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Many of you might be familiar with "The Sound of Silence" (originally "The Sounds of Silence"). Paul Simon wrote the famous song that he and Art Garfunkel first sang in the 1960's. What's it about? A writer's memorable dream. A dream that imprinted in his memory. It also touches on the subject of society's materialism due to the lack of spiritual seriousness and beliefs as well as silence and its effect on our humanity. Interesting to note, according to Wikipedia, "...the song was added to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress for being 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically important' in 2012..." Since that time, many have put their spin on the song. I haven't seen all of them, but this version is outstanding. I love it and I feel that you will, too! Also, the lyrics are below the video, if interested. The Sound of Silence Hello darkness, my old friend I've come to talk with you again Because a vision softly creeping Left its seeds while I was sleeping And the vision that was planted in my brain still remains Within the sound Of silence In restless dreams I walked alone Narrow streets of cobblestone 'Neath the halo of the streetlamp I turned my collar to the cold and damp When my eyes were stabbed By the flash of a neon light That split the night And touched the sound Of silence And in the naked light I saw Ten thousand people, maybe more People talking without speaking People hearing without listening People writing songs That voices never share And no one dared Disturb the sound Of silence (Of silence) "Fools," said I, "you do not know Silence, like a cancer, grows Hear my words that I might teach you Take my arms that I might reach you" But my words like silent raindrops fell And echoed in the wells Of silence And the people bowed and prayed To the neon god they made And the sign flashed out its warning In the words that it was forming And the sign said, "the words of the prophets Are written on the subway walls And tenement halls" And whispered in the sound Of silence  Hope Cope Thrive Survive Soar Keep fighting the good fight, mighty warriors Keep fighting the good fight, mighty warriors "Alive" Artist: Sia  Those songs that dance on repeat in your headspace...you know what I'm referring to, right? The songs that drone on so long that you're unsure whether you should belly laugh or dramatically sigh with a grandiose rolling of the eyes? Well, an "old" song popped into my mind last night and of course I HAD to find the music video. Because the song remains. Hmm...after watching that, I suppose I'll choose to belly laugh. :-) PS: And for all those who laugh (or show some semblance of a smile) as a result of the following video, you are welcome. :-)  I'm a Christian and find that this video from Mormon.org serves as a beautiful reminder that no matter who we are, we can touch others with the Love and Mercy of Christ if we put our belief and faith in Him. Jesus works for and through all of us. Every second of every day. We are so very loved by One who is greater than any of us. Thank you, Jesus, for Your Unconditional Love, Sacrifice, Mercy, Comfort and Grace. When day comes we ask ourselves,
where can we find light in this never-ending shade? The loss we carry, a sea we must wade We've braved the belly of the beast We've learned that quiet isn't always peace And the norms and notions of what just is Isn’t always just-ice And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it Somehow we do it Somehow we've weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken but simply unfinished We the successors of a country and a time Where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president only to find herself reciting for one And yes we are far from polished far from pristine but that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect We are striving to forge a union with purpose To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us but what stands before us We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another We seek harm to none and harmony for all Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true: That even as we grieved, we grew That even as we hurt, we hoped That even as we tired, we tried That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious Not because we will never again know defeat but because we will never again sow division Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree And no one shall make them afraid If we’re to live up to our own time Then victory won’t lie in the blade But in all the bridges we’ve made That is the promised glade The hill we climb If only we dare It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit, it’s the past we step into and how we repair it We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy And this effort very nearly succeeded But while democracy can be periodically delayed it can never be permanently defeated In this truth in this faith we trust For while we have our eyes on the future history has its eyes on us This is the era of just redemption We feared at its inception We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour but within it we found the power to author a new chapter To offer hope and laughter to ourselves So while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe? Now we assert How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us? We will not march back to what was but move to what shall be A country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation Our blunders become their burdens But one thing is certain: If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children’s birthright So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left with Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest, we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west, we will rise from the windswept northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states, we will rise from the sunbaked south We will rebuild, reconcile and recover and every known nook of our nation and every corner called our country, our people diverse and beautiful will emerge, battered and beautiful When day comes we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid The new dawn blooms as we free it For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it If only we’re brave enough to be it I particularly love Lady Gaga's performance at the Inauguration yesterday. Her rendition of The National Anthem was beautiful. She took some heat on her outfit, but I thought it was great. I believe that gold dove is meant to be a peace dove, not a Hunger Games mockingjay. (Though if she'd said "may the odds be ever in your favor," it would've been totally appropriate, America.) :-) Performed by LIBERA, from the 2019 album ‘Christmas Carols with Libera'
Conductor - Robert Prizeman Music - M Leontovych Arranged - Robert Prizeman Filmed at St Augustine’s church, Kilburn VIdeo director - Emyr Afan Video editor - Scott Jaeger |
Baby me. Not much has changed. I still sit like that at my desk and I'm still cute. :-)
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April 2022
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