Songs that make you Nostalgic.

[scotty]

We have all been there could be driving in the car or at home in the garden when a song comes on and takes you back to period in your life in which you reflect on.Could be a song that stirs up sadness or great happiness in your personal life.In another thread started here Brian sparked the thought for this thread and this has been on my mind all day.Feel free to add why the song you have chosen means so much to yourself.I will not add mine as it is in another thread here.Some posts which may come with emotional tags are greatly appreciated and will be treated with the up most respect.Of coarse only post what your are happy to share this is a forum.Im sure everyone here has a song that means a great deal to them in many different ways.
Scott.

[sowhat]

Hmm. Well.
Dire Straits — both "Romeo & Juliet" and "The man's too strong", reminding me of the times when i was a child who had big plans. Heh.
CCR — "Have you ever seen the rain". First "love" that seemed to be real & bound to last forever. Oh well. That was long ago, anyway.
Brian Hyland — "Sealed with a kiss". Just like a reminder: "never mind the rain, the sun is always behind the clouds".
(not in English, sorry) Joe Dassin — "Et si tu n'existais pas". Reminding of a man who was (and probably will always be) my best friend.
Shadows 5 — "Gathers no moss". Reminding of a good friend with whom we shared the same birth date (well, day and month, not the year). Well, i still celebrate my birthday on that day...
And many others, but they're either way too personal (well, this is a public forum anyway...) or not in English. Sometimes both.

[ozover50]

Yep! One I can think of is 'The Living Years' by Mike and The Mechanics.

Prior to my father's passing away in 1991 I was aware that he had problems but the seriousness of them had been kept from me by other members of my family because they thought that I wouldn't handle it too well. His demise was rather rapid and after he died all was revealed and of course I wasn't very happy at all!!

Sitting at home the night after he died the song came on the radio and for the first time I actually listened to the lyrics and completely broke down because it was all so much in line with my situation..... I hadn't had a chance to tell dad how much I loved him and there were so many things in life that we could have shared and things we could have said but didn't.

A sad post I know but the song still brings a tear to my eye.

I'll think of a happier song and memory now..........

[scotty]

Thanks for sharing that Howard.What a great post.

[leftyguitars]

Yep! One I can think of is 'The Living Years' by Mike and The Mechanics.

Exactly the same one for me Howard, my father died when I was 19 and in full 'rebellion'. That song says it all and 36 years later I still get a tear in my eyes when I listen to the words.

[godber]

Howard, it is the toughest thing that I have ever had to get through in my life, so you have my deepest sympathy. My dad died suddenly in 2006. As a kid, when I was too tired to stay awake to watch all of Match of the Day, he used to sing this to me when he carried me to bed, He did a good version, a lot of fun, but touching. Fab man.

[scotty]

Beautiful Mark thanks for sharing that.I think its important to remember the people we love and be it with a song or an object.As long as it sparks a connection,thats the beauty of nostalgia.

[winston]

For a whole variety of personal reasons the one song that always makes me want to choke up is "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke

[godber]

Love that Brian, really nice.

[godber]

This one is an inspiration. After a night dancing on talcum-powder-floors, this is was the thing to kick off your Bass Weejuns too.

[ozover50]

OK...... three happy ones!

23rd October 1966 was my 15th birthday and my parents threw my first teenage birthday party for me. The big hit of the time was The Animals' "See See Rider" and we played it to death!! My first girlfriend Tina was at the party and I often wonder what might have been............ WELL I WAS ONLY 15 AND SHE WAS MY FIRST GIRLFRIEND!!!

A bit further back to 1965 and it was my grandparents' golden wedding anniversary. We had a huge family party at our place and all the aunts, uncles and cousins were there. My brother had been given a battery operated record player for his birthday and that morning had bought "You Were On My Mind" by We Five on a 45rpm.

As all the aunts, uncles, etc. got p*ssed inside us cousins took the record player out the front, put it on a brick fence pillar and danced for hours to the one song! Next day my brother had to buy a new copy of the record..... we wore the bloody thing out and used up a dozen batteries!!

What a great young, innocent time it was..............

Forward to 1968 and I lost my virginity listening to "Fire" by The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown.

Not so innocent...........

[charlyg]

Kinda syrupy, but here goes. My wife and I started going out in May of 69 (back in South Dakota). I joined the Navy in October, came to California and in October of 1970, Elton John released Your Song. I sent her the lyrics as it said what I would have liked to have said, and we had many phone conversations about those lyrics and what they meant to us. It became "Our Song".
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

There are two songs by Dan Fogelberg that touch me also. Leader of the Band

An only child alone and wild
A cabinet maker's son
His hands were meant for different work
And his heart was known to none
He left his home and went his lone and solitary way
And he gave to me a gift
I know I never can repay

A quiet man of music
Denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once
But his music wouldn't wait
He earned his love thru' discipline
A thundering velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Took me years to understand

The leader of the band
Is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs thru' my instrument
And his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
To the leader of the band

My brother's lives were different
For they heard another call
One went to Chicago and the other to St. Paul
And I'm in Colorado
When I'm not in some hotel
Living out this life I've chose
And come to know so well

I thank you for the music
And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom
When it came my time to go
I thank you for the kindness
And the times when you got tough
And papa I don't think I said
"I love you" near enough

The leader of the band
Is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs thru' my instrument
And his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
To the leader of the band
I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band

And Same Old Lang Syne

Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling christmas eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve

She didnt recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried.

We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged.

We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldnt find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

She said shed married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didnt like to lie.

I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasnt sure if I saw
Doubt or gratitude.

She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was hell.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence
Another auld lang syne...

The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out
And I watched her drive away.

Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned into rain --

I know it's schmaltzy, and too long, but the last two fit the nostalgia theme, even if it's the writer's and not mine. As some of you know, I'm a lyrics nut.

[gregga41]

A sad post I know but the song still brings a tear to my eye.

I'll think of a happier song and memory now..........

I share a very similar experience with you Aitch! That song punches me hard!
The last time i spoke to my father was 3 days after my 35th birthday, he'd rung to apologize for not being able to contact me on the actual day!(i'd been out boozing!)
He died 20 minutes after that phone call!(no previous or ongoing illness)
Loved and missed!

[scotty]

Heres another this song makes my heart soar.Contrary to the lyrics this song reminds me of Christmas past being young and excited about all the presents.This song also reminds me of winter and cold nights being indoors in the warmth.Weird i know
I would also like to personally thank all the people who have posted their songs they are great thanks everyone.

[winston]

This one has always carried me back to a time when life seemed so much more simple: