"It's better to say too much then never say what you need to say again."

I cannot tell a lie; this is not my favorite Mayer tune. Having said that though, I gotta say that the sentiment behind it just knocks me out. I'm long on two things...legs and words. Ironically my Grandfather happens to be a man of very few of the latter. He's been very sick for a very long time and as we near the twilight of his time here with us in the physical world I've been helping him leave his legacy behind with words. We've had many a Q&A session over the past several months with me asking him questions about his childhood, career, regrets, dreams and advice for the future and recording his answers on tape and it's seriously been one of the greatest experiences of my life and hopefully of his too. Getting him to say what's on his mind on a deep and personal level was like trying to pull teeth at first but once he realized the implications of what his opening up would mean not only to my siblings, cousins and myself but our children and perhaps even their children he decided to finally say what he needed to say.

It's hard to speak up and say what we feel sometimes. Whether it's an "I love you.", "Thank you." or a "That REALLY pisses me off!" we become vulnerable when we say what's in our hearts. And since I've yet to meet the individual who enjoys being stripped bare and made emotionally naked it doesn't seem to rank too high on people's list of things to do each day so the fear of exposure leaves so many words unspoken. Personally, I don't suffer from Cantspeakupitis and in fact actually have a lifelong case of Cantshutthehelluposis and could probably stand to bite my tongue a little more. But even though that -osis doesn't always serve me and has at times been a detriment in my life, it's also been a blessing as it's allowed people I love (and even those I loathe) to know exactly where they stand with me and what their influence on my life or in my history means without question.

Good grief, all this rambling just to post a song, right? Being confronted with the fragility of life on a constant basis these days, this song struck a chord with me and so I wanted to put it up and also say that if you're one of those people with the -itis, think about opening up a little more and really saying what you feel and what's on your mind. It's rare that a person reaches the end of their life full of regret for the things they did and said...usually it's what they didn't do and say that haunts them in those days. And, if you find yourself with the same -osis I have remember that it is just as powerful to listen as to speak.

Mr. J.C. Mayer said all that I just typed with this one song and you can find it gracing the soundtrack of the film The Bucket List starring legendary actors Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It's a feel good tearjerker that is already on my list of movies to see post present extravaganza on Christmas day next to The Great Debaters starring fellow Oscar alumni Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker. How awesome will that be?!?!?!




For sticking around long enough to get this far in the post (or being lazy and scrolling straight to the music), here is your reward:

John Mayer - "Say"

And the video for the track which is pretty ok. At least it doesn't feature a petite brunette with huge boobs this time.






And a smattering of tunes that are semi topical just for the hell of it...

Jodeci - "Come & Talk to Me"

The Spinto Band - "Did I Tell You"

Faith Hill & Tim McGraw - "Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me"

India.Arie - "Talk to Her"

Howie Day - "She Says"

The Black Crowes - "She Talks to Angels"

Nelly Furtado - "Say It Right"

Modest Mouse - "Talking"

Lauryn Hill - "So Much Things to Say"

The Sleeping - "Listen Close"

Leo Sayer - "More Than I Can Say"

Nelly Furtado - "Say It Right"

Del Amitri - "Tell Her This"

Fleetwood Mac - "Say You Love Me"

Frou Frou - "Hear Me Out"

Old 97's - "Let the Idiot Speak"

Dave Matthews Band - "So Much to Say"

Devendra Banhart - "Heard Somebody Say"

Kyle Riabko - "Before I Speak"

Jim Croce - "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song"

Michael Buble - "I Say a Little Prayer for You"

Lionel Richie - "Say You, Say Me"

Coldplay - "Talk"

Tegan & Sara - "Speak Slow"

The Velvet Underground - "Candy Says"

Pink Floyd - "Speak to Me/Breathe"

Rascal Flatts - "Words I Couldn't Say"

Tears For Fears - "Shout"



And also just for fun because I just love it: