Touching your heart
Years ago, we got satellite tv for the first time. One of the channels was CMT - Country Music Television - and I watched a lot (I was having one of my periodic bouts of depression, caring for my totally mother in law - Meatloaf singing 'Objects in the rear view mirror' reduced me to tears, that was a sign) Most of it was crap, just like any other channel. Then this beautiful blonde woman appeared, singing directly into the camera, to me, a quiet song about love, and what it means to be a grown up in love. She sang my heart softly with her song. Everyone has artists who speak directly to their hearts, of their experiences and emotions. That was my first encounter with Mary Chapin Carpenter, singing 'Come on, Come on', and I was smitten. Instantly she was there with Mr Sumner as writers who spoke directly to me. I now have all of her records (as I have all of Sting's) and I have seen her perform (as I have seen Sting) Her new songs speak to me just as much as the old ones, and if that makes me a sentimental old Hector, well that's just okay by me. There is nothing wrong with sentiment (sentimentality is another thing altogether...) Sentiment is what makes us human, that and the ability to communicate with each other. I have seen Peter Green perform 'Man of the World'. I have seen the Mike Westbrook Brass Band perform 'I see thy form'. Someday I will see Mary Chapin Carpenter perform 'Come on, Come On'. Then I will be able to die happy. A perfect song.