Tough to pick a single song that resonates with me, there have been so many over the years and at different times and in different situations. Amazing Grace, in almost any rendition, including the bagpipe version; How Great Thou Art; Ripple, from the Grateful Dead; Sounds of Silence; Blowin' in the Wind; As Tears go By; there are a lot more, but these hit every time I hear them.
Your comments on depth and poetry are remarkably timely for me, as I've embarked on a project of reading or re-reading some classics that I didn't really 'get' when I read or ignored them the first time they were presented to me. I'd never been a big fan of poetry, until I realized that everything is poetic, one must simply adjust the perspective one is viewing from. The world looks very different when one takes the time to appreciate its nuances and how, while everything in the world is individual, everything is also the result of one Creation and related by that event.
And I frequently find myself in a Ball of Confusion, with "politicians throwing stones, singing Ashes, ashes, we all fall down". Mixed artists, but two great tunes.
Everyday People is another one I listen to for a little balance and restoration.
Deborah, thank you for your insightful comments on the meaning of depth of our mind and soul.
The only thing I would question is your reference to “the beauty of living in a free society “. With so much de facto censorship and hatred of dissenting opinions especially of our students and young people, with supposedly offensive books being banned from our schools and libraries, and with so much disinformation spread by social media, how can this be called a free society? ?
Regarding your question, I especially love the song “Morning has Broken “ by Cat Stevens, because its beautiful lyrics give me hope that perhaps we can create a better world for all people and creatures on this troubled planet of ours.
The first verse itself is so hopeful:
“Morning has broken
Like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird,
Praise for the Singing,
Praise for the Morning,
Praise for them springing fresh from the world”
And the concluding verse brings tears of joy to my eyes as it fills my soul with hope:
“Mine is the sunlight
Mine is the morning
Born of the one light
Eden saw played,
Praise with elation
Praise every morning,
God’s re-creation
On the new day “
I am not a religious person, but to me this is a deeply spiritual song that creates meaning out of the mess we humans have made of our beautiful world. And the melody too is so gentle and peaceful that it sustains my hope that someday, somehow, we will see peace and love and all the beauty that surrounds us on this little planet that we call “Earth “.
Have you given thought to why we may be on similar "wavelengths?" Frankly, I don't understand it. Well, I have guesses, but I don't publish ideas of which I'm completely unsure.
I taught gifted kids, and taught teachers how to teach gifted kids... From intellectual grounding and personal experience. Gifted "kids" recognize each other.
The Last Resort by the Eagles contains an entire history lesson. And the lyric, "There is no more new frontier; we have got to make it here," has personal resonance for me as I grow older.
Glad you enjoyed her. The first time I heard her I was driving and listening to, forgive me, NPR, and had to pull over to the side of the road and listen.
You are my treasure Dr. Hall! Now with your sharing of your life, I understand why. You’ve had such an interesting and enriching upbringing. I had quite the opposite. I never was a fan of poetry per se, because I had a hard time understanding it. I never associated music with poetry, and I thank you for showing me that music is a form of poetry. It took living in an assisted/independant facility to meet an incredible lady, who had a severe case of Parkinson’s disease, and wrote the most beautiful and easily understood poetry about nature. She had published two books and was in the middle of getting a third published when she passed away. Beyond the Gate, and In the Garden by Jeanie Nelson Lewis, are a joy to read for anyone who loves nature and has had a beloved dog. In the twilight of my life, the song I love the most and can relate to is, My Way, sung by Frank Sinatra. I’ve done what I’ve wanted to do with little regrets, and have nothing left on my bucket list!
I would submit that great songs or poems or books are great because they tell a relatable story. We are a species of story lovers. Good stories will cross linguistic or cultural lines. Homer, Shakespeare, Hemmingway and hundreds of others hold up over time because they wrote relatable stories. Our species loves stories about us. A good writer can put a story into a 1000 page tome or a 17 syllable hyku. Writing that is true will hold up. Fiction can be true if it tells a story that makes the reader feel true emotions.
“Lily, Rosemary & The Jack of Hearts” or maybe “Shelter From The Cold.” Or “Telegraph Road.”
Dylan and Knopfler
wow
I love these dudes
love their powerful images
just read each word again
thank you Radha
for sharing your riches
with us
Tough to pick a single song that resonates with me, there have been so many over the years and at different times and in different situations. Amazing Grace, in almost any rendition, including the bagpipe version; How Great Thou Art; Ripple, from the Grateful Dead; Sounds of Silence; Blowin' in the Wind; As Tears go By; there are a lot more, but these hit every time I hear them.
Your comments on depth and poetry are remarkably timely for me, as I've embarked on a project of reading or re-reading some classics that I didn't really 'get' when I read or ignored them the first time they were presented to me. I'd never been a big fan of poetry, until I realized that everything is poetic, one must simply adjust the perspective one is viewing from. The world looks very different when one takes the time to appreciate its nuances and how, while everything in the world is individual, everything is also the result of one Creation and related by that event.
o my
I will be re- reading and pondering
your thoughts here, Dave.
..."I realized that everything is poetic"...
what a beautiful insight
Emerson speaks
of the holy source
in his sublime essay The Poet
As I frequently reread yours, and learn from them every time. Thanks Deborah.
and I'm with you in your song treasures, Dave
amazing grace is what I have received
and blowin' in the wind is what I work to answer
And I frequently find myself in a Ball of Confusion, with "politicians throwing stones, singing Ashes, ashes, we all fall down". Mixed artists, but two great tunes.
Everyday People is another one I listen to for a little balance and restoration.
just listened to Everyday People
which made me smile
it took me to my long time inner ballad
that I used to sing as I drove to work:
Love of the Common People
sung by its composer John Hurley
I just picked that up on youtube music, had no idea it had been covered as extensively as it has. There are common people in every genre; who knew?
Oops
I don't know
how to spell highkoo either, Fred
But if my pithy parsimonious letters
aren't some mighty high koo,
what is?
Perhaps we're all going a little koo koo? (coo, coo?) I was a copy editor on my high school newspaper, old habits die hard.
love it, Dave!
coo coo indeed right here
the political news these days
is driving me nuts
so I greatly appreciate a laugh
thank you for your sense of humor
I can hear dear Fred laughing, too
A wise man once said "Laughter is the best medicine." This too shall pass, although probably not as quickly as we'd like it too.
"An independent mind and eagerness to grow" is required to develop depth.
I couldn't explain how one had depth so this was truly insightful.
...
I'm a terrible singer 😃 but I appreciate the power of songs.
Hmmn... I've never really thought of song lyrics as poetry up until now.
Thank you Deborah for another beautiful piece.
I'm so glad you found my ideas meaningful, Olusegun
Having such deep readers as I am blessed to have
makes it quite the challenge
to put forward ideas you don't already know :)
or at least, put them forward in a new way
Deborah, thank you for your insightful comments on the meaning of depth of our mind and soul.
The only thing I would question is your reference to “the beauty of living in a free society “. With so much de facto censorship and hatred of dissenting opinions especially of our students and young people, with supposedly offensive books being banned from our schools and libraries, and with so much disinformation spread by social media, how can this be called a free society? ?
Regarding your question, I especially love the song “Morning has Broken “ by Cat Stevens, because its beautiful lyrics give me hope that perhaps we can create a better world for all people and creatures on this troubled planet of ours.
The first verse itself is so hopeful:
“Morning has broken
Like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird,
Praise for the Singing,
Praise for the Morning,
Praise for them springing fresh from the world”
And the concluding verse brings tears of joy to my eyes as it fills my soul with hope:
“Mine is the sunlight
Mine is the morning
Born of the one light
Eden saw played,
Praise with elation
Praise every morning,
God’s re-creation
On the new day “
I am not a religious person, but to me this is a deeply spiritual song that creates meaning out of the mess we humans have made of our beautiful world. And the melody too is so gentle and peaceful that it sustains my hope that someday, somehow, we will see peace and love and all the beauty that surrounds us on this little planet that we call “Earth “.
Patricia,
Thank you for your beautiful post.
I share your special love
for Morning Has Broken
by Cat Stevens.
I have treasured it in my heart
for over fifty years.
The concluding verse
is so tender and uplifting!
It sustains my soul when I sing it.
Yes it gives us hope
that we can bring morning light
to each and all persons in our world.
Our freedom is always imperfect.
Always in need of rebirth.
That is why the Gettysburg Address
is so profound.
We are called both to honor
those who gave their lives for freedom
and to build it to a higher level
than it has ever been before.
Yes we must face and deal with
the serious problems you raise
so our rebirth can be achieved.
So, that's my take. I realize that I can project, like anyone else. I just suspect that's it.
Sometimes, depth is not appreciated until someone writes a song about it.
https://youtu.be/ciLNMesqPh0?si=4JLMn_atJNbFMRQc
yes
Have you given thought to why we may be on similar "wavelengths?" Frankly, I don't understand it. Well, I have guesses, but I don't publish ideas of which I'm completely unsure.
I shall ponder this conundrum
For starters...we both enjoy pondering conundrums
Good start...
and
we both know the other in this delightful duo
IS a conundrum
of the highest and lowest order (both)
and therein lies the link
I taught gifted kids, and taught teachers how to teach gifted kids... From intellectual grounding and personal experience. Gifted "kids" recognize each other.
Something like that.
The Last Resort by the Eagles contains an entire history lesson. And the lyric, "There is no more new frontier; we have got to make it here," has personal resonance for me as I grow older.
That is one powerful song, David.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
"There is no more new frontier"
brings for me the sorrow of losing JFK.
His idealistic vision of America
lives inside me
and yes it is up to us
to make it here
Have you ever wondered why people with depth suffer?
Usually it's because they doubt, they re-evaluate, they are hyper-curious and search for a different way of expression.
The "joy" of being popular isn't high on their list of things to be.
Shallow people are loathe to be their friend.
They are anathema to a culture that prizes the unchallenging.
They are often understood only after they're dead because they had eyes to see and ears to hear what most people did not, or chose to ignore.
Just by existing, they give "the finger" to the norm... neither of which understand the other.
amen
If you don't want to have depth and always remain on the surface of life, remember the following:
-Always do what others expect you to do
-Be constantly worried about what others think of you.
-Be "normal"
-Don't question the social mores of your family, friends, or surrounding culture.
-Don't risk falling in love, standing up for what's best, or hang around with an odd person. You may face rejection.
-Always do things the way it's supposed to be done, or the way it's always been done.
-NEVER be weird. OMG!
-Always worry about being popular
-NEVER question what life is about and why you're here. Don't doubt what you've always been told about who you are.
-Don't be quiet. Silence will cause you to think, doubt, reminisce, wonder, face yourself. Silence is the worst (best teacher) experience, ever.
-Don't create anything unique. The judgement of others (comes with the territory) is to be avoided at all costs.
-Avoid anything foreign, new, difficult, or challenging. It may change your mind.
-Hold onto old ideas. New ideas are always too scary.
-Don't challenge yourself. Don't doubt yourself. Don't get in a position that may cause you growth or suffering, or both.
-Don't do anything that has a chance of failing.
-By all means, accept the popular... Don't be curious... it's the worst thing you can do.
glorious
glorious
glorious
glorious x 3? Wow! I think that equals an, Amen.
you betcha it does
and a genuflection too
I added a prequel to this. See above/below.
That is a beautiful childhood - no television and deep books!
Thank you for sharing, Dr. Hall, and for your poetry of understanding as well.
Sam
I am deeply moved
your words give me joy
they bring out the best in me
the only way I can thank you
is to write and share some more
Yasmin Levy,
the voice of chills and tears,
singing the Ladino
of Sephardic Jews,
run out of Spain
during Columbus's years.
One evening
the woman I was living with
told me that I was brushing my teeth all wrong.
As I think back on the incident,
I'm glad that I had only 16 teeth,
otherwise I could have done
some serious damage.
I just listened to her
watched her sing the Ladino
with the orchestra
I was dancing dancing
in my soul
indeed the voice of chills and tears
there is no compare
Glad you enjoyed her. The first time I heard her I was driving and listening to, forgive me, NPR, and had to pull over to the side of the road and listen.
You are my treasure Dr. Hall! Now with your sharing of your life, I understand why. You’ve had such an interesting and enriching upbringing. I had quite the opposite. I never was a fan of poetry per se, because I had a hard time understanding it. I never associated music with poetry, and I thank you for showing me that music is a form of poetry. It took living in an assisted/independant facility to meet an incredible lady, who had a severe case of Parkinson’s disease, and wrote the most beautiful and easily understood poetry about nature. She had published two books and was in the middle of getting a third published when she passed away. Beyond the Gate, and In the Garden by Jeanie Nelson Lewis, are a joy to read for anyone who loves nature and has had a beloved dog. In the twilight of my life, the song I love the most and can relate to is, My Way, sung by Frank Sinatra. I’ve done what I’ve wanted to do with little regrets, and have nothing left on my bucket list!
Joanne,
I am so happy to share my life with you.
You show so much interest in people!
Here you are
right in the thick
of this lively band of fascinating souls!
No wonder you hit it off
with the poet you met.
No wonder you found joy in reading her books.
New sources of depth await you
in your explorations from here.
You are doing every day Your Way
and it sure looks like dawn to me
I would submit that great songs or poems or books are great because they tell a relatable story. We are a species of story lovers. Good stories will cross linguistic or cultural lines. Homer, Shakespeare, Hemmingway and hundreds of others hold up over time because they wrote relatable stories. Our species loves stories about us. A good writer can put a story into a 1000 page tome or a 17 syllable hyku. Writing that is true will hold up. Fiction can be true if it tells a story that makes the reader feel true emotions.
Haiku.
:)
indeed
please see reply above :)
Fred,
Thank you laying out this vital insight
so clearly and so well--
that we are a species of story lovers.
As a theorist, I have never fully appreciated
the central importance of stories.
I had to be taught
that including a personal story in my letters
would not only make me more relatable
but would allow me to better convey
and illustrate my theoretical ideas.
Your thoughts here encourage me
to further develop my capacities to tell relatable stories
that genuinely move the emotions of my readers.
I can see that is what you are doing
in your substack Uncle Fred's stories and thoughts.