This song began a few days ago, when I started thinking about how different Portland is now from when I was growing up here in the 1980s and 1990s.  Not better, not worse, just different.  So this week’s song, “I Remember When (I Love Portland The Same),” reflects on a tiny handful of those many, many changes and proclaims that the one thing that doesn’t change about Portland is how much we all love it.

I had the hardest time coming up with a melody for this song -- it went through several iterations before I finally decided to put it in 3/4 time, at which point it came pretty easily.  I thought about putting on some twang and turning it into a country ballad, but I didn’t have it in me when it came time to record.

Speaking of 3/4 time, as of this week (for those of us counting) I am 3/4 of year done with the Portland Songs project -- this is song 39 of 52.  When I mentioned this fact to my spouse Jennifer, she said, “Is that all?!”

Lyrics:

I remember when Alberta wasn’t trendy at all,

The shops and cafés weren’t there.

You’d drive down the street and hope your car didn’t stall --

No thought of a stroll for some air.

But Portland in different now --

We natives find it hard to explain.

It’s not that we don’t like it,

And we don’t mean to complain.

I remember when the Blazers were number one,

With Drexler, Porter and Kersey.

It was in the early nineties and the games were so much fun,

And we all wore around our jerseys.

But Portland is different now --

We natives find it hard to explain.

It’s not that we don’t like it,

In fact, we sing this refrain:

Portland keeps changing,

Ever rearranging--

I can’t say who’s to blame.

Though my memories protest,

Still I must confess:

I still love Portland the same.

I remember when the words “eastside” and “waterfront” didn’t go together,

Unless you were speaking of waste.

But now I stroll on the Esplanade in sunny or rainy weather,

And I don’t miss what it replaced.

So Portland is different now --

We natives find it hard to explain.

It turns out we like it,

Even if it involves growing pains.

Portland keeps changing,

Ever rearranging.

I can’t say it’s a shame.

Though my memories are blessed,

This city’s still the best:

I love Portland the same.

Portland keeps changing,

Ever rearranging.

Who’d have guessed what it became?

Though my memories won’t rest,

Still everyday I’m impressed:

And I love Portland the same.

Yes, I love Portland the same.