Music.

Standin' in the rain

With his head hung low

Couldn't get a ticket,

It was a sold out show.

Heard the roar of the crowd

He could picture the scene

Put his head to the wall

And like a distant scream

He heard one guitar

Just blew him away

Saw stars in his eyes

And the very next day

He bought a beat up six string

In a secondhand store.

Didn't know how to play it

But he knew for sure

 That one guitar

Felt good in his hands.

--Jukebox Hero, by Foreigner.  

That one guitar. The roar of metal and noise and vibration that reached to the man's heart. Stars in his eyes. That one guitar, like a distant scream. Just blew him away.

Absolutely spectacular. 

 Jukebox Hero makes me remember how music reaches to the very soul of the person listening. It makes me remember how the fierce, aggressive, passionate style of rock is an amazing work of art. The power of one sound changed the man's life--his whole life. That is awe-inspiring. Music brings me such joy--often I'll listen and that one guitar will suddenly penetrate my heart. My head will go back and I'll laugh in pure ecstasy. Music. 

What a gift. 

When I am down, and Oh, my soul's so weary;

When troubles come, and my heart burdened be

Then I am still and sit here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me. 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up, to stand of stormy seas

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up...to more than I can be. 

--You Raise Me Up, hymn

I don't understand it. How mere sounds have the power to make people laugh, cry, dance--it will always be a mystery. I just know what is. And I see a stunning tableau of light fighting dark, joy conquering sadness, and the human heart bursting. Someday, someday, this battle called life will be over. Then we'll see what true joy looks like, and it will resonate in our very souls like the notes of fire we call music. 

I guess I was feeling philosophic. Hope y'all don't mind. 

Notes of Fire

     Music comes in so many, many ways. This world is wrapped in song. The birds have it, the wind has it, the road has it, the rain, the trees, the city. People make music in hate, love, passion, anger, joy, and in an absence of reality. We listen to music and it makes music inside of us. It brings people close together.
     My favorite part of a race is when the people stand to sing. Whether it be the National Anthem or "My Old Kentucky Home", for those few moments we are one. Thousands of people are brought together because they are all thinking of the same thing. If all those thoughts could be made into a song, it would be more beautiful than anything ever heard, because it would be unison and thoughts that have no malice, no greed, and no superficiality.
     In some ways, music has been twisted and desecrated. But really, all that it is is emotion. Whether those emotions be worthy or not, they are there. And those emotions are passed to the listener. A song that was made with a hearty dose of desperation makes you feel desperate. A song created with joy will pass joy on to you. Music is powerful. Remember that.
    If I could somehow soar to the past and bring back one thing, it would be gatherings where people come together to dance and sing. I wish I had a giant eraser that I could lift it up and wipe away all self-consciousness, so people wouldn't feel scared or awkward to just life up their voices and sing. Together. Oh, what joy that would be.