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Soundtrack of your CFS life…

Izola

Senior Member
Messages
495
Dylan: "When The Ship Comes In" 1966 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXn4njgCg-k

And Dylan "Desolation Row"
Bob Dylan - Desolation Row - The Bootleg Series, Vol. 4 : Bob Dylan Live 1966

Lyrics
They're selling postcards of the hanging, they're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors, the circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner, they've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker, the other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless, they need somewhere to go
As Lady and I look out tonight, from Desolation Row

Cinderella, she seems so easy, "It takes one to know one, " she smiles
And puts her hands in her back pockets Bette Davis style
And in comes Romeo, he's moaning. "You Belong to Me I Believe"
And someone says, "You're in the wrong place, my friend, you'd better leave"
And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up on Desolation Row

Now the moon is almost hidden, the stars are beginning to hide
The fortune telling lady has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain and Abel and the hunchback of Notre Dame

Everybody is making love or else expecting rain
And the Good Samaritan, he's dressing, he's getting ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight on Desolation Row

Ophelia, she's 'neath the window for her I feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday she already is an old maid
To her, death is quite romantic she wears an iron vest
Her profession's her religion, her sin is her lifelessness
And though her eyes are fixed upon Noah's great rainbow
She spends her time peeking into Desolation Row

Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood with his memories in a trunk
Passed this way an hour ago with his friend, a jealous monk
Now he looked so immaculately frightful as he bummed a cigarette
And he when off sniffing drainpipes and reciting the alphabet
You would not think to look at him, but he was famous long ago
For playing the electric violin on Desolation Row

Dr. Filth, he keeps his world inside of a leather cup
But all his sexless patients, they're trying to blow it up
Now his nurse, some local loser, she's in charge of the cyanide hole
And she also keeps the cards that read, "Have Mercy on His Soul"
They all play on the penny whistles, you can hear them blow
If you lean your head out far enough from Desolation Row

Across the street they've nailed the curtains, they're getting ready for the feast
The Phantom of the Opera in a perfect image of a priest
They are spoon feeding Casanova to get him to feel more assured
Then they'll kill him with self-confidence after poisoning him with words
And the Phantom's shouting to skinny girls, "Get outta here if you don't know"
Casanova is just being punished for going to Desolation Row"

At midnight all the agents and the superhuman crew
Come out and round up everyone that knows more than they do
Then they bring them to the factory where the heart-attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders and then the kerosene
Is brought down from the castles by insurance men who go
Check to see that nobody is escaping to Desolation Row

Praise be to Nero's Neptune, the Titanic sails at dawn
Everybody's shouting, "Which side are you on?!"
And Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them and fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea where lovely mermaids flow
And nobody has to think too much about Desolation Row

Yes, I received your letter yesterday, about the time the doorknob broke
When you asked me how I was doing, was that some kind of joke
All these people that you mention, yes, I know them, they're quite lame
I had to rearrange their faces and give them all another name
Right now, I can't read too good, don't send me no more letters no
Not unless you mail them from Desolation Row

Written by Bob Dylan • Copyright © Bob Dylan Music Co.


More Dylan "Not Dark Yet"

 
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Nightingale

Chronically Cool
Messages
61
I have a few!

I love Social Distortion. My favorite song for CFS is "Ball and Chain". The whole song kind of sums up the feeling of helplessness I get sometimes, but I especially like the chorus: "Take away, take away, take away this ball and chain, coz I'm lonely and I'm tired and I can't take any more pain."


Another favorite when I'm pretty low is "Trouble" by Cat Stevens, although I prefer the Elliott Smith version. It's a little sad, but sometimes it really sums up how I feel about my condition:

Lyrics:
Trouble
Oh trouble can't you see
You have made me a wreck
Now won't you leave me in my misery

I've seen your eyes
and I can see death's disguise
Hangin' on me
Hangin' on me

I'm beat, I'm torn
Shattered and tossed and worn
Too shocking to see
Too shocking to see


I'll try and lighten the mood a little bit now. I really like "Lifted Up (1985)" by Passion Pit. It's a bit more pop and upbeat, but it has some lyrics that resonate with me:

Oh well, how many years has it been now?
How many days went to waste?
Now the rain and the thunder are clashing
The Sun's got a smile 'cross the face
Oh, but yeah I'm so tired
I fight so hard and come back beaten


This last one might not be everyone's cup of tea, it's pretty loud and rocking. But it's definitely my favorite "Yeah, I can do this!" song. And I think we all need one of those, because chronic illness sucks and we've all had to tap into some inner strength to get through it. So here you go, it's "Feel Invincible" by Skillet

Lyrics:

You make me feel invincible
Earthquake, powerful
Just like a tidal wave
You make me brave
You're my titanium
Fight song, raising up
Like a roar of victory in a stadium
Who can touch me cause I'm
I'm made of fire
Who can stop me tonight
I'm hard wired
You make me feel invincible



I have no idea if anyone has a similar taste in music here, but I hope you liked my picks for CFS songs. :D
 

undiagnosed

Senior Member
Messages
246
Location
United States
If Hope Dies - Some Skynyrd

The whole Life In Ruin album is the soundtrack of my life in general, so many messages that reflect my views. However the song, "Some Skynyrd" is particularly applicable to oppressed groups such as those with CFS and other medical ailments that are falsely said to be psychological. It's also particularly relevant with the activism that's been going on like MillionsMissing. Anyways, if you're pissed off, want to blow off some steam and motivate yourself, give it a listen.

Lyrics

this stale air is draining the life right out of us
transfixed, immobile, paralyzed by indecision
a small glimpse, a vision of heights much greater than these
somewhere, within us, a desire for so much more

keep on fighting, keep on pushing forward
we must somehow find the way
keep on struggling, keep on wanting more
don't let this world tear you down

far too often we find our voices swallowed by silence
condemned to watching as time slips through our hands
the time for hesitation has now come and gone
the longer we stand still, the farther away our dreams become

a change is coming, born out of dissatisfaction with the hand that we've been dealt
the restless many, now filled with anger, are demanding for release from this static hell
 
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Gondwanaland

Senior Member
Messages
5,092
Today I listened to/watched something new that I really liked after so many years having no pleasure from music.
Perfume of the Invisible

The day I became invisible
I brewed a black coffee at your side
Maladjusted I smoked a cigarette
Wore your shirt inside out
Watered the plants that were drying
So the smell impregnated
Your judgment
My judgment
Invisible
And the world in my favor
To undress me
And be who I am
As soon as the perfume of the invisible
inebriated you
You saw me
And the world also
And what was quietly there
Showed itself, baby
 
From a musician who was himself afflicted with ME/CFS, Keith Jarrett, considered by many as one of the greatest jazz pianists there is.

While ill there were times when he feared he could never play again.

In his strong years he was a master at half hour long odyssey-like improvisations (e.g. Paris Concert, Köln Concert). By contrast, here is a minimalist piece from an album he recorded in his home studio after his first two years of illness.

Sounds just like a pianist who carefully avoids wearing himself out…Ever so soft and gentle playing…

 
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Cheesus

Senior Member
Messages
1,292
Location
UK
@erin Pink Floyd is a great shout. Wish You Were Here is also very apt:


So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell, blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.
 
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Groggy Doggy

Guest
Messages
1,130
"Across the Universe" Fiona Apple


Across the Universe
The Beatles
Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my opened mind
Possessing and caressing me
Jai Guru Deva OM
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
They call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe
Jai Guru Deva OM
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Sounds of laughter, shades of life are ringing through my open ears
Inciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on, across the universe
Jai Guru Deva OM
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai Guru Deva
Jai Guru Deva
Jai Guru Deva
Jai Guru Deva
Jai Guru Deva
 

Groggy Doggy

Guest
Messages
1,130


White bird
In a golden cage
On a winter's day
In the rain

White bird
In a golden cage
Alone

The leaves blow
Across the long, black road
To the darkened skies
In it's rage

But the white bird
Just sits in her cage
Unknown

White bird must fly
Or she will die

White bird
Dreams of the aspen trees
With their dying leaves
Turning gold

But the white bird
Just sits in her cage
Growing old

White bird must fly
Or she will die
White bird must fly
Or she will die

The sunsets come
The sunsets go
The clouds roll by
And the earth turns old
And the young bird's eyes
Do always glow

She must fly
She must fly
She must fly

White bird
In a golden cage
On a winter's day
In the rain

White bird
In a golden cage
Alone

White bird must fly
Or she will die
White bird must fly
Or she will die
White bird must fly
Or she will die
 

Groggy Doggy

Guest
Messages
1,130
"Angel"


Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay

There's always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it's hard, at the end of the day

I need some distraction
Oh, beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins

And maybe empty
Oh, and weightless, and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back

The storm keeps on twisting
Keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack

It don't make no difference
Escape one last time
It's easier to believe in this sweet madness
Oh, this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees

In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
 
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