There is no debate around the idea that music can lift our spirits; motivate us to action, soothe a broken heart, inspire an epiphany and on and on. You can play music, write music, or listen to music or all three, and the associated vibration can be a transforming moment. It will be recorded in the body as well- perhaps you remember where you were when you first heard Handel’s Messiah, or the Beatles and I want to hold your hand, or in my case, Bruce Springsteen singing She’s the One. You can bring the details – the smells, the pictures, the place you were standing- such a powerful constellation of experiences around a piece of music.
Many years ago, while I was studying in Berkeley, I was in a bookstore- there was music playing – perhaps a radio station and for the first time, I heard the raspy voice of Leonard Cohen. He was singing his famous song, Suzanne- I stopped and listened to all the verses and was suddenly provoked to tears. I couldn’t tell you why even now, but I went on to write a paper for a class; attempting to discover the meaning of Leonard’s tune. All these years later, as soon as I hear the first notes, I begin to sing the words and the feeling comes back full force -with no effort.
Recently a dear friend gave me a gift – a book written by a songwriter and performer- Mary Gauthier. I had shared with my friend a number of years ago, one of Mary’s songs, that had made the charts and was being played on a country station and crossover station. When I heard it, it was another of those suddenly tearful moments as it spoke of what I was feeling about life at the time.
Mary’s book is a testimony to the power of music- and in her case, saved from the miseries of addiction by becoming a songwriter and giving her music and its commensurate feeling, to the world. Mary is self-taught, can’t read music and works with simple melodies. She began her music experience by playing in open mic clubs in Boston. She tells a story of being in a line of performers waiting for their turn at the mic. Around mid-night a man approaches the mic who looks like he has seen better times. From his clothing to his demeanor -he appears perhaps homeless and tired. On top of that he can’t carry a tune in a bucket and at first the people in the club tune him out. As he continues, the words and the feeling he conveys begins to settle over the audience like a soft blanket- and there is that hush of “something is happening here” over the room. When he finishes, he is given a standing ovation – which Mary says she never saw before or again in an open mic club. In that moment, she realized that music brings a feeling and a feeling brings the potential of something – joy- laughter – love- longing. With that feeling came her hope and she went home and wrote the song I heard a few years back.
She concludes that chapter by saying that writing that song – and performing it – provided the strong beginnings of what became sobriety and service to others- she was saved by a song. Everyone can experience this powerful vibrational imprint – and we all have. Listen to some moving music this week – play something- an instrument- a drum – some expression of these feelings, or if you are feeling it – write something- a poem – a lyric – a whole song- or even a blog segment. Or at the very least, buy Mary’s book and read the story.
Here is the song – let it move you past her serious country voice (if you are not into country) and let the feeling move you wherever it wants to take you -and thank you Laurie, for the fab book. This one is for you,
