This is the week of the Bruces for me — I saw Bruce Cockburn in concert Thurs. night, and Sat. night, I’m off to see Bruce Springsteen for the umpteenth time. Today as I listened to some of my favorite Cockburn songs (like “Wondering Where the Lions Are”), then bumped into a full Springsteen concert from last week on Sirius Radio (a preview of what I’ll likely hear soon), I considered again how music is engine, caboose, and everything in between to my life….and maybe yours too?
Music — the making of it and listening to it — has lifted me up and brought me back to myself again and again, from my years of hiding a transistor radio under the covers back in Brooklyn so I could listen to Cousin Brucie (another Bruce!) play the hits to teaching myself how to play everything from “Theme from Brian’s Song” to “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen” on the piano. I trip into nirvana when Kelley Hunt or Kathryn Lorenzen and I write a new song or sometimes when I bump again into a beloved tune from Mary Chapin Carpenter and other saving graces.
I really love this quote from Matt Haig: “Music doesn’t get in. Music is already in. Music simply uncovers what is there, makes you feel emotions that you didn’t necessarily know you had inside you, and runs around waking them all up. A rebirth of sorts.” How true it is that we’re made of music. After all, as living beings, we’re rhythmic beings, our heart beat tapping out its music, and maybe breath is its own kind of music too.
So consider what the power of music brings you in your days and nights, and how you can draw on that power for the good when you need a little company, insight, soothing, or magic.
This is a cross-post from my Patreon, where you can also see this post plus a writing prompt and links to explore more of the power of music. Click here.
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