Thank You, Rock and Roll

What are you thankful for?  I am thankful for my family and friends.  I am thankful to be relatively healthy, wealthy and wise.  I am thankful for Rock and Roll.

For the past few years, every Thanksgiving, I surprise my best friend Rob with a CD of songs with the words "Thank" and "Give" in their titles.  I usually drive by his house very early in the morning and slip the CD into his newspaper on his lawn.  He frequently asks me, "Why the Hell do you get up so early?"

This year's setlist is:

"Thanks a Lot" - Ernest Tubb
"Thank the Lord for the Night Time" - Neil Diamond
"Thank You (Live at BBC)" - Led Zeppelin
"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" - Sly and the Family Stone
"I Thank You" - ZZ Top
"Thank You" - Dido
"Thank You For The Music" - ABBA
"Thanks for the Pepperoni" - George Harrison
"Give a Little Bit" - Supertramp
"Give My Love to Rose" - Johnny Cash
"Give Peace A Chance" - Joe Cocker
"He Gives Us All His Love" - Randy Newman
"You Never Give Me Your Money" - The Beatles
"I Can't Give You Anything" - The Ramones
"Let's Give This Love a Try" - John Hiatt
"Never Gonna Give Your Up" - Rick Astley

For as long as I remember, Music has brought me, my family and my friends, great joy.  I am happy to report that it seems to bring my 1-year old granddaughter joy as well.  There is great power in music to lift our spirits above the sorrow and tribulation of this world.  That is definitely something to be thankful for.

Personally, Rock and Roll music continues to bring me the greatest joy, contentment and satisfaction.  Whenever I've had a particularly rough day, I can listen to "Ramble Tamble" by Creedence, or "One" by U2, or "Like a Rolling Stone" by Dylan and I am instantly soothed and comforted.  I hope music has that effect in your lives.  If so, be thankful.

Thank you, Rock and Roll.