Toh Kay - If Only For Memories

[@BoaterMoat]

I doubt anyone will see this or really care, but for some reason coming back to this version really drives me to tears. Maybe it's just where i am in life right now, turning 25 in a few months, having a premature quarter life crisis, and feeling super uncertain about the future. It's probably just me finding reassurance through a hard time in those verses, where i'm really coming up fast at a point where i'll have to pull the anchor, face the come-what-may, and once i'm grown and settled, i'll end up right where i belong.

[@cathynadolny3873]

I doubt it matter but I care and your comment made me feel feelings

[@jordanfeeler]

12 years ago, I was about your age, took a risk, bet on myself, moved across country with no job, no prospect, and on a whim, a year later I met the girl of my dreams. Six years later we got married, moved 2 states away, 6 months ago we a brought the most beautiful girl into the world, when I played this song on repeat headed home from the hospital I bawled like a baby. That leap of faith gave me a life I never thought possible, and frankly didn't think I was worthy of at your age. I couldn't fathom the life I now live at the start of my journey. Change and risk are scary, you don't know where it will lead, you may not win every hand, but there is no one better to bet on than yourself. If you feel stuck haul that anchor up and see what's out there. It might just be better than you dreamed possible.

[@rossadams8934]

Buddy, none of us ever know what we're doing. Love deeply because that is what life is about. Nothing else matters.

[@tylerbarnhart8739]

I really care actually.I feel the same way

[@JohnSmith-iv4sq]

As a former 25 year old in a similar way, it gets better. Just keep going, no matter what.

[@gabet.3519]

When you were born you were not alone Nothing was carved into the stone quite yet but don't forget You heard someone say, "It won't get better than this!" That was the sound of your father As he held you up to your mother No one will ever know, a love as pure as the one that you felt right then They held you up, they held you up And everybody else they fell to the wayside This is the start of the beginning The prologue to the tale that you're spinning A million synonyms will never come close to describe the feeling Don't ever leave, 'cause if you do dear, I guarantee that you'll regret the day you did And you'll miss all the simple things And you'll see everything you ever loved start fading 'till there's nothing left, oh oh And I believe that every broken bone is meant to be And when it heals it will be stronger than it was before And I see the things that I pretend that I don't see And I keep them in my head love, if only for memories So now you're young and you feel alone Despite friends family and all the good things now surrounding you You can't help thinking, "Oh there's gotta be some more to do" When all the things that you cherish Turn into burdens then there is No other path to take, you know what you got to do but you don't know how They'll hold you back, they'll hold you down And you kinda feel bad but you know that you gotta get out This is your pain your dilemma Do you stay in the town where they raised ya Or will you sail away Pull the anchor and go heading for the come what may You have to leave 'Cause if you don't dear You'll never see the things you read about in books You saw the films and you were hooked But everything you want won't come to you You realize now that you gotta go see this through And I believe that every broken bone is meant to be And when it heals it will be stronger than it was before And I see the things that I pretend that I don't see And I keep them in my head love, if only for memories So now you're all raised, on your own Two souls, to put yourself at home You finally settled down You've seen the world but your heart never left this town They have the eyes of your mother The kind of crooked teeth of their father No one will ever know, a love as pure as the love that you feel for them You'll hold them up, you'll hold them up And everybody else should fall to the wayside There is no end no beginning On this merry-go-round we call living Someday you will return, every single ounce of the love you were given Someday they'll go And when they leave home You will be grateful for the lesson that you learned You had to travel half the world To realize what you knew all along That everything will end up where it belongs And I believe that every broken bone is meant to be And when it heals it will be stronger than it was before And I see the things that I pretend that I don't see And I keep them in my head love, if only for memories

[@knightmare47]

I will always appreciate the people who take the time to write out the lyrics, it was hard for me to hear that least verse so this was super helpful, it's such a simple verse but it's so beautiful

[@toddhurley3727]

Had our first child yesterday... I can't help but feel for this song so much harder already. This song is that much more meaningful already.

[@Mars_junior]

Congratulations! I hope all is well. Show that kid the world!

[@tomaswallyveira1161]

;)

[@felipe5601]

Congratulations! Cheers from rio de janeiro :)

[@smpleleo]

Congrats!!

[@ThePinnacleSFA]

here's to you and your child :)

[@joshgordon2191]

It still baffles me that they didn't include the third verse in the Streetlight version of this song. That verse brings the whole song full circle, and just feels incomplete without it.

[@FBracht]

EXACTLY

[@trudymorgan-cole6380]

Agreed! The song doesn't work without the third verse (at least, it's not the same song).

[@felipe5601]

Accurate

[@topkapi9351]

I was *just* about to say this! That third verse makes this song even more amazing. Combine the instrumentation from the Streetlight version, and the lyrics from this one, and you'd have an *amazing* song.

[@BrassWing]

Im hoping they include it in the new recording

[@samanthaskinner2849]

I'm currently 33 weeks pregnant with me and my husband's first, I sing this to her because it has so much meaning to me considering for the last 3 year's before our meeting and marriage her father was a traveler who backpacked all over the US and after spending the first year of our marriage inn florida we're now back in my hometown to raise her. It's just too perfect a fit to not use this song as a lullaby in utero and once she makes her debut in a few weeks.

[@LitoLopez]

Samantha Skinner How's the baby doing?

[@eelie66]

As a high school senior thinking about how things are gonna be at the end of the summer in some months, this song couldn't have answered my questions better than all the college counselors put together.

[@alexdethrose1910]

Eli Ayala I hope things turned out well for you! I'm in a very similar situation now and I can kinda understand what you mean.

[@xCheeseHead95x]

How was graduation you young fruit?

[@enriquegustavo206]

Hope you made it thought okay!

[@shrekinator489]

It's been a decade now btw!

[@officerbrandon21]

So how's life so far?

[@laketitikaka100]

It´s not just a completion, it almost gives a different meaning to the entire song. And that ladies and gentlemen, is why Mr. Thomas Kalnoky is a freakin genius. This song is beatifull

[@SouraBel]

I die each time I listen to this song. It's so hard to not cry at the last verse! I love streetlight so much but Toh Kay is just the reason why the band is so awesome.

[@WrongButtonGames]

He called this the Latin Song live, they said "screw this" and just did the whole album. This song was great live, some guy in the audience did these little Mexican cheers during the beginning, it was hilarious.

[@mwoj9048]

"If Only For Memories" was my favorite song on the Streetlight album. Then I found this. Holy fuck why did they leave the last verse off the streetlight version? It's perfection. This song is just.. too awesome for words.

[@CanisInfernus]

I'm not crying, you're crying. Shut up.

[@jerrywhite7328]

I know I am shut up ^_^

[@CanisInfernus]

Coming back to this 3 years later because I'm thinking about it again; I think a lot of why this song cuts me so deep is that my own relationship with my family is... complicated. I've been hurt by the people closest to me in ways that are hard to simply forgive and forget, which makes the lyrics tug at a kind of bitter nostalgia, a longing for something I don't and maybe can't have. It's a beautiful song, but in the end my heart did leave that town, or maybe it was never really in that town to begin with. Deep down I wish things could be different, and yet I'm healthier emotionally now than I've ever been in my life, so do I really want that? Or am I just petty and jealous toward people who do have somewhere they can go back to? Maybe that's why the third verse isn't in the Streetlight version; it's something personal, something more suited to a solo act. Once you bring in the rest of the band, you have to leave that space open so everyone can pour their own experiences into it. Maybe we all need our own third verse.

[@Crybaby-Media]

This song makes me cry , every single time. It is the best full circle story...

[@ThePinnacleSFA]

posting this mainly just for when i inevitably come back to this some day :) i'm sitting with my beautiful 1 year old daughter, she's eating some turkey and rice. We had a lovely day visiting with her Great grandmother and played outside. We had fun laughing and playing hide and seek with her favorite toy, Hickory. My wife is almost home from work and we're gonna put the little one to bed together and then enjoy some nice dinner ourselves and relax. I hope i don't ever forget how good life really is right now. Despite some things that are difficult and sad; try and remind yourself that these are the best times of your life. You're here and you're happy. :) PS. She really does have the crooked teeth of her father, unfortunately 😅 Edit: the day after I made this comment my Grandmother passed away. My daughters great grandmother that we had just visited. We saw her that morning as well, only for a bit. She had been slowly getting worse for a while, so it wasn't exactly a surprise but still hurt. The service will be in a few weeks. I don't know how we'll spend our afternoons now. She's been such a big part of my life ever since i was a child. I hate that she's gone now but i'm glad she at least got to meet my child. Even if only for a short while. These are the types of experiences that make these songs that much more deep and profound. These are the dark times that make the light feel that much more special. To myself in the future: Please cherish every second with the ones that you love and try to make sure your little one knows to do the same. Each moment is just that, one moment. I love you.

[@ElArboool]

I've been listening to the other version of this song since the hands that thieve came out, only today I gave this one a shot, mainly because I'm not a huge fan of the drastic change of pace between the two styles (slm and tohkay), and I can't even explain right now how glad I am that I finally did. That last verse is just beautiful, it even made me tear up a little.

[@matthewraschke8197]

Yup i have heard this song so many times and then this version WAAAM in the chest and throat so beautiful !!!!!!!!

[@4sakenProductions]

That last verse always brings me to the verge of tears.

[@jakedavis4274]

Hands down the best song to adapt to this format by streetlight.

[@jerit7529]

I have never heard this version of the song. I thought the other version hit hard. I am at work trying not to cry at my desk. Such an amazing song.

[@tjmiller8309]

I want to answer why the third verse was left off the street light version. This my opinion of course, but it comes from my experience playing punk rock and writing songs. Look at the play time. This version is nearly 6 minutes long and that's cutting a bridge with some solid horn section work that makes streetlight, streetlight. An 8 minute song would be fine for some but thats really pushing it for most punk centric fan bases. They cut the last verse cause while it does tie it up nicely its the only verse they could cut and still have a story. And the parenthood phase of life isn't really on brand again with a punk centric fan base. Thomas worked this out perfectly in my mind.. Younger streetlight light fans will relate to the streetlight version and keep the pace moving. Those who may be a little older and more open to an acoustic version or really digging deep in the catalog will get a hidden gem of a beautiful third verse. Genius.

[@llanos8320]

Hey don't call me old

[@ardagul23]

this song. i can't even explain.

[@petezarole]

i used to belt out this song no problem, and now getting to the final verse im a mess lmao, life really does a number on you

[@letonicas]

listening to this one in honor of his day.😊still the most beautiful song I've ever heard happy birthday, john

[@gerq221]

My thoughts exactly. Beautiful song, such great imagery. Love it!

[@MothDotSwag]

this feels insanely nostalgic but to my knowledge, I have never heard this version of the song until a couple months ago but every time it feels like a song I’d hear while falling asleep in the car at age 12 or so

[@trancej6684]

This is my favorite one off Toh Kay album.

[@TehMightyHelmet]

This song is just...SO MANY FEELS!! T_T It's freakin beautiful! Loved that extra verse.

[@shauntiggelman9341]

thomas and all the other members of streetlight are such an inspiration such quility songs yet so pure and reall

[@Rubesmanzenski]

I love how wholesome his lyrics can be

[@jaredtobias5831]

Its not canceled anymore HOORAY!

[@blackbird000]

it still is

[@letonicas]

This is the most beautiful song I've ever heard.

[@denibalak4824]

victory sucks for not releasing this....this is just amazing

[@abbywilberg1087]

songs that make u cry

[@igt117]

this has been me and my dads song for years

[@shrekinator489]

I feel like the meaning of this song is a persons parents trying to manipulate their child into not leaving, the parents fail and the now adult child is leaving their town, and eventually found meaning and settled down and made a family. last verse reminds me of Jack Marston ngl

[@420FatJack]

Favorite

[@ryanrutledge8968]

If you're gonna have a hit u gotta make it fit... The ones who make it complicated never get congradulated

[@anonymous12345richy]

Yes it most certainly does =) seems like the completion of the story

[@Illegalindustries]

This version isn't bad but the normal one is like "DAMN thats a good song right there"

[@Crybaby-Media]

I love the dancey feel to the original, but this one is so emotional. If i dont wanna cry in public i listen to the streetlight version haha

[@ahage16]

I really wish it did. That last verses changes the song so much for me. It's alright, I like the Toh Kay version better anyways.

[@aja5156]

Can’t you hear a lil Mexican kid playing the intro in the streets of Tijuana

[@BADGRAPHIX]

Why doesn't the Streetlight version have the last verse? )=

[@TheMadkowski]

Keep it secret, keep it safe.

[@MO00OOOOONPIII111IG]

I don't think tony can see me

[@mistakush93]

Is this life? Cause it might be

[@topkapi9351]

Man, combine the instrumentation from the Streetlight version, and the lyrics from this one, and you'd have an *amazing* song. Such a shame the third verse isn't in the Streetlight version.

[@johnnycloverleaf]

Does this have an extra verse that the streetlight version does not?

[@bballdaniel3]

johnnycloverleaf yes

[@jamie2308]

So is this acoustic, or...

[@4j28]

Where can I get this song? Can’t find this version on Spotify or iTunes?

[@Ieeon]

This album was never official released.

[@Kirbywannabe]

That's alright. Homestuck loves you anyway.

[@Kirbywannabe]

Oh my gosh, are you a Homestuck?