Ashlynn's Playlist

I've heard this song since I was a kid. It was always played on road trips around Texas. It's a country gospel song about the temptations to ride the long black train of sin, a reminder to cling to the Lord during hard times. 

This funky song has well-thought-out lyrics about perseverance and spiritual growth.  Stevie is glad to have a second chance in Christ, to be reborn, and to see the world of sin he was living in.

This song is a soulful, sweet melody that carries like a sunny morning. This song shows the excitement and happiness of finding true love

“Stubborn Love” by the Lumineers is an anthem of resilience, raw vocals, and poetic lyrics. It captures the messy and beautiful truth of loving someone through the highs and lows. If you like this song, I recommend you listen to their other ones.

 Sam Cooke’s “I’ll Come Running Back to You” is pure soulful magic. His cute, heartful delivery turns his heartbreak into tender hope. This song reminds us that even in separation, love has a way of calling us back.

 “If you ever change your mind, I’ll come running back to you…”

This song is one of my favorite '80s songs. I find it so sweet as a reflection of love and loss. The song's tender refrain of, “Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?” is the main line. Even though the sound is a melancholy melody, it still reaches for compassion. For what matters most. It's just my favorite, lol.

JJ Cale’s “Magnolia” is a masterpiece. It is a song for a lazy afternoon that pulls you into a sense of calm and nostalgia. 

The warm rhythm paints a picture of nights filled with family laughter and life. Campbell Southern Nights is a celebration of joy, nostalgia, and the beauty of life's simple pleasures. Showing us with carefree happiness to cherish moments of peace and tenderness and to bask in the goodness of the present. A reminder of life's blessings. 

Like the pendulum of human forgiveness, this soft tune swings between vulnerability and grace, offering a sweet reflection on our capacity to forgive and be forgiven.  Gregory Alan Isakov’s Second Chances captures the the delicate balance of acknowledging mistakes while embracing the hope for renewal. The Gentle melody and foraging lyrics remind you that if not for forgiveness, cold bitterness would take its place in your heart and life. And if you enjoyed this song, I recommend the artist; the album The Weatherman is my favorite. 

Reflecting God's Love 

In "Orange Moon," Erykah Badu delivers a tender melody meditating on the reflection of God in our lives. She compares herself to an “orange moon” that turns to reflect the light of the Lord. She conveys an understanding of love as a reflection of something greater, that she lets God's light shine through her and her life and onto others, too. "Orange Moon illustrates the way love can transform and illuminate, leaving the listener with a feeling of quiet reverence. 

A Reflection on Resilience and Faith 

Not many songs are as soulful as this one.  At its core, "Unshaken" is a song about standing firm in life's storms. The repeated insistence on remaining "Unshaken" amid adversity is more than just stoic bravery—it can speak of the faith Christians hold onto when times are tough. Enduring hardships is faith in the Lord during life's trials. D’Angelos' refrain becomes a mantra of resilience, a reminder of the quiet strength that comes from faith in Christ.