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Everyday I podwalk down to the bus stop with my trusty ip-od on shuffle. Today’s random selection included the following hits:

1. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Marilyn Manson.
2. I Ran - Flock of Seagulls.
3. Loser - Beck.
4. I Walk The Line - Live.
5. Ava Adore - The Smashing Pumpkins.

For those of you not intimately familiar with the lyrics of these five wonderful songs here are the relevant quotes.

Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused
~Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

And I ran, I ran so far away.
I just ran, I ran all night and day.
I couldnt get away.
~I Ran (Flock of Seagulls)

Soy un perdedor
Im a loser baby, so why dont you kill me?
(get crazy with the cheese whiz)
Soy un perdedor
Im a loser baby, so why dont you kill me?
(drive-by body-pierce)
~Loser (Beck)

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I’ll admit that I’m a fool for you
Because you’re mine, I walk the line
~Walk the Line (Live)

And Ill pull your crooked teeth
Youll be perfect just like me
Youll be a lover in my bed
And a gun to my head
We must never be apart
~Ava Adore (The Smashing Pumpkins)

Give the proclivity of my Ip-od to play such music on this day of depressingly shallow constructs of “love,” I’m reminded of the immortal words of Nick Horby:

What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?

Given my fascination with cognitive behavioral therapy, I’m starting to think I should start applying for grants for my new therapy practice: Pod-walking. Lets start collecting playlists for cognitive behavioral therapy.

Here’s my first list:
Lithium - The Polyphonic Spree
John Henry - Bruce Springstreen
These Are the Days - 10,000 Maniacs
Video Killed the Radio Star - Ben Folds Five
Prove Me Wrong - Caedmon’s Call
Rock the Casbah - The Clash
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Dance with You - Live
Tonight, Tonight - The Smashing Pumpkins