Musical Mondays

Jori and Diane started Musical Mondays a few weeks ago and I've been meaning to join the fun! Although I myself am not very musical, I do love songs and lyrics and belting out tunes (by myself - for the safety of others). So this will be my first Musical Monday post! I hope you can play along, too, so I can learn more about your favorites and the meanings behind them.

As my second anniversary is less than two week away, I figured my first few weeks will be easy to fill with wedding songs!

I'll Be - Edwin McCain

This song was our wedding song played during the unity candle lighting. We laid individual candles on every seat with the wedding programs. Next to the 'Lighting of the Unity Candle' listing in the program, we wrote a short note to our guests:

We appreciate the impact that each of you have had on our lives. We hope that you will participate in this portion of the ceremony by lighting your candles and passing on the unity light in show of your support for our future together. Thank you.

When it came time in the ceremony, the music began and our dads walked to the very last aisle and lit one person's candle on each side. While our guests passed the light through the rows, my good friend Jarrod played the guitar and sang. He was accompanied by Megan, my college roommate. (She also played the piano for our ceremony. She's very talented.)



Our mothers were the last ones to receive the light. Once both of their candles were lit, they walked up to the unity candle and lit the side candles. Lucas and I then lit the main candle.


I picked this song for a simple reason, but it became very meaningful to us both. I desperately wanted Jarrod to sing at my wedding. I've always been blown away by his gift. (I think he should try to pursue a music career, but that's a topic for another day.) Suffice it to say, he is very good. I wanted to pick a song that would showcase his talent and that he would feel comfortable singing. Of course, he encouraged me to pick a song I liked and he would adapt it for his voice. As I was thinking of songs, I remembered hearing Jarrod singing 'I'll Be'. I remembered him singing it poolside with friends and giving us all chills. I remembered him singing it in a karaoke bar and the entire bar stood still and silent listening to his voice. I remembered every time he sang that song, it made my heart stand still and dream of whoever might one day be that person to me. I knew he had to sing this song. (Tid Bit of Trivia: My favorite song Jarrod sings is Mary Jane's Last Dance by Tom Petty but I didn't think it was appropriate for the wedding.)

I'm sorry that I can't get you a recording of Jarrod singing. He is better than Edwin McCain (no offense to Edwin).

The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath
Emeralds from mountains thrust toward the sky
Never revealing their depth
Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated
I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above

(Chorus:)
I'll be your crying shoulder
I'll be love suicide
I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life

Rain falls angry on the tin roof
As we lie awake in my bed
You're my survival, you're my living proof
My love is alive not dead
Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache, that hang from above

(Chorus)

I've been dropped out, burned up, fought my way back from the dead
Tuned in, turned on, Remembered the things that you said

(Chorus)