Summary

A man shares the story of his love for his wife through a personalized playlist that encapsulates their relationship's journey.

Abstract

The article titled "The Meaning of My Life is ‘She’" from The Penny Pub's Penny Prompt 8 delves into the author's romantic life with his wife, using music as a narrative device. He crafted a playlist for her, with each song representing different facets of their relationship. From the initial attraction to the deep commitment, the playlist includes classics like "Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison and "Seven Bridges Road" by the Eagles, the latter associated with the memory of his marriage proposal. The author reflects on his wife's prophetic dreams, her travels, and his own overthinking nature, culminating in the ultimate love song "She" by Elvis Costello, which he believes perfectly captures the essence of their love.

Opinions

The author believes that his wife's beauty and personality are exceptional, as implied by the song "Oh, Pretty Woman."
He finds Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver" fitting due to his wife's experiences with insightful dreams.
Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" is humorously used to acknowledge the perceived mismatch in their pairing, yet he confidently asserts their relationship.
Billy Joel's "Travelin’ Prayer" expresses his concern and affection for his wife during her absences.
The Eagles' "Seven Bridges Road" holds special significance as it is tied to the memory of his marriage proposal in Duluth, MN.
Paul Simon's "Think Too Much" resonates with the author's introspective and analytical nature, particularly concerning his relationship.
The Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" signifies his dedication and the lengths he would go to for his wife.
"You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate is mentioned with a sense of playful embarrassment, yet also as a testament to the passion in their relationship.
Barry Manilow's "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" is included as a gesture of love, despite any potential teasing about his musical taste.
Elvis Costello's "She" is deemed the ultimate song that encapsulates their love story, emphasizing true intimacy and the profound impact his wife has on his life.

THE PENNY PUB | PENNY PROMPT 8

The Meaning of My Life is ‘She’

The soundtrack of our love

I know that when people look at my wife and then look at me, they must think, “Da-yumm, that guy has just got to have some great secrets of romance!” Here’s a peek behind the curtain, thanks to The Penny Pub asking if there is a love song that represents me and my partner. One secret: I once created an entire playlist for my wife.

There is an ultimate love song that perfectly describes the many layers of our relationship, but since my wife is a 10, there had to be nine songs leading up to #1.

The first song is Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison. The lyric that best describes my feelings is when Roy growls and then says, “Mercy!”

Next up is Dream Weaver by Gary Wright, which is one of her favorite songs because my wife gets prophetic dreams often. Not “see the future” type dreams, but insights for her life or to share with others. When she wakes up from one of these it sticks with her until she can write it down.

The third song has the line: “Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street.” That’s from Joe Jackson’s Is She Really Going Out With Him? Yeah, she is. What of it?

Fourth is Travelin’ Prayer by Billy Joel, dedicated to all the times my wife has left me. That is, she has taken several mission trips overseas and has also traveled to aid and comfort our daughters even if they’re in Prague, or Finland, or even Iowa, leaving me at home thinking, “Hey Lord, take a look all around tonight and find where my baby’s gonna be; hey Lord, would ya look out for her tonight ’cause she is far across the sea.”

The fifth song is Seven Bridges Road by the Eagles and is especially significant. When we’d been dating for three months we took an autumn day trip up to Duluth, MN, and the North Shore. There’s a road with seven bridges that leads up into the hills away from Duluth and Lake Superior and brings you to a panoramic view of the city and the lake. That was a great day and that night when we got back to town I asked her to marry me — and she said yes!

For a guy who proposes after just three months of dating, I tend to overthink and over-analyze things. Driving back from Duluth we heard Think Too Much by Paul Simon. As faith and reason tumbled over and over in my head, Paul sang “Maybe I think too much for my own good; some people say so; other people say no no; the fact is you don’t think as much as you could.”

And then Paul and I both said, “Hmmmm.”

The seventh song is I’m Gonna Be as both The Proclaimers and I declared “I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more just so I could be the man who walked 1000 miles to fall down at your door.” I’d still walk that far, but it would take so long these days that I’m not sure she’d wait for me.

Number eight on the playlist is You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate, and that’s all I’m going to say about that. Except…“I believe in miracles!”

As for song nine, if you love a woman, you’ll do anything for her. Walk 1,000 miles, climb the highest mountain, swim the deepest sea, and even let her have the last doughnut. You’ll even, when you know she’s a Barry Manilow fan, download Barry’s version of Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You, even though you know it’s going to go on your permanent Guy-card somewhere.

And the #1 song that encompasses our love affair?

There’s nothing wrong with the focus of this photo, it’s just that the camera lens fogged up. Personal photo.

She by Elvis Costello, from the Notting Hill soundtrack. It’s a love song not burdened or blinded by sentimentality but is all the truer for the deep realization that this is the love for you, beyond passion and attraction to the bedrock of true intimacy.

I think it’s even perfect that the song is sung by Elvis Costello, whose persona is cynical and acerbic, but whose awe-struck face and puppy eyes in the video below are the perfect reflections of my own.

She may be the reason I survive, The why and wherefore I’m alive, The one I’ll care for through the rough and ready years. Me, I’ll take her laughter and her tears, And make them all my souvenirs, For where she goes I’ve got to be, The meaning of my life is she

Thank you for reading!