Part 1: John Mayer - Half Of My Heart

Well, dear friends, it's been a long summer so far. Full of big decisions, times of waiting, road trips, and many many good meals (nothing like fresh veggies and fruit in the summer months!). I've been stressed an awful lot, but in a good sort of way. Change is coming and I'm trying to prepare. So that has left me with precious little brain power to devote to my other pastimes like this blog.

But as I was riding in the car last week on yet another road trip, we were listening to an old Dido album, and I began thinking about how much I love certain songs. And I thought maybe instead of writing on here (which most days is simply not possible), I would post some songs that resonate with me.

Now let me take a quick moment and put this disclaimer out there: I am not a music connoisseur. I never think to take cds with me when I'm driving, I haven't updated my iPod in four years, and the last time I paid for an album was circa 1998. When I'm with other people, I listen to whatever they like. When I'm by myself, I just listen to the radio (insert horrified *gasp* here!).

When someone asks me what kind of music I like, I usually just say "everything- I'm not picky." But just recently it dawned on me that the songs I've really liked over the years are nearly all of the "singer/songwriter" persuasion. I'm drawn to artists who write their own stuff. There's just a different quality about their work- it has added authenticity or more emotion or something. Simon & Garfunkel, Jewel, John Mayer. Their best songs come from their real-life experiences.

So here's the first installment. I'm putting the lyrics to this John Mayer song first, so that you can read what he's saying. I'll put the music video at the end- I'm not crazy about the video because I don't think it captures the multiple meanings behind the song. But at least you'll get to hear it.

John Mayer: Half Of My Heart (Featuring Taylor Swift) lyrics

I was born in the arms of imaginary friends
Free to roam made a home out of everywhere I've been
Then you come crashing in, like the realest thing
Trying my best to understand, all that your love can bring

Oh half of my heart has a grip on the situation
Half of my heart takes time
Half of my heart has a right mind to tell you that
I can't keep loving you (can't keep loving you)
Oh with half of my heart

I was made to believe I'd never love somebody else
Made a plan stay the man who could only love himself
Lonely was the song I sang, 'til the day you came
Showing me another way, and all that my love can bring

Oh half of my heart's got a grip on the situation
Half of my heart takes time
Half of my heart has a right mind to tell you that
I can't keep loving you (can't keep loving you)
Oh with half of my heart, with half of my heart

Your faith is strong, but I can only fall short for so long
Down the road, later on
You will hate that I never gave more to you
Than half of my heart

But I can't stop loving you (I can't stop loving you)
I can't stop loving you (I can't stop loving you)
I can't stop loving you, with half of my heart

Oh half of my heart
Half of my heart
Half of my heart has a real good imagination
Half of my hearts got you

Half of my hearts got a right mind to tell you that
Half of my heart won't do

Half of my heart in a shotgun wedding
To a bride with a paper ring

But half of my heart is the part of a man
Who's never truly loved anything

Half of my heart
Oh half of my heart
Half of my heart
Oh half of my heart