“I often wonder when we’re alone what you’re thinking of.”
So, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. I would not have ever known this song or this band if I had not met Larry. Now he will try to tell you that I didn’t know anything about music until I met him but that is simply not true and is just Larry thinking he is soooo superior. But I did meet him, and I did discover this band and this song because of him and I’m so glad I did.
When I hear this song now it takes me right back to the beginning of us and my own insecurities about our relationship. How I wish I could go back and tell that 21-year-old me that there was nothing to worry about. That the road may not always be easy, but you will not walk it alone.
After over 30 years together I still often wonder what he’s thinking of, but I no longer worry that I am never enough.
Larry’s Perspective:
Shout out to The Toll! I am guessing there are two people who may read this, not including Shannon and I, that actually know who the hell The Toll is...and honestly I was surprised to find something I could link to on YouTube.
They were a band born and bred in Columbus, Ohio in the mid 80's to early 90's. My best friend in high school turned me on to them, and in turn I introduced them to Shannon. They got signed by Geffen and put out two albums. This song is off the second album.
First - some fun facts (literally copied from an extremely small Wikipedia entry):
The Toll's first album was titled The Price of Progression, and "Jonathan Toledo," which included one of the band's trademark narratives and clocked in at more than ten minutes, was the first single. It received rotation on MTV (including "120 Minutes") and for some time held the record as the longest non-Michael Jackson video ever played on the station. The album was produced by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero, who engineered Guns N' Roses album, Appetite for Destruction.
There are a lot of great songs on both albums. It's unfortunate that Geffen dropped them. After that happened, they broke up.
The Toll was one of those bands that arrived on the scene at the wrong time. They "hit it big" right before NIN, Grunge, etc. took over. I don't think the world was ready for them that early. And honestly, you need to listen to some songs multiple times to "get it", so I can see where that could be a "mainstream" marketing problem.
But some of their songs have some pretty heavy messages in them, and I appreciate that; it makes me think.
I'm too biased to write anything more because I just love this band, and have for 35+ years. So we'll call that "5 BS".
So does that mean "5 years Before Shannon" or something else?
Ghost of a Chance 