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?
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.
[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
[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
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
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.
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
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
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!
It is December 23rd and I have been out and about today. Aerobics class was fun we exercised to Christmas music. As I ran a few errands after the gym I got the feeling that everyone was stressed out. The drivers were aggressive and speeding to get to their destination, the checkout people were not as friendly as usual, the people shopping were not as polite as usual and I wondered why today was so different from the last few weeks where people were smiling and saying Happy Holidays. I came home after completing my errands, glad to be home out of the traffic and ready to relax for the holiday but thoughts about the lyrics of this some came to my head.
On this night of hope and salvation
One child lies embraced in a dream
Where each man regardless of station
On this night can now be redeemed
Where every man regardless of his nation
Ancestral relations
On this night the past can fly away
And that dream we’ve dreamed most
That every child is held close
On this night that dream won’t be betrayed
All as one
Raise your voices
Raise your voices
All as one on this Christmas day
All rejoice
Raise your voices
Raise your voices
All rejoice, Anno Domine
On this night when no child’s forgotten
No dream sleeps where he cannot see
No man here is misbegotten
And this night’s dreams are still yet to be
Where every man regardless of his nation
Ancestral relations
On this night the past can fly away
And that dream we’ve dreamed most
That every child is held close
On this night that dream won’t be betrayed
All as one
Raise your voices
Raise your voices
All as one on this Christmas day
All rejoice
Raise your voices
Raise your voices
All rejoice, Anno Domine
This song stresses to me how the Holiday is about the Savior who cams as man to save us from the imperfect life we live now.
Getting closer to the holiday I believe puts stress on those who are wishing for the “perfect” holiday. Well, if there is one thing I have learned in this life so far is that “perfect” holiday does not exist. The decorations do not matter, the food does not matter, the gifts do not matter – the perfection in Christmas comes from within – from the absolute KNOWING without a doubt Jesus Christ was born and became man for me – He is the Savior of the World. That is my perfection and how I choose to live as a Blessed Child of God.
I love the song I have shared with you – the melody, the voices but mostly the words. As a public school teacher I have encountered far too many children who will not have a Merry Christmas. On this night of Hope and Salvation…. the dream of every child is to be held close – there will be children out there who are not held close, they are ignored or even hurt by the hands of their own parents. That is what this song means to me that one day – one day when Jesus comes back each and every child will finally be held close and taken care of. Jesus came on Christmas to redeem each and every one of us. That dream we have dreamed most every child is held close that dream won’t be betrayed.
My heart breaks as I remember just a few of the children I have had in my classroom these past 36 years. One child who had finger marks on his wrist and arm from being held too closely by a father. One child who had a bruise and scratches on her cheek., When I asked her, she told me “Mom did it” I wanted to cry. Even closer to home a, 3 year old child left alone in an apartment for 2 days because Mom is involved in the drug world. This Christmas will not be perfect – nothing will ever be perfect – until………..
Happy 9th Day of Christmas! I don’t have ladies dancing today but I have two of my favorite Christmas songs to share with you.
The first is a popular song and I will share the version sung by Pentatonix. There is something about acapella singing I adore, it goes straight to my heart.
I have always had a special place in my heart for Mary, the Mother of God. Maybe because I have her name, maybe it got stronger while I was pregnant. To have new life inside of you and to know that you are a part of God’s plan to CREATE life. Pretty spectacular feeling! I can be certain that Mary felt the same things all pregnant mothers feel, but on top of that she had the Angel of God tell her this was the Savior, the Lamb of God, the Son of God. What might she have been feeling with those added pressures?
The song looks at our perspective – did she know all the details of her Son’s life? Well, no she didn’t but she had the same hopeful feelings during her pregnancy that all mothers do. What will my child look like? What will he or she become or do in the world? Don’t all Mothers aspire to leave the world a better place and hope that our offspring are part of making it a better place? Mary had one more thing to rely on and that was her faith that these promises told to her by the Angel and to Joseph in a dream were in fact the voice of God telling her who this child really was – the Son of God!
This next song is not as well know but really speaks to my heart and is probably one of my all time favorite songs. This is a song more from the perspective of what Mary was thinking and helps me connect with what she might have been feeling and how she got through hard times of doubt and pain.
Again, it connects me to Mary – Even after the message from the Angel, even after the dream Joseph had, surely she had her doubts about this baby? I can believe it was her faith that kept her going. Well, her faith along with the occasional visits from strangers (the king bearing gifts) and the words from strangers (Simeon).
“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also),that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” – Luke 2:25, RSV-2CE
Those encounters must have kept her and Joseph going every single time they doubted. And in those times of doubt Mary’s faith led her to pray and ask for that light Breath of Heaven to be with her. I have sung this song and said this prayer through hard times of my own and asked that God just send a small breath of heaven to push me through the hard time and remind me of His love and promise to take care of me always. Maybe that is what Mary prayed for – the breath of God to help her through the task of raising the Son of God.
Many childhood memories surface around the Christmas Holiday. Many of them include music – Adeste Fidelis Oh come All Ye Faithful – I can still HEAR my Mom singing that hymn literally I hear her voice singing it in latin. Adeste Fideles
I was the youngest of three girls and there was quite a gap in our ages. My oldest sister A was 16 when I was born and my middle sister C was 11 when I was born so I really was “the baby”. My Mom called me her baby until she passed away. It was almost like I was an only child with all of us being so far apart. So, when I became conscious of Santa I was the only one in the house getting Santa presents and it was pretty cool to have all the attention.
I few gifts that stick out in my memory was the year I REALLY wanted a puppy – but did not get one – a real one at least. I had my pretend puppy in the basement and he was there every time I went down there to play, he walked with me to school and waited for me each afternoon. I believe I had that “puppy” until at least May – maybe I was just lonely?
The year I got my own stereo and headphones was the best – I could listen to my music as loud as I wanted anytime I wanted – it was most likely the Osmonds! The Osmonds
I loved Christmas, I still do. The music, I love listening to it, I love singing it I love playing it. Even this year as a member of our community band I still enjoy, really enjoy playing all of the traditional Christmas music. You’d think after playing Christmas Festival almost every year since I was in high school I would be sick of it by now but noooo I LOVE IT! Christmas Festival – Boston Pops
Music has always carried me away to a happy place, it touches something inside me that is very hard to explain and Christmas music even more so because of all of the memories attached to it.
TO all who took the time to read this entry, thank you and a very Merry Christmas to you!
MJmusiclady 