A man requested "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley at my show on Saturday night. After an evening of playing loud, rocking cover songs, I played it while my friends in the band stayed on break.
It was the best part of the weekend. Ever since, I've been living with the words and the melody.
"Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look? Ooh
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fullfil the book
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever had
Redemption songs
All I ever had
Redemption songs
These songs of freedom
Songs of freedom"
This year has been marked by incredible sorrow, feelings of guilt, anxiety, apprehension, and loss. And all I seem to really have at my disposal anymore is the ability to sing. I woke up today feeling anxious, feeling alone, and feeling so distant from the moment, and with so much of my energy diverted towards my nerves. I hate feeling this way.
Awh! I love this post. And this song... And this line (of yours): "All I seem to really have at my disposal anymore is the ability to sing."
ReplyDeleteIn my weakest moments, some version of that thought is exactly what enters my being. I think you're further along than me, considering you're out and about and sharing what's inside of you and I've just been singing for myself of late... True singers' voices don't silence easily, though, do they?