My Skin is Painfully New...

 I love it when you find an album that moves you. I mean truly moves you. To the point where you listen to it over and over again, and hear different things each time. One that speaks to you. One you may happen to revisit over a few glasses of wine a few years after you first fell in love with it, and you realize you still know all the words.
 SKIN by Melissa Etheridge.
 I will try to tell you what it means to me by telling you how it makes me feel. (And yes, I am very well aware she is gay and is singing about her break-up with Julie Cypher, who was Lou Diamond Phillips' ex-wife. They had two children together, fathered by David Crosby--I got the back story. And I don't care who she's singing about, a chick or a dude, it is an amazing album.) It may help that I first fell in love with this while I was trying to repair my own heart after a pretty painful break-up years ago. I love that SKIN tells a story. That doesn't seem to happen in albums anymore, in part because people tend to buy single songs these days, in part because some artists realize that and therefore some don't think people appreciate a story...so I appreciate being taken on a journey from the first song.
(I approve the following interpretation, well, cause it's mine)

Track-1
"Lover Please". As in Don't go. Come back. This hurts.
Track-2
"The Prison". About not being able to break free from the pain that becomes your prison. She knows what needs to be done, but she cannot get out.
Track-3
"Walking on Water". Wishing things could change. Wishing for a miracle to bring it (the love) back.
Track-4
"Down to One". And the fun stuff. Realizing you are solo. Trying to fix what's in you, that you feel broke the love between you two.
Track-5
"Goodnight". The tables begin to turn. You begin to feel a little bit again, a sharp, cool breath in. "called a new friend for a second time", she sings. When you say Goodnight out loud before you go to sleep, and no one hears you.
Track-6
"It's Only Me". Mmm....a tad pissy now, grit your teeth as if to say, you will never know love like I showed you. You will never feel the way I made you feel.
Track-7
"I Want To Be In Love." (this was the song that got radio play) OK, bring it on! Ready for love...give it to me!!!
Track-8
"Please Forgive Me". This song is so powerful. Lyrics: "Please forgive me/if I don't know what to do/it's an old fire/this familiar desire/but my skin is painfully new." This is the sing out loud part. LOUD.
Track-9
"The Different". Time to take a chance, a risk, to fall. "It's time to fly..."
Track-10
"Heal Me". A plea. In a place that was so dark but now can see the light and bask in it. I picture arms lifted, open, still sore, yet determined to make it...and be ok.
I am exhausted from writing that. Ride the wave, until it comes ashore. May you love deeply, and if it ends, may you heal and be able to bask again.
OK, your turn. :)
Peace, love and musica.