There's an extremely comforting and inspiring quote I read years ago, that sadly I have long since lost/forgotten the context and attribution for (not to mention the exact quotation, so this is a paraphrasing of it), that is once again far too applicable today:
"A raindrop seems insignificant compared against an ocean. But that's how oceans are made."
I was despondent the other day, because of something small but hard to take. Fortunately my Delia was standing by; she said: "It's like a grain of rice on an otherwise empty scale." And, after a moment: "This one's more like a bee." Then: "A large bee."
I am very lucky to have someone who's so good with metaphor, and also makes me laugh.
I LOVE that song! My beau and I had the chance to see Men Without Hats perform a few years ago as the opening act for Howard Jones. As we waited to enter the venue, we noticed how many people in the line were wearing MWH t-shirts and even carrying albums. We started talking with some of them and learned how many had traveled quite far to be there. We were surprised there was so much support for the opening act, but once we saw them perform, we understood why. The lead singer, Ivan Doroschuk, is a force unto himself - so full of joy and irreverence. And when they started to play "Safety Dance," the place went wild. It was such a fabulous experience and just made me love that song even more.
Oysterband has many great supportive songs -- and they led me to Chumbawamba, whose album A Singsong and a Scrap has beautiful supportive songs one after another: "Laughter in a Time of War", "By and By", "Walking into Battle with the Lord" -- just about every track. If all you know of them is Tubthumping, you've got joy to discover! Their other later albums have great harmonies and anthemic songs, too.
Two things—no, three. Disco transports me to the 70s and helps me exercise without even realizing it. Most film/ Broadway soundtracks(a Chorus Line, Rent and Wicked are my sing alongs).And lots of piano! Manilow,Manchester, Carole King, Carly Simon.
We just re-watched A Chorus Line. Wow. Took me way back to seeing it in London (couldn't afford it in SF) - what a terrific, sad, uplifting show! For some reason, I didn't love Rent. Wicket: fantastic!
Thanks for making me cry before breakfast! But what a great post. I was not expecting that. I found your post right after reading Heather Cox Richardsons'. Even though I knew most of what she wrote about already, it was still really rough to read it all in one column.
Anyway, I love to sing along, especially in the car. For a long time my go-to was Hamilton, Act 1 (I can't drive while crying, so I don't listen to Act 2 all that much). I have been forcing myself to branch back out again, so for the holidays, a lot of Nowell Sing We Clear's many holiday recordings. I was just introduced to Windborne, which I think of as Next Gen folkies, and they are terrific.
Otherwise, in no particular order:
NPH's Hedwig & the Angry Inch (saw him play Hedwig on Broadway. OMG.)
Whedon's (sigh) Doctor Horrible's Sing Along Blog
Battlefield Band (especially when Alan Reid is singing - I love to sing along with him)
Caswell Carnahan (I can sing along with Danny Carnahan)
The Band
All for now. Take care, everyone, and as people keep saying, Remember to breathe
I'm not surprised that he was gracious, I'm just really ticked off at myself for being to shy to ask him to sign mine! I watched other people crowding around, and I just couldn't make myself join in. DUH. Anyway, I'm glad it's a good memory for you! Wasn't he absolutely astounding?
Ellen, I just realized I might have insulted you inadvertently. When I wrote "I didn't expect that," I did NOT mean that I didn't expect to think your post would be great!
1. Every day is a good day to listen to some Oysterband (even when it's the days when you listen to their version of Love Will Tear Us Apart with June Tabor and a box of tissues).
2. I immediately copied down "By these kindnesses, we are sustained" - and had to laugh, because the last thing I ran to copy down was "Live to see them die." And just a few quotes above that is "The power of spite sustains me."
Facets of the same determination to get through this together. I'll use whichever one I need, day by day, moment by moment.
Ha! I actually had a picture/me of THE POWER OF SPITE that I meant to use on this post - it's a good thing I forgot about it, since Substack was telling me my post was running out of space already . . . must be the song videos - but I ain't gonna stop those!
Eric Bibb's "Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down" has long been my antidote to despair. This version, where Bibb is backed up by blues and folk musicians from both sides of the Atlantic, is especially good: https://youtu.be/Ds1faZB4QSc?feature=shared
"Ready for the Storm" by Scottish folk musician Dougie MacLean is my go-to for summoning courage during turbulent times. This version (also from the TransAtlantic Sessions) is beautifully sung by Kathy Matteo and MacLean: https://youtu.be/wMxUjpYW_qg?feature=shared
"Happiness" by the Irish band We Banjos Three is good for a burst of joy on stressful days. The whimsical video was shot in Galway: https://youtu.be/zazrDVeczbA?feature=shared
I had Rose, Rose, Rose running through my head just a few hours ago, for no reason I could discern. Ah, to be a young Girl Scout in the 1970s again....
I was in a grocery store buying limes and lemons. (I worked on a 60 ton tour boat. Think a paddlewheel boat without the paddlewheel.) It was a small grocery, the kind that barely exist any longer, in a small tourist town. The cashier was new, the register was being problematic, and her manager was there trying to fix it. The cashier looked like she was going to cry. The line for the cashier was getting longer and longer and people were grumbly.
Who knows why I did this, but I said "We need a song" and figured Row, Row, Row Your Boat was something everyone would know. I divided the line up into 3 groups and got the first group to start singing it, then the 2nd, then the 3rd, singing in rounds. We went through it two or three times, and at the end of the register was fixed, the line was moving, and everyone was smiling or laughing except that one guy who was determined to be mad who glowered.
I got a mouthed thank you from the cashier and we all went on our ways. But it still makes me smile to think of it.
And thank you. I've ended up coming back to Substack and putting together some ideas around what I do. I could be your artist friend in her 60s as I have been feeling the same.
My entire songlist right now: Row, Row, Row Your Boat. It works.
Thank you for this post. I’ll be returning to it and forwarding bits of if for, oh, probably the next four years. And would add not a song but a poem: “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine . . .
There's an extremely comforting and inspiring quote I read years ago, that sadly I have long since lost/forgotten the context and attribution for (not to mention the exact quotation, so this is a paraphrasing of it), that is once again far too applicable today:
"A raindrop seems insignificant compared against an ocean. But that's how oceans are made."
I was despondent the other day, because of something small but hard to take. Fortunately my Delia was standing by; she said: "It's like a grain of rice on an otherwise empty scale." And, after a moment: "This one's more like a bee." Then: "A large bee."
I am very lucky to have someone who's so good with metaphor, and also makes me laugh.
I realize I'm describing the OPPOSITE of your metaphor - but doesn't that just underscore the fact that SMALL THINGS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
I think it does. Long live raindrops!
As Arthur said in Camelot, "Some drops sparkle!"
Safety Dance! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nM4okRvCg2g&pp=ygUdc2FmZXR5IGRhbmNlIG1lbiB3aXRob3V0IGhhdHM%3D
omg that song & video got me through an entire decade!
I recently saw a version played on harpsichord - let me see if I can find it -
I haven't clicked on your link, but there's a music video of it with morris dancers! As a retired morris dancer, I got a real kick out of it.
I LOVE that song! My beau and I had the chance to see Men Without Hats perform a few years ago as the opening act for Howard Jones. As we waited to enter the venue, we noticed how many people in the line were wearing MWH t-shirts and even carrying albums. We started talking with some of them and learned how many had traveled quite far to be there. We were surprised there was so much support for the opening act, but once we saw them perform, we understood why. The lead singer, Ivan Doroschuk, is a force unto himself - so full of joy and irreverence. And when they started to play "Safety Dance," the place went wild. It was such a fabulous experience and just made me love that song even more.
Oysterband has many great supportive songs -- and they led me to Chumbawamba, whose album A Singsong and a Scrap has beautiful supportive songs one after another: "Laughter in a Time of War", "By and By", "Walking into Battle with the Lord" -- just about every track. If all you know of them is Tubthumping, you've got joy to discover! Their other later albums have great harmonies and anthemic songs, too.
Hi, Tom! I just found Chumbawamba on YouTube, so thanks for that. I'll be listening to them while trying to deal with the day. -Joss
Two things—no, three. Disco transports me to the 70s and helps me exercise without even realizing it. Most film/ Broadway soundtracks(a Chorus Line, Rent and Wicked are my sing alongs).And lots of piano! Manilow,Manchester, Carole King, Carly Simon.
And lastly, Debbie Friedman.
We just re-watched A Chorus Line. Wow. Took me way back to seeing it in London (couldn't afford it in SF) - what a terrific, sad, uplifting show! For some reason, I didn't love Rent. Wicket: fantastic!
Thanks for making me cry before breakfast! But what a great post. I was not expecting that. I found your post right after reading Heather Cox Richardsons'. Even though I knew most of what she wrote about already, it was still really rough to read it all in one column.
Anyway, I love to sing along, especially in the car. For a long time my go-to was Hamilton, Act 1 (I can't drive while crying, so I don't listen to Act 2 all that much). I have been forcing myself to branch back out again, so for the holidays, a lot of Nowell Sing We Clear's many holiday recordings. I was just introduced to Windborne, which I think of as Next Gen folkies, and they are terrific.
Otherwise, in no particular order:
NPH's Hedwig & the Angry Inch (saw him play Hedwig on Broadway. OMG.)
Whedon's (sigh) Doctor Horrible's Sing Along Blog
Battlefield Band (especially when Alan Reid is singing - I love to sing along with him)
Caswell Carnahan (I can sing along with Danny Carnahan)
The Band
All for now. Take care, everyone, and as people keep saying, Remember to breathe
I love NPH's Hedwig! Thank you for a good memory (He was so gracious, signing my daughter's playbill after the performance)
I'm not surprised that he was gracious, I'm just really ticked off at myself for being to shy to ask him to sign mine! I watched other people crowding around, and I just couldn't make myself join in. DUH. Anyway, I'm glad it's a good memory for you! Wasn't he absolutely astounding?
Ellen, I just realized I might have insulted you inadvertently. When I wrote "I didn't expect that," I did NOT mean that I didn't expect to think your post would be great!
1. Every day is a good day to listen to some Oysterband (even when it's the days when you listen to their version of Love Will Tear Us Apart with June Tabor and a box of tissues).
2. I immediately copied down "By these kindnesses, we are sustained" - and had to laugh, because the last thing I ran to copy down was "Live to see them die." And just a few quotes above that is "The power of spite sustains me."
Facets of the same determination to get through this together. I'll use whichever one I need, day by day, moment by moment.
Ha! I actually had a picture/me of THE POWER OF SPITE that I meant to use on this post - it's a good thing I forgot about it, since Substack was telling me my post was running out of space already . . . must be the song videos - but I ain't gonna stop those!
Eric Bibb's "Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down" has long been my antidote to despair. This version, where Bibb is backed up by blues and folk musicians from both sides of the Atlantic, is especially good: https://youtu.be/Ds1faZB4QSc?feature=shared
"Ready for the Storm" by Scottish folk musician Dougie MacLean is my go-to for summoning courage during turbulent times. This version (also from the TransAtlantic Sessions) is beautifully sung by Kathy Matteo and MacLean: https://youtu.be/wMxUjpYW_qg?feature=shared
"Happiness" by the Irish band We Banjos Three is good for a burst of joy on stressful days. The whimsical video was shot in Galway: https://youtu.be/zazrDVeczbA?feature=shared
Some songs against despair:
You're Not Alone, by Allison Russell [with Brandi Carlile, on this version] https://youtu.be/YHzPT6bCGoQ?si=545DMQp3yzm9TVJa
One Voice, by The Wailin' Jennys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-24qGCvo7A
The Joke, by Brandi Carlile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r6A2NexF88
This Year, by The Mountain Goats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_qkVPZ8DJI
Thanks for these useful words. Helpful advice these spells.
Yes. Cognitive bottleneck and info overload, certainly by design. With a smokescreen bomb if it was a cartoon.
Music will take us through.
I had Rose, Rose, Rose running through my head just a few hours ago, for no reason I could discern. Ah, to be a young Girl Scout in the 1970s again....
We carry that young Girl Scout in our hearts . . . and she can still do so much good!
Kumbaya!
Gordon Bok, "Turning Toward the Morning" is one I go to.
Oh, gosh, yes.
I once did an entire "Sound & Spirit" show on HOPE, and that one was in there - I wonder if we can dig it out & put it up on my website?
Sea chanties almost always help me.
SEA CHANTIES!!! I knew I was forgetting something important. Thank you!
Wayyyyy heyyyy and UP she rises!
The only thing that got me through this morning's snow-shoveling was the Mermaid Song.
Schooner Faire! They do them New England Sea chanties so well.
I don't know them. Do they have stuff on YouTube? Oak Ash & Thorn does a good job with chanties too. They are not on YouTube, alas.
Yes! Sea chanties are so rowdy and wonderful to sing!
I'm so glad you had people to help you through Cabaret. Simple kindnesses indeed.
I was in a grocery store buying limes and lemons. (I worked on a 60 ton tour boat. Think a paddlewheel boat without the paddlewheel.) It was a small grocery, the kind that barely exist any longer, in a small tourist town. The cashier was new, the register was being problematic, and her manager was there trying to fix it. The cashier looked like she was going to cry. The line for the cashier was getting longer and longer and people were grumbly.
Who knows why I did this, but I said "We need a song" and figured Row, Row, Row Your Boat was something everyone would know. I divided the line up into 3 groups and got the first group to start singing it, then the 2nd, then the 3rd, singing in rounds. We went through it two or three times, and at the end of the register was fixed, the line was moving, and everyone was smiling or laughing except that one guy who was determined to be mad who glowered.
I got a mouthed thank you from the cashier and we all went on our ways. But it still makes me smile to think of it.
And thank you. I've ended up coming back to Substack and putting together some ideas around what I do. I could be your artist friend in her 60s as I have been feeling the same.
My entire songlist right now: Row, Row, Row Your Boat. It works.
Sacred Harp 472 Akin.
https://youtu.be/dDa9-rdr5q4?si=vdlTIljRXOf_Tm44
Thanks so much for sharing these spells. Treasures. Thank you.
Love shape note! Here's my favorite, sung by the awesome Watersons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9qlI6hQYy0
Thank you for this post. I’ll be returning to it and forwarding bits of if for, oh, probably the next four years. And would add not a song but a poem: “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine . . .
http://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/oliver_wildgeese.html