I have been
around music in one form or another for all of my sixty years. I’ve written before about growing up in a
large family that, because of a broken radio in our green Plymouth station wagon,
we used to sing in three and four part harmony.
That was my introduction to music and I’m so thankful for it.
As a kid, I can
remember sitting in front of our record player for hours listening to my
sisters’ records. Yes, records made of vinyl.
The Everly Brothers; The Chad Mitchell
Trio; Harry Belafonte; Peter, Paul and Mary; Duane Eddie, and so many more. Later, I discovered Rock ‘n Roll and fell in
love with The Beatles; Bee Gees; Aerosmith; Bob Seger; Bruce Springsteen; Bon
Jovi; Tom Petty; Journey; Tom Cochrane; Eagles.
Even some of the lesser known, but equally good groups, like Cheap
Trick; The BoDeans; Foreigner; and .38 Special.
I listen to
country music because of the lyrics and stories, the melodies and
harmonies. Seldom do I take a trip
without a Kip Moore or Sugarland CD, and a Seger or Springsteen or Petty CD.
When Kim and I
lived in California, we went to concerts more so than we do now, and honestly,
I miss it. Once upon a time, we saw
Gordon Lightfoot, Kenny Loggins, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Springsteen, James
Taylor, and a host of others. On the
country side, we saw Alabama, Brooks and Dunn, Martina McBride, Keith Urban, and
Tim McGraw.
There is a movie
Kim and I and the girls like titled, “Music And Lyrics” with Hugh Grant and
Drew Barrymore, and in it, the Hugh Grant character, Alex Fletcher, says
something to the effect that – and I’m paraphrasing rather badly – “there is
nothing like a pop song to brighten your day and make you smile.” I know it was something like that, and the
meaning is the same. I promise!
Kim taped a
special a couple of weeks ago and this past Sunday, we watched it. It was James Taylor sharing the stage with
Carole King. Songs Kim and I grew together
with and dated to. As we watched, both
of us hummed or sang along.
It was a show of
beauty. Two artists doing what they
loved doing. Lyrics that meant
something, with melodies and harmonies that lifted and uplifted. From their expressions, they love doing what
they do. It was their life and their
gift to us. I can’t explain why, but
watching and listening to them, there were times I had tears in my eyes and a
lump in my throat.
There are songs
that, when I hear the first couple of notes, the first lyrics, I associate with
my kids. Martina McBride’s “Wild Angels”
and Faith Hill’s “This Kiss” with my daughter Hannah. Zak Brown’s “Chicken Fried” and Rodney Atkins’
“Watching You” with Emily. Just about
anything of Aerosmith with my son, Wil. Eagles’
“Easy Feeling” with Kim.
I hear one of
those songs and I picture Em, or Hannah, or Wil, or Kim. I see their face, hear their voice. I picture them thinking. I see them smiling. I see them day dreaming.
There really is
Nothing Like A Song.
James Taylor and
Carole King sang and told stories. They
lifted me . . . us . . . up. Made our
spirits soar. A song does that. Nothing Like A Song.
The song doesn’t
have to break eardrums. The lyrics don’t
have to be screamed.
Taylor and King
sang in such a gentle way, like a mom or dad saying, “You can do it! Really, you can!” Like best friends saying, “I’ll be with you,
right by your side.” They smiled. At times their eyes were closed. They told stories in between their songs that
brought a smile, a laugh.
I realize this
is a bit of a departure from what I typically write, and I realize my writing
is a bit clumsier than it usually is, but I just wanted to pay a bit of tribute
to them. Real artists. Real musicians. Storytellers and Dream weavers. Thank you for sharing your gift with us. Thank you for sharing your hopes and your
dreams with us. Thank you for sharing
your stories of failure and sadness with us.
Because in your songs, your stories, you gave up a piece of your heart
and shared it with us. Perhaps, showed
us what we were thinking and feeling and hoping. Thank you.
Something to think about . . .
Well written Joe. I love writing lyrics and music. Someday, when I have free time, I would love to sit down and compose. Still on my bucket list of things to do in my life. I do find myself listening more to the actual lyrics more in the past few years. Sometimes the lyrics are so amazing and overlooked. Hope you have a great rest of the week :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Kaira for stopping by. I think as we get older, we listen for lyrics that speak to us or speak about us. Thanks again for your comment.
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