Songs From Where I’m From
Writing Challenge: songs by artists from the places you’ve lived *with one minor adjustment
Like Katemiya, the writer who came up with this challenge, I’ve lived in multiple cities. I thought it would be fun to explore this challenge, and then I thought about putting a spin on it:
Since the cities I’ve lived in are abundant with songs about the place, I thought they deserved a nod as well.
And away we go on a musical journey to the places I’ve called home!
Abilene, Texas
Yup, that’s my birthplace. A small city of about 125,000 in west-central Texas.
After the citizens of Terre Haute, Indiana got tired of Steve Martin calling it the most boring city in the country, he looked at us, and we got the title!
He was right.
Other than my dear friends from grade school, I find it miserable. The high point of growing up there was catching horny toads in vacant lots.
Song by an artist from there: I confess. I had to consult Wikipedia, and the only musical artist from there I could find was Jessica Simpson! I don’t know her songs, but “I Wanna Love You Forever,” her first single, reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The only thing I really know about Simpson has to do with Chicken of the Sea.
Songs with the place in the title: Most people my age and older know the city’s trademark song, simply known as “Abilene,” sung by George Hamilton IV.
Abilene, Abilene Prettiest town I’ve ever seen Women there don’t treat you mean In Abilene, my Abilene
Now I don’t know what the songwriters were on when they penned this ditty, but I figure it must have been LSD. Pretty and Abilene in the same stanza?
But wait, there’s more!
“Abilene” is a song by Sheryl Crow from her 2002 album c’mon, c’mon. It’s a good song but has nothing to do with the city.
Abilene Bring it on home to me Abilene Isn’t it good to be free
It was good to be free when we left that sh*thole city for SoCal.
Ventura, California
Thank you, Jesus, for telling my mom to divorce my first stepdad and move to Ventura. It was the antithesis of Abilene. At the tender age of ten, I quickly learned about the counter-culture and what it stood for.
And boy, did I like it!
Song by an artist from there: Can’t find an artist! Maybe that’s why I amended this challenge! But Kevin Costner went to my high school…
Songs with the place in the title: “Ventura Highway” by America is, by far, the most famous song about Ventura. However, it should be noted that there is no Ventura Highway. It’s the Ventura Freeway, stupids! The 101!
And I’ve always been puzzled by this:
’Cause the free wind is blowin’ through your hair And the days surround your daylight there (brilliant lyrics) Seasons crying no despair Alligator lizards in the air, in the air
OK, what the f*ck is an alligator lizard? I mean, an alligator is a lizard. But I never saw any when I lived there, especially in the air.
LSD much???
A lesser-known but pretty little song about Ventura is simply titled “Ventura” by Lucinda Williams, released in 2003 on her album, World Without Tears.
Lincoln, Nebraska
And off we went to college in 1976. With the bicentennial theme, so much was going on in the country that year. And the music, of course, was the most outstanding music and there will never be anything as good as that again!
Song by an artist from there: I’m going with Matthew Sweet. I loved 90s alternative, and he was right up there with one of my favorite songs of the period, “I’m Sick of Myself.” It reminds me so much of myself.
Songs with the place in the title: Actually, I do not know any. But Bruce Springsteen’s album “Nebraska” is one of his best.
We did some LSD in college.
Chicago, Illinois
Does the best city in the world need any explanation? I’m glad that it was my home for 35 years. And three relationships.
Song by an artist from there: This is hard, with many musical acts that call Chicago home. I’d have to say what’s moving me at the moment is “To Sheila” by Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins. It’s my favorite cut from the 1998 album Adore. It is haunting in its simplicity.
However, let us not forget some of the other artists from the Second City: Nat King Cole, Chance the Rapper, Herbie Hancock, Jennifer Hudson, Chaka Khan, Patti Smith, Mavis Staples, blues great Koko Taylor, and Eddie Vedder to name a few.
Songs with the place in the title: Another feast of songs!
“Sweet Home Chicago” — Robert Johnson Oh baby don’t you want to go To my sweet home Chicago
“Chicago” — by Fred Fisher and made famous by Frank Sinatra. It’s the song that mentions “that toddling town.”
“My Kind of Town (Chicago Is)” — Frank again.
“Chicago (We Can Change the World)” — Crosby, Stills, and Nash, about the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago that got very ugly under the tenure of the first Richard Daley.
“Lake Shore Drive” — Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah. I know it doesn’t have Chicago in the title, but what’s more Chicago than Lake Shore Drive? It was a regional one-hit wonder, and while there were references to LSD in the lyrics, it had nothing to do with acid. I don’t think.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
This is the funkiest place I’ve ever lived! But I like it. I landed here because of a breakup. It’s become a large city with nearly a million in “the Metro” (we have like two suburbs!), but people who’ve not been here still perceive it as a ho-dunk town.
There’s no LSD here—only meth.
Song by an artist from there: Many musicians hail from Albuquerque, but Demi Lovato is probably the biggest name. “Tell Me You Love Me,” from the 2017 album of the same name, is her best song in my book.
Songs with the place in the title: I’ve already covered this in another article, and it is here:
Well, that does it for me. Looking forward to seeing the stories from other writers, the places they’ve lived, and the songs they’ve loved.
More stories about buildings and food:
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