They say the definition of a good song is one that sells records, tops the charts – and makes money – I disagree. To me, a good song is one that is so well written, so moving – and so personal to the person that listens to it – that it brings tears to their eyes. If that is my definition of a good song – then Train’s Drops Of Jupiter is truly one of the greatest songs I have ever heard.

The song tells the story of a woman who went out in the world “to find herself” – and the man she left behind. And now that the woman has returned from her “journey” – the boyfriend wonders what it was like for her – and if she thought of him along the way. When I first heard it – I thought it was ok, but didn’t pay enough attention to the song or it’s lyrics to appreciate it – until I was in the exact same situation that is described in the song.

One night while I was in Alaska, I was driving with Montel back to her house and we had the radio on – and what song should come on the radio but Drops Of Jupiter. Now that I had the chance to, I listened to the lyrics and heard a line that almost broke my heart – it’s the last line of the chorus of the song and it’s the words that the boyfriend that was left behind asks the girl who went away without him when she gets back – And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?

As soon as I heard those words – I immediately thought of Christine – who was four thousand miles away from me back home while I was “looking for myself out there” in Juneau, Alaska. Suddenly, my eyes began to fill with tears and I felt such an overwhelming feeling of guilt that I had gone away without her – and left her at home to miss me.

If that is not proof that Drops Of Jupiter is a powerful song – then I don’t know what is. It’s obvious that writer Patrick Monahan had the situation happen to him and was able to expertly convey his pain through a very well-written song – so well written that when I was in the same situation – I felt the same pain because of the words he wrote. From one writer to another – and someone that constantly uses my personal situations to write columns – I give Patrick a lot of credit for writing such a great song from such a painful situation. Mr. Monahan, my hat – and my pen – are tipped.