Oh my God, it's good to be alive

Things are looking up for me, when the clock keeps ticking on

Still image from the video for “It’s Good to Be Alive” by Imelda May

Monday: The day voted most likely to make you want to stay in bed

Moxie: Confidence, determination, force of character

Monday Moxie: A tiny spark of “Go get ‘em!” curated by yours truly to help you get your day (even a Monday) off to a good start

This Monday Moxie pick comes to you courtesy of Boston’s very own independent radio station — WXRV The River 92.5.

Technically, The River broadcasts out of Haverhill, but it’s still considered part of Boston’s indie radio legacy. Sadly, it’s also the last of a dying breed.

When I was growing up, we also had WBCN “The Rock of Boston” and WFNX, among others. WBCN had a great morning show called The Big Mattress hosted by Charles Laquidara. My favorite segment was Darrell Martinie’s astrology report — “The Cosmic Muffin.” I especially liked Darrell’s sign off, "It is a wise person who rules the stars, a fool who is ruled by them - Over and out."

Damn straight, Darrell.

While I split my mornings between ‘BCN and WBZ AM (a news station with the charming Dave Maynard at the helm), my musical taste bounced back and forth between the Top-40 pop of Kiss 108 (Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Prince, etc.) and the alternative music of WFNX.

The Music Museum of New England has this to say about WFNX:

“… Boston-area rockers with an ear for the alternative tuned in to ‘FNX as a part of their daily routine, 101.7-FM being their go-to spot for bands like Violent Femmes, Prefab Sprout, Echo and the Bunnymen, Suicidal Tendencies and New Order … Known for its pirate-radio vibe and thoroughly punked-up refusal to pursue the lowest-common-denominator programming, the station appeared in Rolling Stone’s list of “10 Stations in the Country That Don’t Suck” several times …”

Those were the days.

All this to say that I’m grateful we still have a great indie station here in the Boston area. My beau and I often listen to Sunday Brunch by the River, a three-hour program hosted by the immensely talented and knowledgeable Dana Marshall. Dana has a knack for serving up deep-cut classics with brand new tracks in a way that makes complete musical sense.

And that is where I heard this song yesterday. Imelda May released “It’s Good to Be Alive” eleven years ago but was new to me.

I hope you enjoy it. It’s a little quirky, but I knew the moment I heard the chorus that I’d share it here with you today. Because who doesn’t need a reminder in the midst of everything happening in the world that — no matter what — it really is good to be alive.

Glad you’re here. 💜

Do you have fond radio memories from your past?

Am I dating myself to even admit that I listen to radio?

Where do you discover new music?

It’s Good to Be Alive

Imelda May, 2014 — Track 3 on the album, Tribal

My thoughts are dark and empty, I'm now crying out loud
Don't know what am I asking for or if an answer can be found
The loneliness is killer, though there's someone in my bed
There's only so much living and I fear I could be dead

But then standing at my window when the night seems like it's won
And everything seems brighter with the sighting of the sun
And I said, oh my God, it's good to be alive
Oh my God, it's good to be alive
I know one thing for sure that I'll die
But today, yeah, it's good to be alive

Lying in my bedroom, my eyes are wide awake
My body's tired and giving up, oh for heaven's sake
Won't you please send me a little sleep, to ease my worried mind
I'm losing rationality, that I won't know how to find

But then standing at my window when the night seems like it's won
And everything seems brighter with the sighting of the sun
And I said, oh my God, it's good to be alive
Oh my God, it's good to be alive
I know one thing for sure that I'll die
But today, yeah, it's good to be alive

Things are looking up for me, when the clock keeps ticking on
Holding on to time gone by, clinging to a song
To pull me through with every word, and rock me with a tune
To hold my hand when the shadow man is hiding in my room

But then standing at my window when the night seems like it's won
And everything seems brighter with the sighting of the sun
And I said, oh my God, it's good to be alive
Oh my God, it's good to be alive
I know one thing for sure that I'll die
But today, yeah, it's good to be alive
Oh my God, it's good to be alive
Oh my God, it's good to be alive
I know one thing for sure that I'll die
But today, yeah, it's good to be alive


Written and performed by Imelda May
Produced by Imelda May and Mike Crossey