11/25/01: Did you ever have a song or album that immediately transports you to a place when you hear it? For example, whenever I listen to the Ben Folds Five Whatever and Ever Amen CD, I am instantly brought back to Colorado Springs, driving on Garden of the Gods Avenue, up the huge hill towards Pikes Peak.

I just got back from a week long trip in AZ... and there, I listened to the latest Ben Folds Five album, "The Unauthorized Biography of Reinholt Messner." While infinitely more symphonic and epic than his other two discs, not to mention infinitely more depressing, it's so awesome that it was on continuous repeat for the duration of my stay. And the tunes sort of take on a different vibe depending on the particular mood I was in. When I was happy (which I was for the entire visit), the songs were cheerier somehow. And when I was driving towards the airport to depart, the songs were the saddest thing I'd ever heard.

One song in particular, "Dont Change Your Plans" (track 2) really rocked my world. The more I listen to it, the more I'm sure I wrote this tune. :-)   For your convenience, I'm sticking the lyrics here. Enjoy.

 
-don't change your plans-

sometimes i get the feeling
that i won't be on this planet
for very long
i really like it here
i'm quite attached to it
i hope i'm wrong

all i really wanna say
is you're the reason i wanna stay
i loved you before i met you
and i met you just in time
'cause there was nothing left

i sat here on my suitcase
in our empty new apartment
until the sun went down
then i walked back down the stairs
with all my bags and drove away
you must be freaking out

all i know is i've gotta be
where my heart says i oughta be
it often makes no sense
in fact,
i never understand these things i feel

don't change your plans for me
i won't move to LA
the leaves are falling back east
that's where i'm gonna stay

you have made me smile again
in fact, i might be sore from it
it's been a while
i know we've been together many times before
i'll see you on the other side
but don't change your plans for me
i won't move to LA
the leaves are falling back east
that's where i'm going to stay

all i really wanna say
is you're the reason i wanna stay
but destiny is calling and won't hold
and when my time is up i'm outta here

all i know is i've gotta be
where my heart says i oughta be
it often makes no sense, in fact
i never understand these things,
i feel

i love you, goodbye
i love you, goodbye...