"The road goes on forever and the party never ends.” -- Robert Earl Keen.
It’s funny how music brings back memories, good, bad and otherwise. We all have a soundtrack to our lives and for me, when I hear a song that I've not heard in a while, it's a time machine that sends me back through the years. Sometimes it's a good thing and other times, not so much. But that's how music is for me, and I love it.
The oldest playlist that I have is from 2010. But I think before I began to keep track of my favorites on paper, I kept the list in my head. Here's the thing about being incarcerated and trying to maintain an ongoing list of favorites, you are limited to terrestrial radio. You have to listen to what the radio station plays and when a song that has significance to you is played, you must be ready to write it down. Hopefully you know the title of the song and who sings it. I keep a 3"x 8" piece of paper taped to the wall and a pen next to the radio on my desk -- I stay ready! I have several thousand song titles written down, all heard in the radio.
In December 2022, we got securus tablets and since then we've been given different apps on it. In 2023, we got the phone app. In 2024 we got a podcast app that lets me access tens of thousands of podcasts.
In June 2025, we got the securus media store app and the music player app. Through the media store I can buy individual songs for $1 to $2 each that are mine to keep. Or I can buy a subscription that's $8.50 a month and according to securus, have access to 20 million songs.
For the first time in my life I can stream the music I want to listen to, when I want to listen to it. I've finally joined the twenty-first century along with everyone else! I laugh at my self because the moment the music app appeared on my tablet there was not question or debate within myself that securus was going to get me for $8.50 a month from now on! It's a necessity! haha! I didn't even put up a fight, they saw me coming, and got me!
My dream and plan for when I get out of this dump is to go on an extended road trip in an RV/van. I figure that I've been in one spot long enough so, I'm going to travel and keep moving until I'm ready to settle down. I don't want a house or apartment, or anything that will tie me down. I think that I'm accustomed to living with few personal possessions, and after this 9'x12' cell, a large van that I can drive from stop to stop sounds like heaven to me -- van life rocks!
The first trip is already planned. It will start in New Mexico and go north, traveling on the east side of the Rocky mountains. We'll go up to glacier park in Canada, then cross over and come back down the west side of the Rocky mountains. Through Utah, visiting all the national park there, and across Nevada and Las Vegas. Then across California, seeing the giant Sequoia tree parks. And finally up the Pacific coast on US Highway 101 to Seattle, ending in Vancouver in Canada.
Which brings me to the reason I began writing about the Road Trip Playlist. I'm going to need a big playlist. So, I ask you, what song or songs do you think I need on this playlist? What is your favorite song? What song can you listen to for hours on repeat? Let me know and we'll add it to the playlist. I'd love to hear what you think about this idea. I'll get it started with ten songs:
Road Trip Playlist ~
Never Been To Spain, by Three Dog Night
Black Hole Sun, by Soundgarden
Fell On Black Days, by Soundgarden
Kiss And Say Goodbye, by The Manhattans
I'd Rather Go Blind, by Etta James
Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen
So Will I, by Hillside Worship
Reckless Love, by Corey Asbury
Sara Smile, by Hall and Oates
The Road Goes On Forever, by Robert Earl Keen.
I love all kinds of music and can't wait to hear about your favorites!
Love Peace Hope and Freedom Soon!
Charles.
Do you have a song you’d like to add to Charles’ playlist?
Comment below or email us at freecharlesflores@gmail.com.