If you and I are a story that never gets told, if what you are is a daydream I'lll never get to hold.
About a year ago I was rummaging through a box I have of whatever my mom saved from my childhood room. What was left of my childhood were a few random trinkets, some photo/year books, letters I had saved, and a big stack of journals. I loved journaling when I was a teen. I think one year my New Year’s resolution was to write a journal entry every day of the year, and if my memory is correct I think I actually accomplished that goal. I pulled out my high school journals 15 years later and decided it would be fun to read through the details of my formative years. I thought it would refresh my memory on all the silly and fun times I had, and be a light trip down memory lane. The reality was that it was the story of a girl fully immersed in religious beliefs that the adult version of me had left behind long ago and a bunch of stories that were never finished. While the religious upbringing is sure to be covered in other songs, my focus today is on the stories that were never finished.
Stay beautiful is a light-hearted country song about a teenage relationship in bloom. The potential exists for something more, but the growing up years between the present and that potential being realized will determine whether these young people will be endgame. And yet the narrator takes a realistic view and realizes that while she might not end up with Cory in the end, she still wishes him well on his life journey.
She writes “if you and I are a story that never gets told, if what you are is a daydream I’ll never get to hold…” That line sent me back to reading my journals and feeling like so many friendships are stories in my life that got cut short. I remember writing best friend forever notes and listening to the “Graduation (Friends Forever)” song by Vitamin C. I guess I just assumed that time and space wouldn’t keep me from my besties and so I never realized that the last time we talked was the last time we talked. I thought there would be more time, chance encounters in our hometown when we all gathered over break, social media would keep us together right? In some ways yes, but never in the same ways. My hope that our stories would continue was simply never realized. Some untold stories feel more painful to me than others. I see the moments where a different choice could have changed the outcome.
In the end though I still created a beautiful life. I also gave myself some space to mourn the losses of the stories that ended so abruptly. And I love the perspective given in this song “…at least you’ll know, you’re beautiful, every little piece love, don’t you know you’re really gonna be someone.” Even though my story with these beautiful people got cut short, I can still find joy in seeing the successes they have created in the story they live.
And when you find everything you looked for, I hope your life leads you back to my door.
I love Taylor Swift’s music and have a deep curiosity about who it is so meaningful to so many people. If you have any thoughts about this song in particular please share it in the comments below so that me and the Swiftie community that finds this space can enjoy your insights.
No comments:
Post a Comment