by Katie Heneghan, Web Editor
As students prepare to head home for the holidays to be with family and friends and enjoy all the fall goodness of Thanksgiving, I’ve prepared a fall break playlist sure to please all. It’s for that first reunion with the car you haven’t driven since summer, the long ride to grandma’s house, or if you’re like me, getting through the agony of Penn Station Amtrak on one of the busiest travel days of the year.
“The Weight” – The Band
This is our first real break since the semester began, and this song says it perfectly. The overall message is to take a break and to take the weight off your shoulders. No matter how many looming deadlines are in your future, take some time to truly take the weight off and use this break for what it is in- tended to be: a break!
“Rivers and Roads” – The Head And The Heart
If you’re a senior, you’re probably feeling the weight of graduation on the horizon. My favorite line in this song reads, “A year from now, we’ll all be gone, all our friends will move away, and they’re goin’ to better places.” While terrifying to think about, it puts a positive spin on the future, and I’ll take any opportunity to be hopeful about post-grad life.
“Storms” – Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac has always been my favorite band, and I believe this is one of their most beautiful songs. For me, this song reminds me to slow down, take a step back and reflect. I don’t think I’ll ever properly in- terpret Stevie Nicks’ lyrics, but I think that’s part of the beauty! This is a window down, volume as high as it can go, backroads of your hometown song.
“Nothing New” – Taylor Swift feat. Phoebe Bridgers
Ever since the moment Red (Taylor’s Version) was released I’ve dreamed of screaming this song in my car, driving around my hometown. The combina- tion of Taylor Swift and Phoe- be Bridgers is lethal, and like Bridgers said in her Instagram post, “Therapists hate them!”
“Kilby Girl” – The Back- seat Lovers
Another song I’ve been waiting to scream violently in my Toyota Corolla that I have missed so dearly. If you’re ambitious, unlike me, and running a Turkey Trot before your Thanksgiving feast, this song will set the tempo for any run.
“Vienna” – Billy Joel
Thanksgiving means the endless and dreaded “What are you doing after college?”, “Do you have a boyfriend?”, “What are you going to do with that major?” stream of questions. Remember the wise words of New York legend Billy Joel, “Slow down you’re doing fine, you can’t be everything you want to be before your time.”
“Cardigan” – Taylor Swift
Thanksgiving makes me think of cardigans, big sweaters and anything that embodies the word cozy. This song gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling. I will tr uly never stop obsessing over Taylor Swift.
“Ever Since New York” – Harry Styles
Listen to this as soon as your bus, plane, Amtrak or car departs and you’re instantly the main character. If you are from out-of-state, don’t forget to remind your hometown friends you go to school in NYC by reposting this on your Instagram story.
“Alice’s Restaurant Mas- sacree” – Arlo Guthrie
This is my family’s favorite Thanksgiving song. We listen to it every year on the way to Thanksgiving dinner, and if this excessively long song that sounds more like a story isn’t a Thanksgiving tradition, I’d highly recommend it.