Mother Lode Playlist
I had so much fun creating this playlist to accompany Mother Lode into the world.
I had so much fun creating this playlist to accompany Mother Lode into the world.
The list opens with “Seasons of Love:” 525,600 minutes” . . . you’ll understand when you read the book. Some of the songs are from the 1940s, when Stellajoe and George were separated during WWII. Simon & Garfunkel’s “For Emily” was playing on the mid-century-era stereo early one morning when I was reading letters he wrote to her and it still brings me to tears. My dad always said “Begin the Beguine” was their song; this instrumental version is by Artie Shaw, leader of one of the most popular big bands of their courting years. And they were obsessed with the 1943 Broadway musical Oklahoma in their letters. As I took “One Day at a Time,” Mama and I argued about who could do everything better, and I tried to learn to just “Smile.” Self-care saved me as I explored this “Wonderful World.” I learned to see my mother more clearly as the years went on, and after she died, and I had the view-blocking fir branches cut, I opened the blinds and welcomed the sun. Enjoy!
Seasons of Love — Pentatonix
The Glory of Love — Jimmy Durante
Oh, What a Beautiful Morning — The Sign Posters
Que Sera, Sera — Doris Day, Frank DeVol & His Orchestra
Mairzy Doats — The Merry Macs
Begin the Beguine — Artie Shaw
I’ll Be Seeing You — Billie Holiday
For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her — Simon & Garfunkel
Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better — The Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby
I Live One Day At a Time — Joan Baez, Jeffrey Shurtleff
I Can See Clearly Now — Anne Murray
Take Me to the Mountain — Great Peacock
Over the Rainbow — Frank Sinatra
What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
Smile — Nat King Cole
This Time Tomorrow — Brandi Carlile
Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall — Simon & Garfunkel
When You Are Old — Gretchen Peters
Here Comes the Sun — The Beatles
The Mother Lode Playlist (On Spotify)