Stones in the Road - Carpenter, Mary Chapin (CD 1994)

Stones in the Wind by Mary Chapin Carpenter is a very relaxing collection of country music that you can play in the background without it intruding upon your tranquility or causing stress. I like to listen to this collection when I need to unwind.

This beautiful collection of songs include the following:

Why Walk When You Can Fly - This country ballad keeps you rocking back and forth while it speaks of a lot of truth. The truth is that there's a lot of people wishing that things would happen and what might would be, walking instead of spreading their wings, and flying to new heights.

House of Cards - House of Cards is a contemporary country song with a lot of old type pop bounce. It's really a rather depressing song if you listen to the lyrics. The lyrics speak of living in fear in a place where if your past is revealed your life will come tumbling down. If you listen to the music instead of the lyrics, it's really better! The music itself is marvelous.

Stones in the Road - From the title, comes a really upbeat song with a story that is sad and happy at the same time. It reflects upon growing up in simple times now leading to the more complex and sad state of the world right now.

A Keeper for Every Flame - Describing every state of the flame of passion in the human heart this contemporary country song describes the stages of love, in the memories of a lost love and the realm of feelings involved from the raging passion to a small flame.

Tender When I Want to Be - After hearing the past few selections, Tender When I Want To Be makes me want to jump up and dance. The lyrics of this song shows how a person can be really strong and still yet tender in the matters of the heart.

Shut Up And Kiss Me - Shut Up and Kiss Me is more of a light rock song than a country song. This is a rather boisterous song about a woman missing a man being coarse and saying to "Shut Up And Kiss Me". The lyrics go well with the song, but I could do without the lyrics on this one.

The Last Word - Now THIS is the song that I should have sang to my ex-husband! He always wanted to have the last word on everything! (laughing) It says just what I feel about that entire time. The words that were said, including the "last word" literally destroyed the relationship. Since this was recorded back in 1994, the timing would have been right for my separation and divorce! It's too bad I didn't find the song before now! This is a slower song with a steady but deliberate beat.

The End of My Pirate Days - The burying of dreams of the past makes me think of my own past before I met the love of my life. Even though he left me through death, the dreams that we longed to share together were buried with him. There was a part of my life that went with him. Even though I have different dreams now, those ones of the past where we laughed together are gone just as the song has described.

John Doe No. 24 - When I hear this song I have to cry because this song makes think of my autistic son. This song tells about the story of a person who is oblivious to the outside world unaware of what is going on. The outside world is a world of fear and misunderstanding, yet the lyrics try to find answers even though the world just goes on by. That's the way the world perceives my little boy, as much as I would like it for to love him as much as he loves others. It is a very sad melody.

Jubilee - Jubilee has a better beat to it and slight bounce. The lyrics tell about laying the past behind to find happiness elsewhere. There's a great woodwind solo within this selection.

Outside Looking In - Outside Looking In has a more contemporary bounce to it. However, this is also a rather sad song as the lyrics relay about watching lovers walking together, realizing that they are not involved in a loving relationship and feeling out of place.

Where Time Stands Still - When I hear this slow love song, I think of my deceased fiance. There were so many times in my life where I wondered if time stood still for us both. Now that he is gone, I long for that time when were together wishing that time would have stood still at that time and place. This song isn't about death, but lost love, but the thoughts are the same to me. I long for the time when time stood still for my beloved and I.

This is Love - This is Love is a beautiful love song that I could have sang to my beloved many times. There were many times when we were both really knocked for a loop and through it all, we still made it through it all. It has a very upbeat melody which makes me want to dance and sing out loud.

At the end of this album is a very beautiful piano solo which puts just the right touch to the end of this beautiful collection of music which will continue to be one of my favorites.

Even though I do not like some of the somber lyrics of this album, I do enjoy the music very much, and I truly believe that if you are in a reflective mood, or just want to relax that this album will become one of your favorites.