Happy Monday and happy first day of school, folks! Well, first day for me, anyway. I know the kids out in Oklahoma have been at it for a week or two already. But hey, at least I get to have…(*checks notes*)…three weeks of school more than they do? Yeah, that’ll show ’em. Here’s a playlist.

1. The Call, “Let the Day Begin”: I’ve told this story several times now. How this was the song they played every morning on the classic rock station out of Oklahoma City. How I heard it on my way to school throughout high school. How it is now forever ingrained within my memory as the song that starts off school. So, here it is, once again, ushering in the first day of the new school year. My 22nd year of teaching. Wild, right?
2. Charlie Cottrell, “Burnt Offering (Fancy Version)”: Hey, I released a new EP last week! It features this song. I’m pretty proud of the EP and this particular version of the song. It’s all Clyde’s fault.
3. The Postal Service, “Such Great Heights”: A classic of the indie rock genre.
4. Dire Straits, “Walk Of Life”: The draw of this song, to me, has always been that organ riff. It’s just bouncy an fun and you ignore the lyrics about the knife and violence. Good times.
5. The Wallflowers, “How Good It Can Get”: The latest Wallflowers song I’ve learned. It’s remarkably easy to play, which is nice. I’ve always been kinda down on Red Letter Days as an album, but it’s grown on me over the years.
6. Johnathan Edwards, “Sunshine”: This is apparently an anti-Vietnam War protest song? Who knew!
7. Marty Robbins, “You Gave Me A Mountain”: God, the way Marty sings this one just kills me. The weariness, the exhaustion, is evident in every single line.
8. Bill Withers, “Ain’t No Sunshine”: I wish I could make it through every single “I know” in one breath. It’s amazing.
9. Bob Seager, “The Fire Inside”: The longing and yearning in this song still grab me every time I listen to it. I think Bob Seager was a better songwriter than we gave him credit for.
10. The Eagles, “Take It To The Limit”: I feel like I’m already at my limit with my first period class, and I’ve only had them once.