You’ve caught me in a moment of vulnerability. This might lead to other moments. Who knows, I might eventually list the movies that make me cry, quotes that make my eyes get misty, TV show moments that have me reaching for the kleenex, Anne Geddes calendar images that inevitably draw me to tears. Just kidding. I DO NOT cry during movies.

I figured that since I’m a worship leader I can get away with sappy stuff like this. However, I’d better get to the point before this moment closes. To the point, these are the top 7 songs that trigger my tears… or at least make my eyes misty. If you’d like to listen to a song click on the image…

The LOVE Song – True Companion (Marc Cohn)

I don’t remember the first time I heard this song but when I did I knew it captured the idea of what I was pursuing in my romantic life. When Elisa and I were headed towards marriage this song became an obvious choice for our wedding and I still listen to it with a very emotional connection to her – to what we were and what we hope to be at the end. I’m not much of a soulmate person, but I believe in true companions and I’ve definitely got one.

The WORSHIP Song – How He Loves (John Mark McMillan)

I love how this song celebrates a corporate expression of God’s love for us. When I get to lead others in that expression I am easily humbled. Many songs talk about God’s love but this one beats on your soul in a good way. Maybe it’s the 6/8 feel and the swaying reminder that it brings. Another reason this song grabs me is because it connects me with my kids in a special way. Two Christmases ago our kids choir joined me in leading our church in this song. Turning to see my own kids belting this song out got my emotions going and now when I sing it I can’t help but remember that moment.

The MOVIE SCENE Song – Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell)

The movie is Love Actually and it is one of those ensemble casts with multiple story lines centered around a holiday that are usually pretty lame. The thing is, I love this movie and I love how this song fits into it. One of the story lines is about a middle aged married couple. On Christmas morning, the wife (fabulously played by Emma Thompson) realizes her husband (Alan Rickman) is cheating on her when instead of giving her an expensive necklace for christmas (she knew he bought one) he gives her a Joni Mitchell CD instead. With a smile she politely says thank you and quietly walks into her bedroom. As she stands and begins to release her emotion the song “Both Sides Now” plays in the background putting words to the anguish she is feeling. It’s a very good, powerful scene.

The MARCH MADNESS Song – One Shining Moment (Luther Vandross)

I can’t help myself people. When I see the NCAA tournament’s closing highlight video made up of college basketball players diving on the floor, celebrating like little boys when they win and crying like little girls when they lose, I lose it. There are a few versions of this song. They tried to update it recently with Jennifer Hudson who is fantastic but no one does it like Luther. My wife always misses most of the video because she’s staring at me waiting to see when I put my hands over my face to cover the awkward cry face that nobody likes showing.

The LEAVING HOME Song – Sailing (Christopher Cross)

Honestly, a big reason why this song grabs me emotionally is because I listened to it a lot around the time we moved away from Oregon.  Which is weird because I did not leave Oregon in 1980 when this song came out.  I was three years old that year. Clearly, the music sounds sad but there’s something about the possibility of a canvass doing miracles and the wind carrying me and all that sappy stuff that strikes a chord with me. Putting this song on here is probably the peak of my vulnerability considering VH1 named it the greatest “softsational soft rock” music song of all time.  Even though it’s not the greatest audio the link is a live clip of this song.  You need to see it mainly because of the Houston Oiler jersey, the mutant guitar and the apropos use of a triangle… Oh and because it will also make you cry.

The WHAT I WANT TO BE Song – When The Saints (Sara Groves)

If you listen to this song you might not agree but it’s actually the reason I thought I’d share this post. I just listened to this album and this song started up my emotions yet again. A couple years ago while preparing a sermon I started weeping while listening to it. It’s good heavy on social justice but that sounds kind of trendy. Basically, it really connects me to what I believe is heavy on God’s heart. When Sara sings, “I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor, I see the man with a passion come and kicking down the door…” I lose any sense of control. It’s just so good.

The DAD Song – When It Thunders (Jason Upton)

Again, this might not be on your Father’s Day Playlist but as a father it’s on mine. I love this entire album by Jason Upton. I’ve tried overplaying it and I’m still not sick of it. This specific song resonates with me because of some personal experiences with some really good thunder. The chorus is sung from the perspective of a child with child language, “Daddy don’t sleep, daddy don’t slumber, I don’t wonder when it thunders, when I’m safe in daddy’s arms.” It’s not so much that he’s telling dad not to sleep he’s just talking like a child. What he’s really saying is “Daddy doesn’t sleep” When we lived in Oklahoma we heard thunder much differently than we’d ever heard it before. It sounds as if God is cracking something in the sky and when He does we would feel it in the walls of our house. When this happened at night I would listen to this song as I held my son in my arms. Moments like that drew me in to a special awareness of what it means to be safe in the arms of our sleepless Heavenly Father.

I do not have these songs in an iTunes playlist because the emotional weight of the list would be so overwhelming I couldn’t listen to it in one setting! If you haven’t listened to these songs check them out, but bring kleenex. I’d love to hear about the songs that trigger emotion in you.