One of the greatest functions of music is to help relieve us from the stresses that we face in our everyday lives and instead take us back to places of excitement, and pleasant memories that different songs help us to remember. Music is a refresher, and it helps to sort of cleanse and refresh our spiritual body as a shower or bath may help us to cleanse and refresh our physical body.
Today, as I was driving into work, I plugged in a Journey CD and when Don’t Stop Believing came one… I was suddenly whisked away to 1979, San Francisco Ca where Doug was stationed (in Novato). Although I so hated being out there, I did love the one thing that came from there, the little girl named Mary who was created out of an enduring love between two people who, although so very different, forever share the same soul.
I find, as I grow older, that music takes me back to other times much more frequently now. A song will come on and suddenly I am in a happier time or with someone I love so very much who may either be gone from me due to death or separated from me due to miles, or anger, or indifference. Still, through music I get to be with them:
When I hear Free Bird… I am again with Doug. The same is true when I listen to Precious and Few by Climax. It always reminds me of the short periods of time I had with him between trips out to sea… and they were so precious and few. I also am called to his side when I here Stay With Me by Phil Collins and remember renewing our vows on our 20th wedding anniversary… not knowing that four short years later he would be called from my side for good.
When I hear Father and Son by Cat Stevens, I remember singing with my youngest son James at a cub scout talent show… we got a standing ovation and my son’s musical talents were already blooming. He has even written his own songs now and I have a CD that was made during a live performance of his at the Sail Inn; I cherish it always.
When I listen to Marvelous Toy, I am with him as a tiny child (he loved to help me make the noises of the toy) and then I am also with my precious Granddaughter, Jess, who used to have me sing that song to her almost every night.
Douglas, my first born also enjoyed the Marvelous Toy but his absolute favorite was Puff the Magic Dragon which I would reword to use his name instead of Jackie Paper… how he would laugh. When he was older I started to watch him dance to the 80s tunes of Duran Duran and of course Michael Jackson. Today, he loves Trance music and other types. As an older teen, he came to pick me up from work one day and I remember rolling down my window and a particular song came, yet again, over his tape player, and yelled out “Help, I am being taken to Momo land…” I still smile at that one.
When I hear Helen Ready sing You and Me Against the World… I think of my Mary. For over 12 years after her father died, I felt certain that is how it was going to be for the rest of my life… her and me against the world. We fought many hard battles together but love finally came into her life and I had to make room for her to grow… Mary also loved for me to sing Mamma Don’t You Walk so Fast and In the Ghetto. I think her favorite, back then, though, was probably also the Marvelous Toy. Seems they all like that one and we could all be so silly during it J
When I listen to big band music I am with my father… he taught me how to dance. Stardust and Begin the Beguine were his favorites. When I was first adopted by my parents we would go EVERY Friday night for a fish fry to the Village Inn on the Ridge Road in Albion NY. They, back then, would have a live piano player and Dad would let me go up (donning my sun glasses of course) put a tip in the glass and ask the man to play Stardust… then when I got back to the table, he would have me stand on his shoes and dance me across the floor. Happy times Dad… I miss you.
My mom LOVE Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, and Rosemary Clooney; as do I still to this day. She could not sing at all but would sing over and over again while she worked this same stanza… Come to me my melancholy baby… When I was married, I asked her what song was played at her wedding. She told me it was O Promise Me. So on my wedding day, unbeknownst to her; I had that very song played as our best man escorted her up the aisle and to her seat. Tears rolled down her cheeks… the first time I had ever seen her shed a tear.
However, it was the Polka music that brings back the greatest memories of time with my mother… and I am so glad I have those. She loved to polka and we were one fantastic polka team. We would literally clear the floor when a polka was played at a wedding or other festivity and would dance so fast… both of us totally out of breath when it concluded and laughing so hard as people cheered. I miss you mom.
Who can forget the Beatles? I still remember my sister screaming her lungs out as she watched their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show… with her six year younger sister (me) looking at her as if she had lost her mind. Sorry dear readers, I have not been nor shall I ever be a Beatles fan… oh the horror.
When I lost a dear friend last month, I called her daughter and sang to her “The Rose” which her mother had asked me to do years ago… that song will always remind me of that loving but troubled sprit and I shall never forget her.
Never take for granted the power of music. It helps to amplify moods like anger and rage, or it can be used to calm us down when we need it to, music can be an escape from the world that you are currently enjoying or not enjoying, and can be an entry into a world of old so that you may revisit your past. Music can also be what helps a person make and maintain new memories as well. Remember that music holds a key to your old memories. Never forget.
