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A New Adventure

I am a retired band director/music teacher living in Texas. I still teach private lessons and love it. Teaching music is my passion! I recently had knee replacement surgery and spent quite a bit of time in my recliner and teaching online. I recently discovered an online teaching model which I love. I would like to invite you to visit my new website and get acquainted with my new adventure in online music teaching.

http://www.ladymjmusic.com

for more information about the course in flute I am offering email me at ladymjmusic@gmail.com

The 6th of January

Amy Grant released this song just 6 days ago and I hope everyone will give it a listen.  It brought me to tears to think of how the generation from the 60’s and 70’s was so hopeful and full of idealism.  I wasn’t old enough to be at Woodstock (which was held at Yasgur’s Farm) but I did Hike for Hope and I Walked for Clean Water as well as Marched for Abortion Rights in 1972. 

I look at what is happening in our country right now and wonder where did we go wrong?  And more importantly how do we get back?

Listen – share – and start a dialogue……………

Tragedy

I confess – I am a boomer so this song has been in my consciousness for decades. I have told myself to write a blog about this song but have put it off – maybe because the last three years or so have been a tragedy and it hit too close to home? Yesterday I heard the song again and it prompted me to wonder why the word – or the melody- or the song speak to me.

I have a few memories in my life that I feel this word fits. The loss of a love, a deep love that you thought would go on forever and it ends, “with no one to love you you’re going nowhere”.

I have been diagnosed with breast cancer – twice – “When the morning cries and you don’t know why?”

I have been there, but came back from there. How did I do it? I really don’t know but something inside pushed through the tragedy and I became an overcomer.

This song is not a sad song at all. The way the song keeps repeating that word – tragedy – tragedy – tragedy. The melody, the rhythm, the voices and the instruments all come together to remind the listener of something in their life that was a tragedy. At the same time this song is hopeful – its upbeat – to me it musically is pushing forward and gives me a feeling of overcoming tragedy.

Yes, that’s it, its not a sad song it is and overcomer song – put all this tragedy behind, get your soul back, wake up one morning NOT crying and feel in control again.

Maybe the tragedy is not the event that prompted those feelings but the inability to overcome those feelings and remain in the state of tragedy.

Verse 1]
Here I lie in a lost and lonely part of town
Held in time in a world of tears, I slowly drown
Goin’ home, I just can’t make it all alone
I really should be holding you, holding you
Loving you, loving you

[Chorus]
Tragedy
When the feeling’s gone and you can’t go on, It’s tragedy
When the morning cries and you don’t know why, it’s hard to bear
With no one to love you, you’re goin’ nowhere
Tragedy
When you lose control and you got no soul, it’s tragedy
When the morning cries and you don’t know why, it’s hard to bear
With no one beside you, you’re goin’ nowhere

[Instrumental Interlude]

[Verse 2]
Night and day, there’s a burning down inside of me, aaah
Burning love with a yearning that won’t let me be
Down I go, and I just can’t take it all alone
I really should be holding you, holding you
Loving you, loving you

[Chorus]
Tragedy
When the feeling’s gone and you can’t go on, It’s tragedy
When the morning cries and you don’t know why, it’s hard to bear
With no one to love you, you’re goin’ nowhere
(Aaah) Tragedy
When you lose control and you got no soul, it’s tragedy
When the morning cries and you don’t know why, it’s hard to bear
With no one beside you, you’re goin’ nowhere
Aaahhhh

[Instrumental Interlude]

[Chorus / Outro]
Tragedy
When the feeling’s gone and you can’t go on, It’s tragedy
When the morning cries and you don’t know why, it’s hard to bear
With no one to love you, you’re goin’ nowhere
(Aaah) Tragedy
When you lose control and you got no soul, it’s tragedy
When the morning cries and you don’t know why, it’s hard to bear
With no one beside you, you’re goin’ nowhere
Aaahhhh, tragedy
When the feeling’s gone and you can’t go on, It’s tragedy
When the morning cries and you don’t know why, it’s hard to bear
With no one to love you, you’re goin’ nowhere
(Aaah) Aaah, tragedy
When you lose control and you got no soul, it’s tragedy
When the morning cries and you don’t know why, it’s hard to bear
With no one beside you, you’re goin’ nowhere
Aaahhhh, tragedy
When the feeling’s gone and you can’t go on, It’s tragedy
When the morning cries and you don’t know why, it’s hard to bear
With no one to love you, you’re goin’ nowhere
Aaah, tragedy

The Prayer

I fall in love with this song every time I hear it!  It is so beautiful and touched my heart as I look around and see the struggles in our world.

The world is not a very happy or calm place right now.  The entire world is dealing with a pandemic.  Right here in our own country there is arguing instead of compromise, fighting instead of handshakes or hugs.   Families are struggling to find places to live and put food on their tables.  Our children are being tossed about in a school situation that is awful (from personal experience – I was a teacher for 36 years).   There is the feeling of being afraid of the future and being out of control.  We have children shooting other children, parents abusing and abandoning their children, and discrimination aimed at anyone who is different that “us”.  How did we get here? 

There really is only one answer – and this of course is my personal belief – and that is FAITH.  I have to believe that there is a God who sent His Son to help us through all of the horrible things that will happen in our lifetimes.  No one is immune from struggle, but I believe there is a loving God who really is in control.  If I can find that place of peace in my own heart, and trust that all is well I can make it through anything. 

I have had my own personal struggles, from personal relationships that failed to overcoming cancer twice!  I have always had a positive attitude and I do believe that came from my Mom whose motto was “Everything Changes”.  The bad times will happen but they will go away and faith is what sustains me during the rough times.

I wish you that faith in tomorrow, that things will be better.  This song is my prayer for all of my family and friends.

I have shared two versions of this song – enjoy!!!

I pray you’ll be our eyes, and watch us where we go
And help us to be wise in times when we don’t know

I pray we ‘Il find your light, and hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night,
Remind us where you are
Let this be our prayer, when shadows fill our day
Help us find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

A world where pain and sorrow will be ended
And every heart that’s broken will be mended
And we’ll remember we are all God’s children
Reaching out to touch you
Reaching to the sky

We ask that life be kind, and watch us from above
We hope each soul will find another soul to love
Let this be our prayer, just like every child

Who needs to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
Need to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

Advent 2021

Well, in just a few months it will be a full two years since the pandemic began.   I must confess that with the pandemic and moving to Texas, I have not yet found a new church home.  So, today on this first day of Advent 2021 I will practice “Forgiveness” on myself.   Not attending a brick-and-mortar building does not mean I have moved away from my faith, on the contrary I still remain faithful in my beliefs but I do not yet have a faith community to share that with.

I have decided to use this Advent season to return to daily reflection and prayer.  In my life music is very important for me so I will blog each day a seasonal song to share with you.

Today, the first Sunday of advent I have chosen the hymn “O Come, O come Emmanuel”.  The term advent in Latin means “coming or arrival”.  How appropriate those words are as we have spent almost the last two years waiting on an end to this pandemic and if you are like me feeling not at all in control of what is happening in the world.   

Advent is a time of waiting and a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Before the birth of Jesus, the Israelites were waiting for a Savior to arrive!  The arrival of this Savior was a child and that was not what they were expecting.  The Son of God became a man like you and me.  God did not have to do this – but He did.  Those words strike a chord for me – He did not have to do it but He did! He did it for us so He could also become the sacrifice for our sins.

It took me listening to quite a few versions of this song to decide which one I would share.  I wanted the pure sound of the lonely melody and the feeling of mourning and longing as we wait for the coming of a Savior to rescue us from all the ills of the world.  Maybe this Advent we can remember that God saw our situation and sent the Christ Child.  What we can learn from His birth and life is to wait patiently and know that God is in charge.

Forever Young

I first fell in love with the lyrics of this song when my high school science teacher, gave each one of us in his class a copy of the lyrics as a special gift.  This was in 1976 and they were the lyrics Bob Dylan wrote and recorded. Joan Baez recorded the song a year or two later. That gift hung on my mirror for years and still holds a dear place in my heart.

My mother always had a forever young spirit.  My best and most vivid memories of her are when she was being playful, laughing and doing something fun – like riding the indoor slide at the restaurant on the hill in Phoenix.  My Mom passed in 1997 but I sometimes channel her when I want to feel young again.

Being young the whole world is at your feet.  You can choose your path and go where you want to go and.  I felt this way leaving for college in the 70’s – I could do anything and live forever.  I thrived on that feeling!  As I got older I went through many ups and downs but I believe this “forever young” feeling is what has kept me positive about life. As we approach May of this year, my oldest son will be getting married and these lyrics remind me of what I wish for him!

Bob Dylan wrote this song for his son in the early 1970’s and also recorded it but it was a melancholy tune.  Joan Baez recorded it on her 1977 album.  I think most people remember the version recorded by Rod Stewart – it is much more upbeat!  I always wondered were they the same song? The lyrics are similar and the melody is close to the same but different. Well, today I searched and found out a bit more……

Answers.com

“They are different yet alike. The writer’s of the Rod Stewart song — Jim Cregan, Rod Stewart, Kevin Savigar — subliminally plagiarized Dylan. It’s best explained by this paragraph for Answers.Com:

Rod Stewart recorded a song titled “Forever Young”, which was released as a single and included on his Out of Order album in 1988. The song was remarkably similar to the Bob Dylan song of the same title, sharing not only a similar melody but many of the same lyrics. Upon threat of a plagiarism suit, Stewart acknowledged that he had subconsciously plagiarized the older song, and agreed to share his royalties with Dylan.

The credit for the song now includes Dylan with the other 3.

So, which is your favorite??

Here are the bob Dylan lyrics:

“Forever Young”

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

Here are the Rod Stewart Lyrics:

May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness
surround you when you’re far from home
And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As you’d have done to you
Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart you’ll always stay
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young

May good fortune be with you
May your guiding light be strong
Build a stairway to heaven
with a prince or a vagabond

And may you never love in vain
and in my heart you will remain
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young
Forever Young

And when you finally fly away
I’ll be hoping that I served you well
For all the wisdom of a lifetime
No one can ever tell

But whatever road you choose
I’m right behind you, win or lose
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young ,Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young
For, Forever Young, Forever Young

Here Comes the Sun!

January 2, 2021

Here Comes the Sun………….

Goodbye long lonely 2020 which felt like an endless winter……I have not written in awhile, I have been getting life back on track and organized after a move halfway across the country in the middle of a pandemic.

I have a habit of singing songs when I hear people say certain things.  We were visiting on zoom with friends yesterday and one friend remarked how she feels better when the sun is shining, especially after the rainy days we have had here at the end of 2020.

So, this song was stuck in my head all night long.

If the sun is shining I feel so much better.  I know some people have had a horrible year and 2020 has not been good to them.  I can say for my family it has not been a bad year but it has been fraught with stress.  I began the year in my first month of retirement and I was a bit apprehensive about what I would do with myself. Here I am 12 months later in a new home in a new state halfway across the country!

To those of you who have been more negatively affected by the events of the past 12 months, please use this time of the new year to begin to heal.  There is sun after rain and hope after despair just keep looking for it and you will find it. 

The eternal optimist,

MJ music lady

“Here Comes The Sun”

Written by George Harrison

Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right

Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here

Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been here

Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been clear

Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right

Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun
It’s all right
It’s all right

We need Inspiration!

Chaos in our nation!

America is a country born from protests.  Remember the Boston Tea Party?  Perfectly good tea sunk in the ocean to get our point across.  We have been given the right to free speech and to protest to get our point across.  We cannot stop the outcry that is all over our nation right this minute.

If I were 30 years younger I probably would be out there marching peacefully (but my feet hurt and I probably would break a hip if I fell).  I was only 10 in 1968 – but I do remember the riots and I look now and wonder how did we get here today?

Those that look only at the looting and violence “do not get it”.  People are frustrated and are not being heard.  Peaceful protest was tried by taking a knee during the national anthem – but those people were ridiculed and not listened to.  So here we are – is anyone listening now?  Warning personal opinion coming – There has been a spark of hate ignited in this country and I believe it is fueled by our nation’s leader and his twitter account, his speeches and the lack of trust he inspires in many of us.

That is not the kind of inspiration we need right now.

We need someone like JFK who can inspire us with his speeches.

We need someone like MLK Jr. who can point to injustice and address it peacefully.

We need someone like Abraham who knew that slavery was dividing our country and fought to protect the whole Union with freedom for all.

That is why this song inspires me to look beyond these turbulent times and hope for the future that someone, anyone will stand up and INSPIRE this nation!

Abraham, Martin and John