With a few exceptions, I stopped writing about music when I realized I had nothing interesting to say about it and the only response I heard back was the sound of crickets. But this is different, because this is David Gray and David Gray is just, well, he means everything to me. And he has a new album coming out today/tooo-day/tah-day/heute.
David Gray came into my life at a time when I really needed him. It was January 2005 and my world was being turned upside down by a little Intro to Theology class I registered for last minute when I realized the original class I’d signed up for wouldn’t fill the necessary requirement for graduation. It’s crazy to me that such a small thing managed to so affect the course of my life. If not for that class, I don’t know what I’d be doing right now. I suspect either working a job that wasn’t my passion, studying English or Education in grad school, or teaching high school.
I was filled with such uncertainty about everything and that was kind of a new thing for me. But, I was listening to David Gray’s A New Day at Midnight and it was my escape. It calmed me down and even made me appreciate the waives of uncertainty. I started digging back through his old albums, buying them one or two at a time. I hate to be too literal, but David Gray has songs that make me turn a critical eye to society, songs that always put a smile on my face, songs that make me say “that’s how I want to be in love,” songs that are good for wallowing, songs that motivate me, and even songs that make me think I’d love to talk theology with him.
What I love most about David Gray is his lyrics and that’s not something I’d say about my other favorite, Coldplay. Here are a few of my favorites:
From “Let The Truth Sting”
What I say
What I think
What I put down in ink
I’m only trying to find a way to understand
From “Gutters Full of Rain”
Never noticing the war
‘Til it’s right outside your door
And suddenly your hands, bloody
From “Red Moon”
With all that I’ve witnessed
Hard to believe
I still find it in me to be so naive
From “Be Mine”
Maybe when your heart and soul are burning you might see
That every time I’m talking to you it’s always over too soon
And every day feels so incomplete
‘Til you walk into the room
From “Babylon”
Sunday all the lights of London shining
Sky is fading red to blue
I’m kicking through the Autumn leaves
And wondering where it is you might be going to
Turning back for home
You know I’m feeling so alone
I can’t believe
Climbing on the stair
I turn around to see you smiling there
In front of me
I still remember September 2005 when I raced to the store to get the new David Gray album. It’s strange to think that a) I’ve only gotten to do that once despite being a fan for nearly 5 years and b) going to the store to buy a CD seems very outdated.
If you’re not a David Gray fan and you’ve made it this far, I commend you and suggest that if running out to buy the new album Draw the Line, plus his seven previous albums, doesn’t sound like something you’re up for, then maybe check out some of these: Freedom, Fugitive, This Year’s Love, Please Forgive Me, Babylon (you’ve no doubt heard this before), Shine, Lately, The One I Love, The Other Side, Alibi, and Sail Away.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I love David Grey!!!!!!! :) I “this year’s love” was in Crazy Beautiful I think and I was hooked.
I’m not a massive David Gray fan myself but you seem so passionate about his music you kind of make me WANT to be.
I’ve never listened to him. (Well, I probably have without realizing it.) I’ll give him a listen!
I find that David Gray calms me down too. Lately I’ve been listening to “Shine” and “Ain’t No Love.” I like this line from “Ain’t No Love”:
Then pulling back you see it all
Down here so laughable and small
Hardly a quiver in the dirt
I adore David Gray, but I had forgotten about him (I know…sad) until this post. Thanks to you, I just downloaded the new album AND The White Ladder album. The latter reminds me of my freshman year in college. I was OBSESSED, lovesick, and homesick. This album brings me happiness!
“This Year’s Love” always makes me cry. I love it.
Hi, I’m Kelly, and I’m a lurker. There I said it. I usually am really timid about commenting on others’ blogs, but you got me wanting to comment for multiple reasons today and I couldn’t resist. First, it’s your remark: “I stopped writing about music when… the only response I heard back was the sound of crickets.” Ah! I’m sorry to be a cricket! Especially because I do like your music posts. Second, I had forgotten how much I love David Gray (much like Herding Cats said), and reading this post flooded me with memories of how his music makes me feel. I love it. Going to get his new album. Today. And the third reason really is my own fault. A while back you linked to a video clip about “brain crack,” and it really resonated with me. Yesterday I posted that video on my blog after a 3-month writer’s lull, and I was just now hit with guilt for not citing you as the one who introduced me to zefrank. So, thanks for doing that! And thanks for passing on your David Gray obsession to a forgetful fan.
i now want to listen to david gray immediately. i think “sail away” and “my oh my” were my favorites off the last album. and “please forgive me.” and “this years love.” okay, i obviously love too many of them. gonna go check out the new album now!
p.s. the track listings for new moon came out. more indie than emo this time around!
I have actually never really heard of him before, but he sound fantastic. I loved the lines that you shared. Definitely going to have to look this one up.
I like David Gray, but he’s fallen off my radar…will def have to check out the new album!
Some of the most beautiful songs I own were written/recorded by David Gray. I haven’t heard anything from the new album yet, though. I’ll go check it out.
I dont know that I’ve ever really heard one of his songs. I’ll definitely be going to check his music out. I love that there are certain songs/artists that really speak to us when we need it. Music does that for me too.
Thanks for reminding me – I knew he had a new album coming out but I totally forgot about it. I remember owning White Ladder back in college, in fact I’m STILL upset about the fact that my CD got broken somehow. Babylon II is my favorite.