Not everyone we encounter in life is meant to stay. Some of them are just designated by the universe or whatever force to play certain roles in our lives for a certain period of time. And once they are done with whatever it is they are meant to do, they leave. Then we move on.

Of course, they leave memories. We learn a thing or two from or with them, too. On top of it all, we discover new stuff because of them. Sometimes these things are so great that they continue to hold a special place in our hearts even if the people that led us to them have long been gone.

And although the people who introduced us to them aren’t meant to stay, these songs are.

‘Somewhere Only We Know’ by Keane

I secretly dated a guy in my senior year in high school. He was a freshman student from a nearby college.

Once, I asked him what his favorite song was and in response, he linked this song to me.

‘St. Patrick’s Day’ by John Mayer

I had a John Mayer phase in college. But unlike other people, I wasn’t a hardcore John Mayer fan, no wonder I’d just listen to his most popular songs.

And then this guy I briefly went out with suggested that I listen to this song. I think it was one of his favorites because I remember him playing this a couple of times on his guitar.

‘I Will Follow You into the Dark’ by Death Cab for Cutie

Before graduation, a former classmate told me he liked me. Since I was single back then and thought he was okay, I tried to hang out with him a couple of times. We texted a bit, too.

When I asked him for song recommendations one time, he told me about this song.
I no longer remember why we stopped talking entirely. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that I told him we just wouldn’t work.

‘Excuses’ by The Morning Benders

The guy I was with for four years had been so obsessed with this song around the time we had begun hanging out. So, naturally, I had to hear this song play over and over. Good thing, I genuinely liked it, too, otherwise, I’d be so annoyed. And actually, I still like it.

Our relationship didn’t end well, but I will always be thankful for the things I learned from and with him, including some amazing discoveries like this song.

‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ by U2

Around this time six years ago, my then-boyfriend and I decided to be in an open relationship just so we could both explore. One of the guys I met back then was this visiting prof from the U.S.

When the prof guy learned that I was preparing for a trip to Baguio and Vigan at that time, he asked if he could come with me. I said yes, thinking that it would be a great way to lower the cost of the entire trip.

When we were in Baguio, we decided to watch some short films by UP Baguio Students at the old Cinematheque. While we were waiting for one of the films to be shown, this song played. He was so happy to hear it that he sang along to it.

I thought it was great, but I was clueless about whose song it was. Then he told me that it was by U2 and that it was in the “Joshua Tree” album.