Two thoughts. First, I’ve come to appreciate that some gears in my brain don’t turn the same direction as they do in others’. Something I’ve noticed is that I’ll latch onto certain songs for spans of time then play them non-stop, day after day, until a new song takes it’s place. Every so often, multiple songs will be in rotation. Second, those spans of time are like seasons of my soul. From Winter to Spring, Spring to Summer, Summer to Autumn, and Autumn to Winter. My life will cycle through ups and downs. These songs play a score of those seasons. Right now, its early Spring. It’s raining, but warming up. The Winter we just left was a particularly dark and cold one, but the promise of a bright Summer full of flourishing flowers keeps moving me forward. “I’m not going to let myself down.”
These are the songs of the season, definitely in a most particular order…
First Song of the Season
Another Star by Stevie Wonder. Winter chill remains. Stevie is a well know lover boy, but this one strays away from his usual ballads and touches on a topic unfortunately dear to me this Spring. “For you, there might be another star. For you, there might be another song. For you, love might be for you to find. But I will celebrate our love of yesterday.”
Second Songs
Runaway by Del Shannon and Runaway by Kanye West. Storms are rolling in, rain and thunder on the horizon. These share a title, and a story, but told from two separate perspectives. The coin is the same, but every time you flip it, the result is heads or tails. “Tears are falling and I feel a pain. I wonder… Why?” “I don’t know how I’ll manage, if one day you just up and leave.” “I think it’s time for us to have a toast.”
Third Song of the Season
Forgive Them Father by Lauryn Hill. As the violins of Runaway’s outro play, storms violently ravage the soul. Forgive Them Father is the storm breaking, grounds flooded, trees snapped by lightening strike. Air warmed by the first sign of sunlight. Spring follows Winter, destruction begets growth. “And you never suppose it’s those who are closest to you.” “Everyday people, they lie to God too. So, what makes you think, that they won’t lie to you?”
Forth and Final Song of the Season
Walkin by Denzel Curry. As the sun continues to warm the ground, shades of green show the first sign of new life. Growth is no longer a hope on the horizon, it’s here. So long as time moves on, as it always will, the flowers of Spring will sprout anew. “Walking with my back to the sun, keep my head to the sky” “I’m killing off my demons because my soul’s worth redeeming.” “Went through a lot of shit in the last year, then I said fuck it, I’m going to handle my business” “I just got to stay focused, I just got to keep walking.”