I go back...

Have you ever heard that song by Kenny Chesney called "I Go Back"? Here are a few of the lyrics...

"Jack and Diane" painted a picture of my life and my dreams,
Suddenly this crazy world made more sense to me
Well I heard it today and I couldn't help but sing along
Cause everytime I hear that song...

I go back to a two toned short bed Chevy
Drivin my first love out to the levvy
Livin life with no sense of time
And I go back to the feel of a fifty yard line
A blanket, a girl, some raspberry wine
Wishin time would stop right in its tracks
Everytime I hear that song, I go back

I used to rock all night to "Keep On Rockin Me Baby"
Frat parties, college bars, just tryin to impress the ladies
I heard it today and I couldn't help but sing along
Cause everytime I hear that song....

I go back to the smell of an old gym floor
The taste of salt on the Carolina shore
After graduation and drinkin goodbye to friends
And I go back to watchin summer fade to fall
Growin up too fast and I do recall
Wishin time would stop right in its tracks
Everytime I hear that song, I go back, I go back

We all have a song that somehow stamped our lives
Takes us to another place and time
So I go back to a pew, preacher, and a choir
Singin bout God, brimstone, and fire
And the smell of Sunday chicken after church
And I go back to the loss of a real good friend
And the sixteen summers I shared with him
Now "Only The Good Die Young" stops me in my tracks
Everytime I hear that song, I go back....

"Jack and Diane" was popular when I was going into 9th grade, the summer of 1982. I was attending my first band camp and I remember listening to that song when we took breaks from the scorching heat. My friend Kim and I used the end of our flag poles as microphones and knew every word and sang with GUSTO!

"Keep On Rockin' Me Baby" was popular earlier than that, but I can't put an exact date on it. I remember singing along as I roller skated around the oval, week after week on Friday nights. Mine or somebody else's Mom would drop us off at 6:00 and pick us up at 10:00. Our main concerns at that point were 1) was our comb big enough to fashionably poke up out of our pocket? 2) were our Farrah Faucett wings sufficiently lacquered with the Extra Super Industrial Strength Aqua Net? and 3) were we ever going to get all the moves down to The Hustle?

"Only The Good Die Young" only brings to mind hearing my sister's Billy Joel album blaring from her room. No other deep, meaningful memories. Sorry.

Other songs that take me back:

Let's Dance - David Bowie
Come on Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
Sweet Dreams are Made of This - Eurythmics
Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
Back on the Chaingang - Pretenders
Der Kommissar - After the Fire
She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby (what a weird songwriter he was!)
Love is a Battlefield - Pat Benetar
Big Country - Big Country
Faithfully - Journey
Melt With You - Modern English
I Won't Hold You Back - Toto

Wow, the list could really be long!

So, here's a question for you...What songs take you back and why? Come on now, don't be shy...