Examine lyrics (easily located on the Web) from his Trouble album or from Till the Sun Turns Black to find a singular insight.
When I first read the title, “Till the Sun Turns Black,” I was turned off by its depressing idea, but the French horns coupled with his signature guitar grabbed me, and I was drawn into their soft lyrical simplicity.
I listened repeatedly. To the music. To the words. To the acoustic guitar with its constant assuring rhythm. To the strings and timpani building with the emotion and pain of his voice. To the horns as they enter and frame the last verses.
Then I wondered which verse was mine? Who was I in the song?
“young and pretty . . . blooming, laughing”
“old and lonely walking”
“corporate man winning”
“working classes trudging”
But it didn’t matter for the life activity of each would recycle “till the sun turns black.” Was my life like this? Too very often, yes. I prayed that I would no longer let it be.
I don’t believe we’re cast here to the earth in a cruel way – unable to be what we’re supposed to be – unable to function or experience the world – unable to make sense of it – unable to cope – unable to know – unable to be.
But so often my energy is focused on myself. What I’m doing, what I need, what I want. What I must accomplish. Do I notice who surrounds me, give them what they might need or want? I prayed that I would know how.
No matter whom we are, how different we are, what we have known in our lives, we all breathe the need for hope. Ironically, as the song ultimately suggests, it is the “wise man simply living, loving” that in my opinion can break the monotonous march to the end supplying in “every breath he takes, eternity.”
6 comments:
This is so beautifully written and is a very insightful interpretation of the lyrics. I agree that Ray
is the Dylan of our times.
We do sometimes forget to use our full potential
to live, to learn, to be and to love. Ironically we lose our way because we are busy trying to find the gifts we already possess.
As Michael Jackson said to a fellow musician:
"We have to use our gifts together to help others figure out what their gifts are."
I like the quote, thanks. Interesting that he didn't just stop with using one's own gifts. Using gifts together makes them more potent. And wouldn't it be interesting if someone's gift could only be actualized in the presence of, or when surrounded by others.
The timeliness of your posting these thoughts for me is a God thing. With all the busyness in my life right now (for the last 4 years), it is easy to become self-focused. Even when we care for others, the day by day can turn inward. I have thought often in the last several weeks, how otherness is truly living where self-focus is merely existing. Just my thoughts.
Monotony can really zap enjoyment out of life, and even busyness can become a kind of monotony. But as you say, focusing outward is the key to breaking out.
Just recently I read over your initial thoughts of this song from three or four years ago...how the title turned you off but then you were drawn in. Guess I psychically knew you were going to write this post. ;)
Sometimes I wonder when this notion of meaningful lives originated. Sometimes I think about the many people whose lives downturned and never got better, who were born into intolerable conditions and died that way...and I wonder...is it foolish to continue to tell people that things are always going to work out?
I would think that at least for the majority, things simply won't work out. That's the nature of this life, and it would demean the suffering people endure to act as if everything will simply be fine. But I have to go back to the lyrics of the song that I didn't quote.
The working classes are trudging, but LaMontagne also writes that they are waiting till the sun turns black. He writes that the corporate man is winning, but also that he is sitting alone in the dark watching TV waiting for a spark.
If you contrast the waiting with the more active "living" of the wise man, a different picture emerges that may or may not make life meaningful, but (and I can't help but go back to Ross L. Mooney's line in an earlier post)at least increases the chances of night turning to dawn.
Post a Comment