jamadoo

I got excited reading the definition of jamadoo because it’s a word I’ve subconsciously been looking for.

I have an entire playlist of songs that, at some point, I’ve been obsessed with because they symbolized a certain event that I was going through, or perhaps embodied my feelings for a certain person. For instance, I have a song for each summer camp I’ve gone to, and usually a song for a movie or show I watched. I feel like music is a good way of retaining memories emotionally; if you want you can just listen to an old song and remember how you felt at the time.

That being said, I don’t listen to music that much (at least not enough to be cool).

Now to introduce my jamadoo. Since my life has been absolutely boring recently, I’m not particularly crazy about any song. Unfortunately, this blog prompt came too late to catch me when I was still crying over Miracle in Cell #7. Or when I was walking the streets of downtown Chicago in my pajamas ready to drop my last $10 for gummy bears before curfew ended. I have songs for both of those moments. For my jamadoo today I decided to choose the first song on my playlist, Runaway Train by Soul Asylum, which was introduced to me by Lindner (!). I’ve listened to it so much that it’s wearing off, but I’ll write about it anyways because it’s really very good.

Call you up in the middle of the night
Like a firefly without a light
You were there like a slow torch burning
I was a key that could use a little turning

So tired that I couldn’t even sleep
So many secrets I couldn’t keep
Promised myself I wouldn’t weep
One more promise I couldn’t keep

It seems no one can help me now
I’m in too deep
There’s no way out
This time I have really led myself astray

Runaway train never going back
Wrong way on a one way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I’m neither here nor there

Can you help me remember how to smile
Make it somehow all seem worthwhile
How on earth did I get so jaded
Life’s mystery seems so faded

I can go where no one else can go
I know what no one else knows
Here I am just drownin’ in the rain
With a ticket for a runaway train

Everything is cut and dry
Day and night, earth and sky
Somehow I just don’t believe it

Runaway train never going back
Wrong way on a one way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I’m neither here nor there

Bought a ticket for a runaway train
Like a madman laughin’ at the rain
Little out of touch, little insane
Just easier than dealing with the pain

Runaway train never comin’ back
Wrong way on a one way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I’m neither here nor there

Runaway train never comin’ back
Runaway train tearin’ up the track
Runaway train burnin’ in my veins
Runaway but it always seems the same

First off, the guitar is great and complements the singing. The scratchy yet heartfelt voice starts out tenderly and conveys the stress and confusion in the lyrics. I especially like the ending and the way this person sang the line “Like a madman laughin’ at the rain”. The entire musical experience reminds me of freestyle dancing in a way.

After actually reading the song lyrics, my interpretation of the song is an overwhelmed teenager deciding that the solution is to stop caring and run away from stress. Or maybe someone going through a midlife crisis. Many emotions were in the lyrics- loneliness, despair, sadness, lack of direction. Unfortunately, as revolutionary as the breaking point might feel, people will often feel lost and unsatisfied if they don’t know how to change in a healthy way.

 

 

Hear it

The rest of my playlist does include lot of mainstream music; I didn’t choose a Top 50 song because I understand my direct audience is Lindner.

;@