Prophecy in the Playlist: Beware the Mixtape

I know this sounds bizarre but….

Oh, if only I had a dollar for every time a friend of mine heard me say that.

If I want to gauge the near future, it turns out that all I have to do is put together a mixtape for someone, based on whatever songs really appeal to me at the moment. This is especially helpful in my romantic life, it seems, because why else do you give someone else a CD of odd love songs if not to share with that someone special?  (Yes, I know that there are other reasons, just not usually for me.) Sure enough, if I make a playlist for someone,  within the month, I’ll have song lyrics coming true left and right. Understand though:  I don’t intentionally create a playlist of what I WANT to come true but rather, what’s already on its way.

No, not kidding.   I discovered this little oddity of prophecy when I made a CD for someone at a very happy time in our relationship…and the entire playlist was about parting company.  I thought it was odd at the time I made it, that I would be so drawn to those songs.  Nothing in our interactions warned me of our impending doom like that playlist did!

Afterward, I dug out old playlists I’d made and found that the songs that were most to my liking at the time were great prognostications  for the next month’s emotional status.  I still make new playlists by the way, not as intentions of where I hope to be in a month but honestly chosen songs based on what really appeals to me at the moment, even if it’s The Go-Go’s “Head over Heels” or Edie Brickell’s “What I Am”  or something new and barely heard of at the time, like FROZEN’S “Let It Go.”  (Yes, there was a time when hardly anyone knew that song.)

Just for grins, here’s partial playlist that made me realize how this works for me, even though I was madly happy at the time I put it together:

“All You Do Is Talk, ” Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Sadly, I remain in need

Of all the things you say, believe, and speak

All you do is talk.

“The Scientist” — Holly Henry

Nobody said it was easy, 

It’s such a shame for us to part.

Nobody said it was easy, 

No one ever said it would be this hard.

Oh take me back to the start.

“Cups” — Anna Kendrick

When I’m gone, When I’m gone

You’re ‘gonna miss me when I’m gone

You’re ‘gonna miss me by my walk

You’re gonna miss me by my talk, Oh

You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone

“Feel It Now” — Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

And all the reasons invading

Twist and turn my aching soul

I leave myself behind in pieces

I know you’ll need them when I’m gone

I’m on my own I’m sure I’ll know it now

I’m on my own I’m sure I’ll feel it now

“Just Give Me a Reason” — Pink

Now you’ve been talking in your sleep, oh, oh

Things you never say to me, oh, oh

Tell me that you’ve had enough

Of our love, our love

“Life for Rent” — Dido

But if my life is for rent and I don’t learn to buy

Well I deserve nothing more than I get

‘Cause nothing I have is truly mine

“Have I Loved” — Down Like Silver

Have I gone and failed you?

Have I gone and let you down?

Have I loved?

“This Time” — INXS

We are hoping

Yes and we’re praying

This time

Will be the last time

That we will fight like this

We are always wanting

Things we cannot find

“Darkening Sky” — Peter Bradley Adams

I’ll dig this hole as deep as my love,

And bury her memory away,


“I Will Love You” — Fisher

Depressing, huh, for a happy woman in love? No surprises if I’d made this a month after the relationship ended but a month before was just downright scary to me.  Just another way to check where I am.

But just in case you’re worried, the last time I made a new playlist (for me, not for anyone else), it featured songs like Ellie Goulding’s “Anything Can Happen.”


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