The Summer Lovin’ Lyrics Contest made our soul sizzle!\u00a0<\/p>\n
We received so many incredibly beautiful, sensual, loving, and warm entries, and as always, it was so\u00a0<\/em>difficult to narrow down the favorites. But, it’s a job that must be done. So, without further ado, here are the\u00a0winners of the Summer Lovin’ Lyrics Contest… *cue the drumroll*:<\/p>\n 1st Place – $300 Keen Dollars:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n “I was born and raised in Boston. As many know, New England is notorious for freezing temps and long, snowy winters. Which, I love. We’d stay in our warm homes for months on end during those winter months. But, when spring came and weather was warmer everyone would venture out. Spring turned to summer and for three solid months it was swimming in above ground pools, family cook outs, and sitting on the corner mailbox with all my friends. But mostly, I hear and see my father as he stood at the bbq grill flipping burgers and swaying to his favorite song. He’d start singing and then grab my mother and slow dance with her on the porch. <\/span><\/p>\n Every time I hear Van Morrison’s ‘Into The Mystic’ it’s bittersweet. The words:<\/span> <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n We were born before the wind <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Also younger than the sun <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Ere the bonnie boat was won <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n As we sailed into the mystic <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Hark, now hear the sailors cry <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Smell the sea and feel the sky <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n And when that foghorn blows I will be coming home <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n And when the foghorn blows I want to hear it <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I don’t have to fear it and I want to rock your gypsy soul <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Just like way back in the days of old <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n And magnificently we will flow into the mystic <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I cry and smile at the same time. We had to move to Arizona to be closer to my maternal grandfather after my father passed away. And when this song plays I hear my father’s voice. I see the love in his face for my mother. I can smell the beach, taste the breeze and I’m home again, back in Boston, when life was simple, void of cell phones, and xbox. Kids rode their bikes, climbed tree’s, and would swing from tire’s hanging from a thick rope from a sturdy tree. Those days of simplicity and peace seem gone today. I miss those days, and listening to this song brings it all back, even if it is just a memory.” – MsLisaM<\/span><\/p>\n 2nd Place – $100 Keen Dollars:<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n “I sang this song, ‘You Go to My Head’ for the first time at my best friend\u2019s wedding in the summer of 2004. She was married on the beach in Honolulu. There was a gorgeous sunset that evening and the ocean breezes were stirring a bit as the tide began to roll in. It was so beautiful. Once the ceremony began, one of the groomsmen Charles, whom I had never met before, began staring at me. Every time I looked over at him, he was staring. Charles was really handsome and I couldn\u2019t help staring back. During the reception, I was asked to sing a romantic song that people could dance to. The bride, Sandra, and I had always loved going to karaoke together so she knew I could sing fairly well. I chose this old standby because I had heard my mother sing this when I was a child and this song seemed to fit that particular moment with all of the champagne flowing. During the song, Charles just stood there and smiled at me. <\/span>Here are some of the lyrics: <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n You go to my head, and you linger like a haunting refrain <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n And I find you spinning round in my brain, like the bubbles in a glass of champagne. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n You go to my head, like a sip of sparkling burgundy brew <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n And I find the very mention of you Like the kicker in a julep or two <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The thrill of the thought that you might give a thought <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n To my plea, casts a spell over me So, I say to myself get a hold of yourself <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Can’t you see that it never can be? <\/em><\/span>You go to my head <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n With a smile that makes my temperature rise <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Like a summer with a thousand Julys <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n You intoxicate my soul with your eyes <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Though I’m certain that this heart of mine <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Hasn’t a ghost of a chance with this crazy romance <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n You go to my head <\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n After the song, Charles came over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. We ended up talking all night on that beach. He was the sweetest guy I\u2019d ever met. It was so painful the next day as we each boarded our separate planes to go home. We promised we\u2019d stay in touch, but it wasn\u2019t easy. He was deployed to Afghanistan two weeks later. We wrote, and skyped each other like maniacs for the next year until he finally got furloughed back to the states. When he came home, he asked me to marry him! We had a small but beautiful wedding on the shore of Lake Michigan. My friend, Sandra, attended and during the reception, guess what song she sang? I love this song for so many reasons. It takes me back to my childhood when my mother sat at the piano and played and sang the old standards. She had a stroke last fall and will never play the piano again, but when I hear this song I think about how she used to be, so young and vibrant. I\u2019m so thankful for those memories. This song also helps me to relive the headiness of my first meeting with Charles and the excitement that I felt when I knew it was a mutual attraction. It was scary because I didn\u2019t know how things would turn out for sure, but in the end it wasn\u2019t just a \u201ccrazy romance\u201d after all. It was the real deal. We\u2019ve been married now for twelve years and he can still make my temperature rise!” – KarenH66<\/span><\/p>\n 3rd Place – $50 Keen Dollars:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n “<\/span>The song I choose for summer lovin’ is Justin Timberlake’s Mirror. I met my ex 3 years ago in May. He had a past and I chose not to judge. Over the next year and a half we went through a lot. He was my twin flame, what burned me up inside he lit ablaze and what I lit up in him helped paved the way to healing…a reflection of light through the pain. Love is light, light is love. This song was popular on the radio at the time and we’d sing it to each other while driving in the car. Today, I still love him. Here are some of the lyrics.<\/span><\/p>\n