Thursday, March 21, 2019

Poetry Friday: Birthday Edition

I got some music for my birthday this year, and I've been listening to it a lot, so from my new albums, here are some song lyrics for today's Poetry Friday. You know how some people say - and, apparently, mean - that they don't pay attention to the words when they listen to music? I just don't get that. To me, the words are supremely important, and both of these albums have fabulous words. I chose these two songs to share today because they both seem appropriate as I start a new year of my life. The world is a whole big mess, with tragedy and grief everywhere I look. And yet there are glimpses of God's goodness everywhere, too. This year I'm continuing to find beauty and to grow - shedding my snakeskin, as the Over the Rhine song puts it. Continuing to be astonished. Continuing to bet on the muse.


Windows in the World 

So you're sitting at the movies.
You're watching how the story finds a way.
And you've seen it all before,
Still you love to see the hero save the day.

It's a window in the world,
A little glimpse of all the
Goodness getting through.
And all along the way the days
Are made of little moments of truth.

Oh and every Sunday morning
You can see the people standing in a line.
They're so hungry for some mercy,
For a taste of the Communion bread and wine.

It's a window in the world,
A little glimpse of all the
Goodness getting through.
And all along the way the days
Are made of little moments of truth.

It's the way the clouds are burning
From the angle of the light
As the earth is slowly turning you to meet it,
And you're watching at your window
At the ending of the night
--It's as plain as day
So any fool could see it:
It's a window in the world.

I can see the groom is waiting,
He's watching for the moment she appears.
They are laying down their lives for love
And Love is laying waste to all my fears.

It's a window in the world,
A little portal where you get a better view.
And the wonder of it all
Is all you need to see the goodness getting through.

And all along the way the days
Are made of little moments--
All along the way the road
Is paved with little moments of truth.

Andrew Peterson


Betting on the Muse

Another golden evening is dying on the vine
A rehearsal for the final act
When the light that's lost is mine
All this blinding beauty has left me no excuse

I know the sun is setting
Who knows where it’s heading?
I'm still betting
Betting on the muse

My courage often staggers but still we climb the stairs
I lie awake and wonder, are they songs or are they prayers?
This beautiful delusion
If it's all a ruse

It’s such a lovely setting
For my snakeskin to keep shedding
I'm still betting
Betting on the muse

You've got to die inside so many times
While you're trying to learn to live
You've got to get taken for everything
To have anything to give

Your signal is receiving
Some days it's called breathing

I'm remembering your kisses
Our lips raw with love
But the fact that you still make me laugh
Is what I'm most proud of
You learn to be astonished
That’s how you pay your dues

What am I forgetting?
Nothing I’m regretting
I'm still betting
Betting on the muse

What am I forgetting?
Nothing I’m regretting,
I'm letting go
What I'm not getting
I'm still betting
Betting on the muse.

Linford Detweiler (Over the Rhine)

Here's today's Poetry Friday roundup.

11 comments:

Linda Mitchell said...

First, Happy Birthday! And, what great songs. Both are songs that help one take stock. I love the idea of betting on the muse.

Irene Latham said...

Oh I am loving that Betting on the Muse! Really lovely, and pretty much a motto to live by. Thank you, Ruth. xo p.s happy belated birthday :)

Linda B said...

Happy Birthday one more time, Ruth. These are lovely, & I have to admit that I struggle to understand the words sometimes. So if there is a song I like, I often look up the lyrics to read them! I like the idea of 'window to the world' & 'betting on the muse'. Love that you are loving your birthday music!

Rebecca Herzog said...

Thank you for sharing these! I am one of those people that often doesn't pay attention to the actual lyrics! Unless I am actively trying, it can take many times of listening before my brain switches over and actually hears the words. Part of it, i think, is that I am a much better visual learner--so it will help if I read the lyrics as I listen!

Mary Lee said...

"You've got to die inside so many times
While you're trying to learn to live"

"all the
Goodness getting through"

Yes, yes, yes to both of these songs! Happiest of birthdays and here's to another snakeskin shed as we continue to BECOME ourselves...all the way to the "final act."

Jane @ www.raincitylibrarian.ca said...

Oh, I'm the same way, I always listen to lyrics - they're poetry put to music! Some of my favourite songs are my favourites specifically because of the power of the words.

Here's hoping you had a wonderful birthday!!

Michelle Heidenrich Barnes said...

I listen to songs both ways depending on my mood, depending on the artist, depending on whether or not the lyrics are easy to understand(!), but I do agree that if you get wonderful lyrics like these combined with great music, that's the most satisfying experience of all. Happy birthday, Ruth! Wishing you a year of muse-inspired poetry.

Tabatha said...

"As the earth is slowly turning you to meet it" "Your signal is receiving
Some days it's called breathing"
The line between poetry and lyrics really does fade away at times, doesn't it?
I always listen to lyrics and more often than not, I complain that they don't make sense. (e.g. "Why is she saying she wants him back when she just said she can't stand the sight of him?")
These are stunners. Thanks for sharing them!

Michelle Kogan said...

I'm with you Ruth, let's "bet on the muse" and keep the good poetry and music coming! Happy Belated Birthday! Thank god for nature, that's what keeps me going, a good walk each day and taking the outside inside me, thanks.

Donna Smith said...

I am a lyrics person. After all, a song is a poem and is saying something - or should be.

susanbruck.com said...

Happy (belated) birthday! And thanks for sharing these lovely songs/poems. I love finding new music--and now that my daughters don't live with me (they're all grown up) I don't always have a good source for new music. I'm a lyrics person, too.