Music Is The Healing Of The Nations ... Or Could Be
I've been working on a cd for my mom to have played during her imminent knee replacement surgery. It's been fun to find funny things (Annette Funicello singing The Hokey Pokey, Fred Astaire singing Shall We Dance complete with the sound of his tap dancing, etc.) and things that set a peaceful or healing tone (Libana's version of Deep Peace, etc.). And it's reminded me that I have neglected you! Yes, you!
I have not mooned and waxed rhapsodic over Jim Scott to you nearly enough. Yes, I made A Very Big Deal about the fact that my mom brought him to be THE music at my wedding -- a fact I can still hardly take in, especially when balanced against how homemade our wedding was. He came 800 miles to sing at our wedding and was thrilled to do it. (He and my mom know each other because she hooked him up to do some concerts in the area and at her UU church on a few occasions.) He was part of the Paul Winter Consort for years and co-wrote and arranged many of their better known songs (e.g., Common Ground) and now tours on his own. When I tell you that he is an incredible guitarist, you may think I am exaggerating. If so, you will be wrong. I actually don't know a suitable accolade and, so, "incredible" will have to suffice.
His song-writing is wonderful and I can honestly say that I haven't got a play list that doesn't feature some of his tunes. One of my favorites, May Your Life Be As A Song, began with a Russian round for the chorus. He added the verses and melody and bossa nova arrangement. It nods at Jobim and uplifts like sunlight on water. Here are the words:
May Your Life Be As A Song
© Jim Scott 1995
My wish for you now as we part
is for greater peace to fill your heart.
With dreams as vast as starry space
so hurt and anger hold no place
May truth be shared and wounds be healed
and joy for living be revealed.
Through every fate and circumstance
may hope lead weary steps to dance.
And may your life be as a song
Resounding with the dawn
to sing awake the light,
Then softly serenade the stars
Ever dancing circles in the night.
May fears be turned with keen insight
to wisdom for what's just and right.
Where sorrow grows compassion strong
and pain will pass before too long.
May the bounds of our diversity
serve a richer harmony,
May courage hold your heart so true
to smile on love when it smiles on you.
And may your life be as a song
Resounding with the dawn
to sing awake the light,
Then softly serenade the stars
Ever dancing circles in the night.
His albums, concerts, songbook, and self are worth spending time with. A nice affirmation of what is most power and what is most true. It was nice to reconnect with that today.
In case you are interested,
Deep Peace ~ Libana
Pendulum Swinger ~ Indigo Girls
Beginner's Luck ~ Fred Astaire
The Hokey Pokey ~ Annette Funicello
Common Ground ~ Jim Scott
Let It Be Me ~ Indigo Girls
You Gotta Have Skin ~ John Lithgow
Jump Down Spin Around ~ Harry Belafonte
Lazy Afternoon ~ Barbra Streisand
My Own Two Hands ~ Jack Johnson
Plant More Than You Harvest ~ Jim Scott
Jamaica Farewell ~ Harry Belafonte
Message To Myself ~ Melissa Etheridge
Shall We Dance ~ Fred Astaire
Spirit Is The Journey ~ Juluka
Get On The Good Foot ~ James Brown
May Your Life Be As A Song ~ Jim Scott
Off to bottle flower essences!
-Dot
Copyright 2008 Dot's Stuff. All rights reserved. May your life be as a song.
I have not mooned and waxed rhapsodic over Jim Scott to you nearly enough. Yes, I made A Very Big Deal about the fact that my mom brought him to be THE music at my wedding -- a fact I can still hardly take in, especially when balanced against how homemade our wedding was. He came 800 miles to sing at our wedding and was thrilled to do it. (He and my mom know each other because she hooked him up to do some concerts in the area and at her UU church on a few occasions.) He was part of the Paul Winter Consort for years and co-wrote and arranged many of their better known songs (e.g., Common Ground) and now tours on his own. When I tell you that he is an incredible guitarist, you may think I am exaggerating. If so, you will be wrong. I actually don't know a suitable accolade and, so, "incredible" will have to suffice.
His song-writing is wonderful and I can honestly say that I haven't got a play list that doesn't feature some of his tunes. One of my favorites, May Your Life Be As A Song, began with a Russian round for the chorus. He added the verses and melody and bossa nova arrangement. It nods at Jobim and uplifts like sunlight on water. Here are the words:
May Your Life Be As A Song
© Jim Scott 1995
My wish for you now as we part
is for greater peace to fill your heart.
With dreams as vast as starry space
so hurt and anger hold no place
May truth be shared and wounds be healed
and joy for living be revealed.
Through every fate and circumstance
may hope lead weary steps to dance.
And may your life be as a song
Resounding with the dawn
to sing awake the light,
Then softly serenade the stars
Ever dancing circles in the night.
May fears be turned with keen insight
to wisdom for what's just and right.
Where sorrow grows compassion strong
and pain will pass before too long.
May the bounds of our diversity
serve a richer harmony,
May courage hold your heart so true
to smile on love when it smiles on you.
And may your life be as a song
Resounding with the dawn
to sing awake the light,
Then softly serenade the stars
Ever dancing circles in the night.
His albums, concerts, songbook, and self are worth spending time with. A nice affirmation of what is most power and what is most true. It was nice to reconnect with that today.
In case you are interested,
Deep Peace ~ Libana
Pendulum Swinger ~ Indigo Girls
Beginner's Luck ~ Fred Astaire
The Hokey Pokey ~ Annette Funicello
Common Ground ~ Jim Scott
Let It Be Me ~ Indigo Girls
You Gotta Have Skin ~ John Lithgow
Jump Down Spin Around ~ Harry Belafonte
Lazy Afternoon ~ Barbra Streisand
My Own Two Hands ~ Jack Johnson
Plant More Than You Harvest ~ Jim Scott
Jamaica Farewell ~ Harry Belafonte
Message To Myself ~ Melissa Etheridge
Shall We Dance ~ Fred Astaire
Spirit Is The Journey ~ Juluka
Get On The Good Foot ~ James Brown
May Your Life Be As A Song ~ Jim Scott
Off to bottle flower essences!
-Dot
Copyright 2008 Dot's Stuff. All rights reserved. May your life be as a song.