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 I don't know if this is appropriate to post here or not. But, this song and its lyrics resonate for me now. I am currently two months out from a discard from my 12 year relationship with my wife. And this song and its lyrics resonate for me. I thought it might be helpful for someone to read these to know that not only do the fellow members on this board understand, but there've actually been songs written about our experience. Toto- Can't Stand it Any Longer

https://youtu.be/KzgkBUSfr58

Standin' on thin ice
Walkin' on a fine line
Never seem to buy, enough for you
If you're lookin' for a way out
Then you're headed for the right place
Givin' up is something I can't do
Ooh you got sharp claws
Always got your back up
Venom in your eyes, and blood so blue
Hangin' on a black tie
Sippin' on a half shell
Holdin' all the cards, and a joker too
You should have told me sooner
I would have let you go
Now you're driving me crazy
I can't stand it any longer
When you pay the price for freedom
It ain't wrong girl
I can't stand it any longer
Dancin' on hot coals
Playin' with a live wire
Sneakin' out the back door, you're so cool
If you really want to move on
Then there's nothing left to say
Here's a ticket for the bus stop
I'm no fool
You should have told me sooner
I would have let you go
Now you're driving me crazy
I can't stand it any longer
When you pay the price for freedom
It ain't wrong girl
I can't stand it any longer

Hello again, PianoDood! Those lyrics are all too familiar. When I hear/see a song like that, I can’t help but tell myself that most of it’s listeners likely don’t really have a full understanding of what it describes. I do believe that art is up for interpretation, but I also believe that songs like that hit a unique chord with folks like us. Do you think you interpret music differently after coming out of your experience?

JNChell.
I have been a musician all of my life, so music has a slightly different meaning and impact on me. What I find is, during periods of extreme negative emotion, I tend to withdraw from listening to music unless it's something that does not trigger those emotions. I know that may sound strange, but where other people might listen to things that make them cry, etcetera, I don't. I withdraw from music because it is such an emotional trigger for me. As a matter of fact, I sat down at the piano only twice in the past 2 months. People who know me ask me why because they would think it is a healing thing for me, but with emotions still so Raw, it truly is not. Once I begin to level out a little more, I will naturally go back to music. So, it's a little difficult to answer your question. Do I interpret it differently? I think the more appropriate answer for me is I have a completely different approach to it during times like these. And I tend to listen to the things that help Focus me while avoiding the rest if that makes sense.

We have a lot in common, PianoDood. I’m a musician as well, and I withdraw from it in the same way. I think part of it for me is feeling uninspired lately. Usually, I’m always trying to write a song, come up with a melody etc. at most these days, I might noodle around for a few minutes here and there, but that’s about it. Like you, I barely listen to music lately. It’s more talk radio than YouTube or Pandora. It’ll come back to us. It’s part of who we are. Part of our identity. Here’s a funny thing I experienced about identity and mirroring from my ex that’s on topic. She told me that she wanted to learn how to play guitar. So, that Valentines Day I got her a really nice beginner model. She took a picture of it, a selfie with it, and posted it on social media. All it did was collect dust. Looking back, she was mirroring me in a big way and I ate it up. Glad to meet you, PianoDood.