman to me

She takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants, she's ahead of her time
And she never gives out
And she never gives in, she just changes her mind

And she'll promise you more than the garden of Eden
Then she'll carelessly cut you and laugh while you're bleeding
But she’ll bring out the best and the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself 'cause she's always a woman to me

She's frequently kind and she's suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases, she's nobody's fool
And she can't be convicted, she's earned her degree
And the most she will do is throw shadows at you,
But she's always a woman to me

SHES ALWAYS A WOMAN - billy joel

This song primarily reminds me of the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral. I must be candid, I really did not like the movie nor give it a 5 rating like I would do to Pay it Forward or other movies I enjoyed more than this one.

I do not abhor the movie. Perhaps I was just too young to comprehend its message when it was first shown here in the Philippines. I would rather talk about the people who are reminded to me when I hear this song. I love this song more than I appreciate the movie, by the way...

So I am reminded by our peers, our housemates in Baguio City when we were still studying. Some of their names I could still recall. It was like "ghetto" because we were ourselves, without pretensions and we lived the most of what our allowance could provide. Well, to our old peers who are on their own lives now, most of them have their own families: Jona, Kurt, Philip, John, Roger, Jennifer, Faye, Crom, Matt and the rest of the transients in our boarding house. This song is our song when we watched that movie together. That was one heck of a simple fun!

Love is all around me - Wet Wet Wet

I feel it in my fingers
I feel it in my toes
The love that's all around me
And so the feeling grows

It's written on the wind
It's everywhere I go
So if you really love me
Come on and let it show

You know I love you, I always will
My mind's made up by the way that I feel
There's no beginning, there'll be no end
'Cause on my love you can depend

I see your face before me
As I lay on my bed
I cannot get to thinking
Of all the things you said

You gave your promise to me and I gave mine to you
I need someone beside me in everything I do

You know I love you, I always will
My mind's made up by the way that I feel
There's no beginning, there'll be no end
'Cause on my love you can depend

I got to keep it moving

It's written in the wind
Oh everywhere I go
So if you really love me
Come on and let it show
Come on and let it,
Come on and let it
Come on and let it,
Come on and let it show

This would be my second blog about a Kenny Rogers' song. This song reminds me of an extended family member who lived with us when I was still younger. He is Johnny but we fondly call him "Emong". He is a certified gambler, I say because there was not a week that he hadn't held a gambling cards or a mah-jong piece.

One time this song played and he kinda enjoyed it, even to the point of defending himself saying "see, it's not just me" or to such an extent. There was an implication that he was not alone in this kind of vice, add to that my mom's "addiction" to gambling as well. The good thing about that though is noone in my family encountered much trouble because of gambling. They played in moderation and according to their economic condition. They didn't end up selling valuable things nor stealing like other people do. Otherwise, I couldn't have finished schooling if my mom got stucked with gambling.

Well, if there is any good effect on me from that experience... I do not play. In fact, I don't even know how to play the lotto. haha! Nevertheless, I am sharing this to you because of my love of Kenny Rogers and his songs. This is nice so here it is:

Lyrics of the song The Gambler:
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
'Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, "Son, I've made my life out of readin' people's faces,
And knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
so if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."

So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."

When he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

The gambler - kenny rogers

There was a time in my life when I was at a loss. I was raised as a Catholic and was religiously following orders of my religion. One point in my life, when I was studying Philosophy at the University of the Philippines, I lost that faith.

I would consider it the most awakening moment in my life and this song would always remind me of my slumber from darkness. What if God doesn't exist, I asked myself. What were the events that led to the existence of God? How did God come into being? Is he a being at all? Where does He reside? and a lot more questions confronting me and so I stopped believing. I got tired looking for answers, I got lazy explaining, I got uninterested learning about God. In fact, I lost interest in the Supreme Being and all other transcendental things. I just stopped believing and told myself there was now heaven or spirit and everything not tangible. I became a skeptic, agnostic.

But I had a friend who knows about my struggle and didn't quit on me. She keeps on telling me she's praying for me. Then the unthinkable happened. I began establishing the existence of God. I got tired finding for answers then started believing again. There are a lot of things I cannot explain in this world, I told myself. Not really finding out the answers for all my previous questions is not blind obedience. I believe it is called "leap of faith". I know my friends prayers helped me a lot and of course, my willingness to believe, to chose what my parents have been telling me all along. There are things we cannot resolve on our own so hte layman's term for that is "go with the flow". If I became a fool folowing Jesus Christ, at least I know someone else is more fool than I am. There are those who have died defending their Religion. I haven't reach that point yet but when I do, I am gladly surrendering my life. (Whew... that was tough explanation and this is such a heavy blog from me this time.)

All right, so let's cut the chase, here is the song:

If God had a name what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?

And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah

What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?

If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see if, seeing meant
That you would have to believe in things like heaven
And in Jesus and the saints, and all the prophets?

Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody calling on the phone
Just tryin' to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone
'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome

One Of Us - Joan Osborne

This is a song of my favorite local band, the Eraserheads. I have always been a fan.

The other night I heard my brother-in-law playing the guitar to the tune of this song. It was the first time I heard him play a guitar, albeit short. At least I found out somebody is better than me in playing the guitar (they all do, in fact, because I am still learning to play the guitar.) When I heard him play this, I remembered the song. I think he just likes to play the chords of it then I remembered the lyrics of the song.

The message of the song is turning your back to poverty. That was where we were during our childhood. By the way, my bayaw's family and our family grew up in the same community in La Union so we know the capabilities of the people there in terms of spending. We had a few to spend because life was difficult back then.

Well, I truly salute my bayaw because he really takes care of my nieces and nephew (his kids with my sister). He is hardworking probably because he doesn't want his kids to experience what we've been through when we were younger. I am glad I know my sister and kids are in good hands. I'd just like to dwell on that thought for a while and try to forget that other difficult things happening around us. So let's focus on the song now, shall we?

Here is the lyrics:

POORMAN'S GRAVE
I know a man who had nothing
He was a poor man all his life
He lived in a shack by the roadside
With starving kids and a loving wife

He went to church every Sunday
He prays from morning until night
He said Good Lord, why have you forsaken me
When everything I did I thought was right

Now my Life is coming to an end
There's only one thing I'm wishing for
All my days I have never sinned
So I hope you wont ignore what I'm asking for...

Oh honey when I die dress me up in a coat and tie
Give my feet a pair of shoes that I haven't wore in a long time
Put me in a golden box not a cross on a pile of rocks
Bury me where the grass is green and the gates are shining...

Oh honey when I die give me a bed of roses where I could lie
I'm gonna use up all the money that I saved
'Coz I dont wanna lie in a poor man's grave...

I know a man who had nothing
He dreamed of satin sheets all his life
He lived and worked like a dog
Licking every boot he sees just to survive

He comes home drunk every night
Wakes up the kids and talks to his wife, he said
Honey you have been so good to me
I only wish we had a better life

And now my lifes coming to an end
There's only one thing I'm wishing for
All my days I have lived in shame
So I hope you wont ignore
Just what I'm asking for...

Oh honey when I die dress me up in a coat and tie
Give my feet a pair of shoes that I haven't wore in a long time
Put me in a golden box not a cross on a pile of rocks
Bury me where the grass is green and the gates are shining...

Oh honey when I die give me a bed of roses where I could lie
I'm gonna use up all the money that I saved
'Coz I dont wanna lie in a poor man's grave...

Poormans Grave - Eraserheads

This song is one of the many Carpenter songs that I learned from my sister. It was always her who criticized my singing and taught me a lot of songs, really! (Sometimes, she learns from me too, she just can't accept it ;-)

I remember singing this a few times before the tone and rhythm of it finally hit me! I wasn't a slow learner, I guess music is such an art where you can't really do it the abstract way at all times. I think despite of it not counted as an exact science (not even science), there has to be organization to it. Well, maybe I am just saying this because I really had difficulty with this song before. But I can sing it more confidently now.

I also remember my dear friend Mona whom I commissioned to write something about this song. She just said that if there's one song that would remind her of me, it would be this song. She probably heard my sister and I sang this before and it played to her brain over and over... that's my story which is I hope her story as well. If there are reactions, please do so my dear... go to the comment box.

'Til next post!

Lyrics of the song YOU
You are the one who makes me happy
When everything else turns to gray
Yours is the voice that wakes me mornings
And sends me out into the day

You are the crowd that sits quiet list'ning to me
With all the mad sense I make
You are one of the few things worth remembering
And since it's all true, how can anyone mean more to me than you.

Sorry if sometimes I look past you
There's no one beyond your eyes
Inside my head the wheels are turning
Hey sometimes I'm not so wise

You are my heart and my soul, my inspiration
Just like the old love song goes
You are one of the few things worth remembering
And since it's all true, how could anyone mean more to me than you

You are my heart and my soul, my inspiration
Just like the old love song goes
You are one of the few things worth remembering...
And since it's all true, how could anyone mean more to me than you.

I got the song and lyrics below from Imeem. I want to talk about this song, which is equally lovely with those other love songs I have blogged about. This song reminds me of my second parents -my dad's cousin, who's more than a brother to him. I consider them my second family because they were there when I was growing up, they raised me as their own. They were like parents to me as well.

This May, they will be celebrating their wedding anniversary (I think 34 years) and so I remember this song. In my long stint of stay with them, I've learned so much about their love story, their family background, where they grew up, their kids, their themesong... and this is it. Lovely isn't it?

I was a witness to so many obstacles in their lived, their happiness, their success, failure, sadness, weakness, flaws and everything a couple would face in their life. But they remain together, they are one as before. Everyday, they never fail to show their love to each other. They are really living to what this song had conveyed to them more than 3 decades ago when they decided to say "I do".

This is my gift to you uncle Rem and aunt Espie. You are a blessing to me and I love you both! Happy Anniversary!

Youre the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me - Andy Williams

Lyrics of the song
I've had my share,
Of life's ups and downs,
but fate's been kind,
the downs had been few,

I guess you could say,
I've been lucky,
Or I guess you could say,
Iit's all because of you.

If anyone, should ever write, my life story,
for whatever reason there might be,
you'd be there,
between each line of fame and glory,
'cause your the best thing that ever happened to me,
Oh your the best thing that ever happened to me.

There had been times,
when times were hard,
but always somehow I made it, I made it through,
But for every moment that I've been hurtin',
there was a moment spent.....
just loving you,

If anyone should ever write my life story,
for whatever, for whatever reason there might be,
you'd be there, between each line of fame and glory,
'cause your the best thing that ever happened to me,
your the best thing that ever happened to me,
your the best thing....
that ever happened me.

This is another "first" which I shall be blogging about: The first cut is the deepest...

Ever wondered why I believed first love never dies? (from my prvious post)

It never dies for me because the memories keep coming back. The first things in our lives are exciting but the most painful ones are of course, curse-worthy (my bad!) I mean, you also would not forget about it like your first broken heart, your first deepest wound, your first dog bite, your first nightmare (I recall my first nightmare!).

What I truly loved about this song despite the seemingly bitter feelings of the singer is it's positive outlook. After my first broken heart, I was tremendously trumpled upon, badly beaten and shattered... but you know "I tried to love again" meaning to have another relationship. It was not the end of the rope and the feeling was so rewarding and worthwhile. And then again you have to let go and then try to love again, and again and again.

I remember this saying from a dear friend:
"Love til it hurts, love til it hurts more
Love more til it hurts, love til it hurts no more" (Something like that)

Sad but its just the way it has to be like what Mother Theresa said:
"We can do no great things; only small things with great love."

Here is the song The first cut is the deepest:

I would have given you all of my heart
but there's someone who's torn it apart
and she's taking almost all that I've got
but if you want, I'll try to love again
baby I'll try to love again but I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
'cause when it comes to being lucky she's cursed
when it comes to lovin' me she's worst
but when it comes to being loved she's first
that's how I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

I still want you by my side
just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
cause I'm sure gonna give you a try
and if you want, I'll try to love again
but baby, I'll try to love again, but I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

'Cause when it comes to being lucky she's cursed
when it comes to lovin' me she's worst
but when it comes to being loved she's first
that's how I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

First cut is the deepest [ Live ] - Rod Stewart

I would like to talk about some of my "firsts".

My sister and I were bound to Manila sometime ago and music lover as we were, we had an mp3 playing althroughout our journey. One of the songs played was this one:

first love never dies - boyfriends

I am very familiar with this song because this was one of our "lunchtime songs". You see, back in high school, after our lunch, we take a nap at our own desks in our classroom. I do not recall who were the rest of our companies then but one person I remember was my friend Agnes (I talked about her from my previous post). The two of us gathered our heads and put the lyrics from this song as much as we could. We didn't get the chance to really take a nap because we talked about this song. Then we asked ourselves: "Does first love really never die?"

I thought of those people who married not their first love but their subsequent relationships. As I age however, I came to realize what it really means for "first love never dies". For me, it means conitnuously loving that person and wishing all the happiness for them whether their life happines includes you or not. Personally, I would say first love never really dies and your may agree with me when I say the first is the most unforgetable.

To all of you, I am proud to present an OPM song from one of my favorites and here is the lyrics:

I tried to live without you 'though I find it hard to do

I thought of yesterday, how sweet the love we shared

And I just can't forget you 'cause first love never dies

Now I'm alone without you

Don't know what I'm gonna do

You've been a part of me

I'm lost without your love

I need you badly baby, I'm down here on my knees

First love never dies

I just wanna say

That I still love you

First love never dies

Through the years that come and go

I still will say... I love you

[music.box]

He told me to listen to this song. He told me this for a number of times. He keeps saying it. Never a day did he fail to do so. It did not sink in. I thought it was too skin deep.

Looking back, he said it to me with all his heart. All along he was telling me how much he loved me but I took him for granted. It was too late... very late when I realized what he was trying to tell me. I know I can never have him back as much as I want to but all I'd like to do now is love him back no matter what. This must be difficult for he has found the love of his life and all I can do now is watch him, with so much love, go on his way... away with the love he much deserve!

This was his song for me and this is what I want to tell him in return although we have drifted apart.

=========
I tried my best to translate this song. If you have any comments please let me know. I hope I was able to capture (and properly translate) what the artist was trying to convey in this song.
=========
Lyrics of the song
Kapag ako ay nagmahal (If I were to fall in love)
Isa lamang at wala nang iba pa (it would be with only one)
Iaalay buong buhay (I will offer my whole life)
Lumigaya ka lang, lahat ay gagawin (For you to be happy, I will do anything)
Tumingin ka man sa iba (You may see others)
Magwawalang-kibo na lang itong puso ko (my heart will remain unaffected)
Walang sumbat na maririnig (You will not hear a word)
Patak ng luha ko ang iniwang saksi (Tears in my eyes will be the only witness)

CHORUS
Bakit nga ba mahal kita (Why do I love you)
Kahit 'di pinapansin ang damdamin ko (Even if you ignore my feelings)
'Di mo man ako mahal, ito pa rin ako (You may not love me, I am still here)
Nagmamahal nang tapat sa 'yo (Loving you faithfully)
Bakit nga ba mahal kita (Why do I love you)
Kahit na may mahal ka mang iba (Even if you love somebody else)
Ba't baliw na baliw ako sa 'yo (Why I am so crazy about you)
Hanggang kailan ako magtitiis (How long will I bear this?)
O, bakit nga ba mahal kita (Oh, why do I love you)

Ano man ang sabihin nila (Whatever they say)
Pagtingin ko sa 'yo'y 'di kailan man magmamaliw (my feelings for you won'd change)
Buong buhay paglilingkuran kita (I will serve you my whole life)
'Di naghahangad ng ano mang kapalit (I won't expect nothing in exchange)
REPEAT CHORUS

This is such a beautiful love song. Who wouldn't fall in love with it? I really like the first line of its lyrics. Read on....

I'm afraid to fly and I don't know why
I'm jealous of the people who are not afraid to die
It's just that I recall back when I was small
Someone promised that they'd catch me
And then they let me fall

And now I'm fallin... fallin' fast again
Why do I always take a fall when I fall in love

You think by now I've learned
Play with fire you get burned
But fire can be also warm
And that's why I return

Turn and walk away
That's what I should do
My head says go and find the door
My heart says I'll find you

And now I'm fallin', fallin’ fast again
Why do I always take a fall when I fall in love

It always turns out the same
Loving someone, losing myself only got me to blame

Help me I'm fallin fallin
Catch me if you can
Maybe this time I'll have it all
Maybe I’ll take it after all
Maybe this time I won’t fall
When I fall in love

I was never a brave person because I was so afraid of a lot of things that is why I like this song, other than of course it's really a pretty song. There is one person I can think of when I hear this song. Our relationship was short lived and it just comprised a little fraction of my life but he's worth mentioning because he gave spice to my life. He is my textmate Ethan.

I lived in Manila alone and loner as I was, I still longed for a company or someone to talk with. I had him as a textmate, really a virtual friend. Our conversation lasted for less than a year, unfortunately we really didn't get a chance to meet in person. We talked about school, work, family, his relationships and practically about a lot of things. Until one time he told me about this song. Well, I was flattered, feeling or at least imagining that he was singing this to me. I know though that it was an impossible scenario because he is committed to someone.

Well, when his someone came home (from abroad), naturally our conversation stopped until I really lost his number and he never sent me text messages anymore. If I could still get in touch with him, I would love too because he was such a sweet guy, honest and straight forward. So this is it!

fallin - teri de sario