This use to be my playground

Day 72

--STATS--

Artist: Madonna

Genre: Pop

Album: Something to remember

Released: 1995




This used to be my playground
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end

And why do they always say
Don't look back
Keep your head held high
Don't ask them why
Because life is short
And before you know
You're feeling old
And your heart is breaking

Don't hold on to the past
Well that's too much to ask

This used to be my playground
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end

And why do they always say
No regrets
But I wish that you
Were here with me
Well then there's hope yet
I can see your face
In our secret place
You're not just a memory

Say goodbye to yesterday
Those are words I'll never say

This used to be my playground
This used to be our pride and joy
This used to be the place we ran to
That no one in the world could dare destroy

This used to be our playground
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
I wish you were standing here with me

This used to be our playground
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
The best things in life are always free
Wishing you were here with me



This song is "A League of their own" all the way for me. I watched that movie over & over again when I was growing up. It was a good movie. It still is a good movie. Tom Hanks performance made the movie, really. If you can't remember, this number played at the end of the movie. I believe this song was actually written specifically for the film, seeing as Madonna played a supporting role. During my trip to Florida in the winter of '96, I watched movies in our hotel room at night with my Dad. This was one of them. Incidentally, I had this tune stuck in my head the whole time. Well, this one & practically the whole production of "The Phantom of the Opera". Very odd, I suppose. So it's a no-brainer that this song makes me think of that time. Why don't I go on vacations anymore?

The meaning of this song doesn't surpass me. It's a strange coincidence that this song makes me think of Florida, which in return makes me think of myself then; a fifth grader at Candalaria Elementary, which their holds my childhood playground. I'm not sure I would recognize it now. There have been so many changes. I've been back a few times to reminisce. It's a painful experience I can only stand every five years or so. The last time I went I believe was the summer of 2005. So I'm due again. Maybe I could take my kids. I should probably specify that it's not painful because I had a terrible childhood, but a good one, and I know I can't get back again.

On this playground, there is a raised Black-top with hop-scotch & four-square courts. All the popular girls played four-square. There is a covered area in-which we would get in trouble climbing up the sides where the gates were. You didn't want to mess with Mrs. Baker. Down one level, there was an area dedicated to Tether ball. There use to also be an area with a bunch of wooden planks stacked like Tetras pieces. We use to pretend it was a mega house. The bottom level had a rather large cement track with a field in the middle. To the right was the main playground with the old school play structures & bark- dust chips. To the left on the far end of the track was a large fat tree. That was where we played house. We used branches with leaves as brooms. House cleaning was endless & seemed to occupy us most of recess. Across the way was the stairs that led back up to the top level. The Queen Bee's hung out there.

I like that there is a song to represent my time there. And I like that Madonna wrote a song that can be tied to friendship instead of a un-Platonic love affair like most. Don't you think?


Tell me about your childhood playground. Who do you miss?