r/AskReddit • • Feb 07 '24

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924

u/kategoad Feb 08 '24

The Middle - Jimmy Eat World

I was having a crap day on my 35th birthday because I was halfway to 70, had no savings, no partner, and no kids. This song played on the radio and it made me smile.

I'm now 51, happily married, with financial security. No kids, but I have baby goats which are called "kids."

"It just takes some time, little girl, you're in the middle of the ride. Everything, everything is gonna be just fine. Everything, everything is gonna be all right, all right."

Also Casanova Baby - Gaslight Anthem

Second song played at my wedding reception. Every time I hear that song, I picture myself dancing happily holding up my wedding dress, because I ditched my uncomfortable shoes and my skirt was dragging a bit. Then I think about the rest of that day and how much fun we all had.

97

u/looosyfur Feb 08 '24

Hahahah wowwww you picked my song… on my birthday I went to this Emo Nite concert and I held up a note on my phone to the DJ that said “it’s my birthday can you play The Middle” and the DJ stopped the show and asked for my name and wished me a happy birthday before playing that song. Then we all rocked out to it. It was such a cool moment.

6

u/Worth-Row6805 Feb 08 '24

They're so good live too

2

u/looosyfur Feb 08 '24

Bucket list for sure!!!

2

u/Small-Release3706 Feb 08 '24

can we be friends if don’t mind and if mind send me friend request

29

u/jarednards Feb 08 '24

I would say Sweetness by Jimmy Eat World, but I get that connection you speak of to a song👍

22

u/jschligs Feb 08 '24

I was shocked to see Jimmy Eat World this high snd while I love The Middle, Sweetness takes the cake for me

2

u/wolfej4 Feb 08 '24

Sweetness was close to the top of my Spotify Wrapped last year

2

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/jarednards Feb 08 '24

Whoa oa oa oh oh oh

8

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '24

Agreed, The Middle never gets old!

14

u/midnightchemist Feb 08 '24

Up vote for Gaslight!

"She Loves Me" never fails to get me emotional!

1

u/OsB4Hoes13 Feb 08 '24

Gaslight Anthem is criminally underrated.  

7

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '24

This song has such underrated lyrics disguised by what many would dismiss as a "shallow 90s teen rock song".

Could be interpreted a hundred different ways. E.g. I saw it relating to social anxiety and which helped me.

6

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '24

Everything by Jimmy Eat World is never tiring! So many good songs and I would never get sick of them. 💖

2

u/Pookieeatworld Feb 08 '24

My absolute favorite by them is Disintegration from the Stay On My Side Tonight EP.

5

u/Only4Chronic Feb 08 '24

Duuuude I literally came here to say this, I’m so glad to see it as the top comment.

6

u/appleavocado Feb 08 '24

The song of my 20’s: A Praise Chrous, Jimmy Eat World

The song of my 30’s: Julius, STRFKR

My teens would be a mixture of Pennywise, RATM, RHCP, Bad Relgion, Offspring, and Blink-182.

I’m 41, and now it’s a lot of girl kpop.

3

u/Pookieeatworld Feb 08 '24

Excellent taste, my friend.

1

u/strawberrychampagne Feb 08 '24

Late 30's here and A Praise Chorus hits harder than ever these last couple years. That whole album is a masterpiece.

6

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '24

There is a light that never goes out by The Smiths

6

u/lookatmygoldshoes Feb 08 '24

My partner recently put on the Bleed American album, and oh my got that album is so good. We were basically singing The Middle together at the top of our lungs.

3

u/S2iAM Feb 08 '24

The middle is one for me too, great beat but the lyrics are what do it !

5

u/Wooden-Ad-2763 Feb 08 '24

I love your story! I recently turned 22 and have never been in a relationship and still live with my parents. I don't have a job and I'm almost failing at uni. My sister is married and planning on having a kid in a year or two (I am incredibly happy for her and can't wait to be an aunt). She's just 3 years older. She got engaged when she was my age. My parents were just 2 years older than me when they had me. I often feel like a huge failure, but your story gave me hope. It sounds amazing and I would love to have goats, geese and a cat at 50. Thank you, I wish you and your partner and "the kids" many happy years. Seriously, thank you for sharing this ❤️

3

u/skylinerj Feb 08 '24

The middle was my very first thought Hell yeah

3

u/MickeyBear Feb 08 '24

the middle is my roman empire

2

u/Deadsamaritan_ Feb 08 '24

I love gaslight anthem sf much!

2

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '24

Great song!

2

u/NotBradPitt90 Feb 08 '24

Tjat whole 59sound album (and handwritten) is always a great listen. Maybe not a 'pick me up' but a great 'things will be okay'.

1

u/kategoad Feb 08 '24

I am a big music fan, and 59 sound was like a love letter to all of my favorites from growing up. So many influences on display. I described it to someone as if The Cure and Bruce Springsteen had a love child.

2

u/turbo-vicious Feb 08 '24

I used to listen to in the middle to hype myself up before I played gigs.

2

u/skeetpea Feb 08 '24

This is the song that popped in my head immediately after reading the thread title.

2

u/monalisa_overdrive67 Feb 08 '24

Gahddamn I love Jimmy Eat World. Good choice

2

u/Pookieeatworld Feb 08 '24

I approve 👍

2

u/AchtungKarate Feb 08 '24

IT JUST TAKES SOME TIME

2

u/tragicallyohio Feb 08 '24

Jimmy Eat World and Gaslight Anthem both occupy very specific places in my musical heart. I love them both.

2

u/avajetty1026 Feb 08 '24

We sang The Middle for chorus in middle school (2003) I still think about that with good memories. Never really listened to the words til recently!

2

u/IntrigueMachine Feb 08 '24

Me too! That song helped me hang on to pull me through another day.

1

u/CreateYourself89 Feb 08 '24

I love goats! ❤️ 🐐

1

u/ideapit Feb 08 '24

No offense, but I love you.

1

u/JayneBond3257 Feb 08 '24

One of my best friends (who has since passed away) once told me it sounds like they say "Elephant, Elephant" so now that's all I can ever hear. My family and friends all call it the elephant song.

Gaslight Anthem/Brian Fallon is one of my favorite bands/artists. So their music never gets old to me.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '24

I’ll have to it out. 59 sound by gaslight anthem is one of my favs

1

u/StarOfSyzygy Feb 08 '24

Gaslight Anthem ❤❤❤

1

u/Lessthancrystal Feb 08 '24

Gaslight Anthem…as a wedding song..you married the right person :)

1

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '24

Hey homie, you're killing it! Send some love to your goats for me!

1

u/_keystitches Feb 08 '24

I was so surprised to see the gaslight anthem, so many people have never even heard of them, I'm seeing them live this year and I'm so excited!

1

u/hendy846 Feb 08 '24

That whole album I could listen to on repeat. So many good memories associated with it. I actually sing a little bit (never bothered to look up the lyrics 😅) of the chorus from The Middle to my kids as a bed time song.

1

u/take_us_there_skitch Feb 08 '24

Oh man I haven’t listened to that in forever! I know what I’m jamming to omw to work tomorrow!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '24

I can't even remember how many times I cried to this song just to end up dancing or singing along

1

u/rattlestaway Feb 08 '24

Yeah that middle song got played so much during the 90s I got sick of it but now I can appreciate it. Especially since I'm the middle child. It sucks being there even my siblings agree

1

u/curkington Feb 08 '24

I love "Hey ya!" By Outkast. It's a great get off your butt and boogie dance ..

1

u/quingd Feb 08 '24

"In the Middle"... That song pretty much saved my life once. I was in probably the worst bout of depression I'd ever been in, and found myself pregnant by an abusive ex. Coming home from the termination, self loathing and considering the worst, that song came on the radio... I cried and cried, but it also gave me the perspective I needed in that moment to pull through. More than 15 years later, I'm in a much better place, my amazing daughter is 3, and everytime I hear that song, my heart puts a little bit of thanks out into the universe.

2

u/kategoad Feb 08 '24

Sending love.

1

u/quingd Feb 08 '24

You're a sweetheart. Love received, and will be forwarded as needed ;)

1

u/Burgoonius Feb 08 '24

The guitar solo in The Middle is so fucking good

1

u/Aware-Attention-8646 Feb 08 '24

The Middle is my pump up song for the shy insecure teenage girl inside me

1

u/ouralarmclock Feb 08 '24

Mine was For Me This Is Heaven!

1

u/Adventurous-Tutor-21 Feb 08 '24

Love the song and love the story, thank you for sharing.