Music Musings

Warning: You might find this one weird

Some time within the last couple of weeks I mentioned that I was thinking about doing a longer post on music and I didn’t think it would happen quite this soon, but a couple things prompted it to occur now.  I am a “timing” nerd I guess, and when things happen when I’m in the midst of thinking about them, I see it as significant.

First, a song keeps getting stuck in my head and it is a Freddy Mercury song called, “There Must Be More to Life Than This.”  I didn’t know this old song back in the day, and I only started hearing it on Pandora several months ago.  But I cannot help but think, here is Freddy Mercury, who according to Wikipedia, “it was previously recorded as a duet between Mercury and Michael Jackson” who along with Michael had what the world tells them is the pinnacle of success. Fame, wealth, literally ANYTHING they could want.  Did Freddy choose this song because he honestly felt like this on the inside?  I suspect so, but who knows? Every time I hear Freddy’s beautiful voice, whether this song or others with Queen, I cannot help but think how much of a gift he had.  Same with many of my other favorites who use their gifts to please millions.  It was no accident they got to where they did. I think most of these people could not cope with life unless they were able to use their talent - they were literally born to do it.  Beautiful voices, beautiful words.  Mozart?  Why was Mozart capable of writing symphonies at such a young age?  Luck?  No, purpose.  So, I believe there is a higher purpose when people have a natural ability and a natural desire to use it. It’s something they can’t not do, and so they become successful so the world can witness it.   This is beautiful to listen to, but if you don’t want to click, the lyrics are below.

"There Must Be More To Life Than This"

There must be more to life than this
There must be more to life than this
How do we cope in a world without love
Mending all those broken hearts and tending to those crying faces
There must be more to life than living
There must be more than meets the eye
Why should it be just a case of black or white
There must be more to life than this

Why is this world so full of hate
People dying everywhere
And we destroy what we create
People fighting for their human rights
But we just go on saying c'est la vie
So this is life

There must be more to life than killing
A better way for us to survive
What good is life, if in the end we all must die,
There must be more to life than this

There must be more to life than this
there must be more to life than this
I live and hope for a world filled with love
Then we can all just live in peace
there must be more to life, much more to life,
There must be more to life, more to life than this

And yes, there is more to life than that (i.e. eternal life), but this current world will never be a world filled with love and peace. Our souls will not die, only our bodies will die on this earth.

I went to “The Spot” (https://icantimagine.substack.com/p/the-spot ) on today’s morning walk.  First, on the way there, I walk down this tiny street with only a few houses on it behind the town library and a small pediatric office.  Several (5? 10?) stray cats hang out here because a nice elderly lady has made it her mission to make sure they have food and water.  I randomly see her taking care of them and we always exchange pleasantries.  I’ve thought that one day I may have to “take over” but I may not know when that is.

Today one little black cat saw me and the dog coming, and took off under the fence. As we got closer, there was a littler white and gray one just lounging in the grass, not giving us a care in the world as we walked by.  (My dog didn’t care either.  She’s used to our cat, Milo).  It occurred to me how representative that is of people!  Some of us are either born with more “fraidy cat” tendencies, or through life experience we acquire them.  One cat runs, one could care less.  Same with other personality traits, right?  I was a sociology major back at The Ohio State University in the 80s, and enjoy psychology, too, so these things have always interested me.

I listened to one podcast which ended and got me about three-fourths of the way back to my car, and decided to keep going with one I’d started the other day, by a podcaster named Mike Winger that I don’t listen to all that much.  I’d had a question the other day and looked up a video from him to see what he had to say about it, and then I saw his most recent podcast, which was this:

https://www.youtube.com/live/TkbRU7QcQ_c?feature=share

It was set up in YouTube so the screen was stilled on the first question about A.I. and it being the image of the Beast in Revelation, and I was curious about his thoughts.  I don’t particularly like his style of delivery which is why I think I rarely listen to him, but it was pretty interesting.  I found an approximate spot where I thought I’d stopped previously and at the same time was thinking/praying about what I should write about this weekend. (I just talk to God like he’s my BFF most of the time.)

“What should I write about this week, God? I’ve kinda been thinking about this music aspect, but I’m not sure I’m ready for that one.”

Right at this point, question number seven begins, “{What Does Evil Music Sound Like?} If we took away the lyrics from music, would there still be such a thing as “bad music” or “evil music”? If so, what does evil music sound like?”

Well, that was my answer as far as what to write about as far as I was concerned! Music it is!

I’ve never thought about evil music.  I think we all have different tastes, but the lyrics definitely can have an affect on a person, good or bad.  Messages of evil, destruction, depression, cruelty, objectification, and other sordid topics can only create a scenario of “garbage in/garbage out.”  The opposite is true as well of course.  Messages of love, acceptance, truth, trust, and purpose will have a positive affect on a person’s outlook.  Whether this be rap, pop, country, metal, religious, operatic, or any other type should not matter.  I think the lyrics matter, but the surrounding music doesn’t.

Sometimes as I’ve driven down the road listening to the radio, digital, or a CD, I’ve heard a love song meant to be toward a romantic interest that I’ve thought could just as well describe God’s loving words reaching down to us through the people He put in place to sing it and reveal it.  How can we feel ANY KIND of love that isn’t miniscule compared to His?  He’s given us a taste of what real, devoted love feels like when our hearts desire another human so much in romantic love, yet His love for us is even greater than that. It’s greater than that aching romantic love and it’s greater than the love of parents to our children.  Impossible to fathom!  I first recognized hearing God in love songs back in college when Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration” came out.

I was very “into” God at that point in my life so here are the lyrics.  This one was me to God, not God to me and obviously there is a line there that doesn’t fit perfectly, but in general, I thought of God when I heard this song at the time and still do. I’ve never told anybody this!

"You're The Inspiration"

You know our love was meant to be
The kind of love that lasts forever
And I want you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know, everywhere I go
Always on my mind, in my heart
In my soul, baby

You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you hear me sayin'
No one needs you more than I need you

And I know, yes I know that it's plain to see
So in love when we're together
Now I know that I need you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know, everywhere I go
Always on my mind, in my heart
In my soul

You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you hear me sayin'
No one needs you more than I need you

Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you hear me sayin'
No one needs you more than I need you

You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration
When you love somebody 'til the end of time
When you love somebody
Always on my mind
No one needs you more than I
When you love somebody 'til the end of time
When you love somebody
Always on my mind
I need you

Now let’s take a song that is the opposite.  God using a romantic love song to tell us about love!

Lyrics:

"You've Got A Friend"

When you're down and troubled,
And you need some love and care,
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me,
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night.

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend

If the sky above you grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together and call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
And I'll be there, yes I will.

Now, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold?
They'll hurt you, yes, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them,
Oh, but don't you let them

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, running, yeah, yeah, yeah, to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yes I will.
You've got a friend

You've got a friend
Ain't it good to know, you've got a friend?
Ain't it good to know?
Ain't it good to know?
Ain't it good to know, you've got a friend?

Oh yeah, now
Oh, you've got a friend
Yeah, baby
You've got a friend
Oh yeah...
You've got a friend

The idea is that for God to be speaking to you through music, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a Christian singer or a church hymn.  If the lyrics or melodies are moving you to feel closer to God, to want to be closer to Him and get to know Him more, that to me is what music was designed to do.  I recognize that everything that’s good about us is because we are an image of Him.  What is good that we like, He created us to like. We are made in His image and He likes or loves it as well.  If you ever come across a song that you think fits this type of scenario, come back and comment or send me an email!

Since this is a grief journal about Morgan, we spent many road trips listening to a lot of music on our way to court or beach volleyball tournaments.  I told her she couldn’t play any that had the F-word in it.  I wasn’t too happy for her to listen to it on her own, but that was her choice by then.  Most of the time we switched off by the hour or something, whose selections we would listen to.  I know one of her favorite Christian songs was this one:

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

[Verse 1]
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

[Verse 2]
You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

[Chorus]
So bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Bless you, Lord

Mo, I’m sure the music up there is spectacular and you spend a lot of time dancing with your new friends. I hope God allows you to visit me in my dreams, as a heron or a cardinal, or in some new way. I miss you so much!