The Green Light District

A Musical Interlude

(Beautiful photo is courtesy of Scarlett Greyson.)

Last night I was taking a drive and listening to some songs I have found supportive either now or in the past when I have felt challenged. As I have mentioned here, I have felt that way lately, and music has seemed quite an important support for me in this context. As I was listening to it last night, I thought of some others I know that have specifically felt challenged recently, and it occurred to me to share here some of the songs that have felt helpful and supportive to me. Perhaps some of them will resonate with anyone who may read this.

The iTunes playlist on my computer for this general category is 99 songs. I’m condensing it here to 10 that resonate with me right now and/or that I have found particularly supportive in the past during times of struggle. If audio/video was easy to find on YouTube or elsewhere, I included the link.

(Note: I do notice that almost half of these songs are by Live. That is likely because almost anything by Live fits into this category for me — I particularly recommend the albums Songs From Black Mountain and The Distance to Here.)

Lastly, I know this blog is generally about sex and this has little to do with it. But you know, there’s a reason I included a “Not @ Sex” category. I hereby exercise my reserved right to use it.

In no particular order:

1) Walk On - U2 (lyrics)
2) Love Shines (A Song for My Daughters About God) - Live (lyrics)
3) Wings - Live (lyrics)
4) Overcome Live (lyrics)
5) Run to the Water - Live (lyrics)
6) Let It Be* - The Beatles (lyrics)
7) Broken - Lifehouse (lyrics)
8) Someday - Rob Thomas (lyrics)
9) Into the West - Howard Shore & Annie Lennox (lyrics)

The last one, which feels particularly resonant to me right now, I’m embedding here. And it goes out to every single person reading this, whether I know you personally or not.

I can tell by the way you’re walking
That you don’t want company
I’ll let you alone and I’ll let you walk on
And in your own good time you’ll be

Back where the sun can find you
Under the wise wishing tree
And with all of them made we’ll lie under the shade
And call it a jubilee

And I can tell by the way you’re talking
That the past isn’t letting you go
There’s only so long you can take it all on
Then the wrong’s gotta be on its own

And when you’re ready to leave it behind you
You’ll look back and all that you’ll see
Is the wreckage and rust that you left in the dust
On your way to the jubilee

And I can tell by the way you’re listening
That you’re still expecting to hear
Your name being called like a summons to all
Who have failed to account for their doubts and their fears

They can’t add up to much without you
And so if it were just up to me
I’d take hold of your hand, saying come hear the band
Play your song at the jubilee

And I can tell by the way you’re searching
For something you can’t even name
That you haven’t been able to come to the table
Simply glad that you came

And when you feel like this try to imagine
That we’re all like frail boats on the sea
Just scanning the night for that great guiding light
Announcing the jubilee

And I can tell by the way you’re standing
With your eyes filling with tears
That it’s habit alone keeps you turning for home
Even though your home is right here

Where the people who love you are gathered
Under the wise wishing tree
May we all be considered then straight on delivered
Down to the jubilee

‘Cause the people who love you are waiting
And they’ll wait just as long as need be
When we look back and say those were halcyon days
We’re talking about jubilee

Love,
Emerald

*Years ago I avoided this song because of what I interpreted as the overt reference to Catholicism in the mention of “mother Mary.” Then I realized the Catholic church doesn’t have a patent on Mary, and if I want to interpret it simply as a reference to the feminine Divine, I will. (And do.)

Posted by Emerald | Filed under: Not @ Sex (!)|