One of my favorite poems from my senior year english class is "The Last Night That She Lived" by Emily Dickinson.
It talks about a woman who is dying and how the people around her have to prepare for her death. It says that the woman died peacefully and how it made the author jealous that the woman was able to pass on and be free of all the sadness and hard times that the people who were there for her would have to go through. I just think that this is an interesting way of looking at death; seeing it as peaceful and easy experience for the dying individual and all the burden of the death really being on the ones left behind.
THE LAST night that she lived, It was a common night, Except the dying; this to us Made nature different.
We noticed smallest things,— Things overlooked before, By this great light upon our minds Italicized, as ’t were.
That others could exist While she must finish quite, A jealousy for her arose So nearly infinite.
We waited while she passed; It was a narrow time, Too jostled were our souls to speak, At length the notice came.
She mentioned, and forgot; Then lightly as a reed Bent to the water, shivered scarce, Consented, and was dead.
And we, we placed the hair, And drew the head erect; And then an awful leisure was, Our faith to regulate.
One of my most favorite songs that relates to death experiences for me is Tim McGraw's 'If You're Reading This'. This song relates to my experiences and makes me feel greatful for the men and women that serve our country. I have had many friends and family members enlist in the military, but only one has never made it home. My closest friend was injured by an IED on both of his tours. The first disfigured his face after a metal rod struck him through his head, and he refused to accept a discharge. He returned for a second tour 9 months later and stepped on an IED. He has not lost any limbs but is currently in Washington DC still retrieving treatment for his "salvaged" legs as a part of the Wounded Warrior Project. Unfortunately, three months after his return, one of our friends was not so lucky. He spent six years in Afganistan and Iraq constantly bouncing between the two. He returned home to base in South Carolina safe and sound. Two weeks later he announced to friends and family he had been suffering from PTSD and was to be honorably discharged. Two days before his return, he was found dead. He committed suicide by saving all of his medications and taking them all at one time. Fortunately for his friends and family, he left a note for his reasoning stating that he refused to return home to people that were so proud of the monster he'd become and he wanted to be remembered for the good things he had done and didn't want us to suffer with him. This song represents the pride that soldiers take in their battles, in war and psychologically. It is a man writing a letter to his love about how proud he was to be there and how he will not be returning home alive, but he is right at home where he is going. I relate to this song after reading my friend's suicide note to his family and friends, and with reading it I understood the pain he felt and how happy he was going to be from leaving us. Even with the circumstances, I am still proud of my friend and I respect the choice he made. This experience has given me a new perception on not only death, but suicide.
If you're reading this My Mommas sittin there Looks like I only got a one way ticket over here Sure wish I Could give you one more kiss And war was just a game we played when we were kids
I'm laying down my gun I'm hanging up boots I'm up here with God and we're both watching over you
[Chorus] So lay me down In that open field out on the edge of town And know my soul Is where my momma always prayed That it would go And if you're reading this I'm already home
If you're reading this Half way around the would I won't be there To see the birth of our little girl I hope she looks like you I hope she fights like me Stands up for the innocent and weak
I'm laying down my gun I'm hanging up boots Tell dad I don't regret that I followed in his shoes
[Chorus] So lay me down In that open field out on the edge of town And know my soul Is where my momma always prayed that it would go And if you're reading this I'm already home
If you're reading this There's going to come a day When you'll move on And find some one else And that's ok Just remember this I'm in a better place Where soldiers live in peace And angels sing amazing grace
[Chorus] So lay me down In that open field out on the edge of town And know my soul Is where my Momma always prayed that it would go And if you're reading this
I'd just like to say that I normally do not listen to country music, but I gave this song a chance. Wow. I am impressed. That was really powerful, especially the way that the singer compares death to a homecoming. Great song.
I am glad you posted a country song. I am a huge country music fan unlike many people. Lots of people think country music is depressing and it always relates to death and break-ups. Does anyone else have opinions about country music? Do you think it is depressing?
I think country music is just like every other genre. All of them cover life stories about death, love, cheating-lovers, being young, etc. I think it just puts it into a perspective that people can relate to that are like the artist.
Emily- I am a big country fan as well but I definatly do not think all country music is depressing. There are a ton of upbeat songs by Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, and many other country artists. However, like all other music genres, there are the extremly sad songs too. But I don't think that becasue country music does play some depressing songs, it does not deserve to be labled as "depressing music."
I'm sure those of us who listen to country music have heard Lee Brice's new song on the radio called, "I Drive Your Truck." The song hits home with me because my sister is preparing to be deployed this summer. I actually might be driving her jeep while shes away and I wonder and hope that it won't be me in that song. It makes me wonder how I'd cope with it and how much I'd miss her. Like the guy in the song, would I be angry? Would I struggle hard to be stay strong? In the song, he says everyone has their own way of coping. Can you know how you can handle something like death? Can you plan how you will react when you receive that call? Can you prepare how you will recover? I don't think you can. Death is unexpected sometimes that the shock and the other emotions can also come unexpectedly, emotions that you may never thought you'd feel. Even if you know death is coming, I don't think anyone is ready to face it when it does. You feel like you are bracing yourself for the blow, but death still hits and can hurt just as much. Eighty-nine cents in the ashtray Half empty bottle of Gatorade Rollin' on the floorboard
That dirty Braves cap on the dash Dogtags hangin' from the rear view Old Skoal can and cowboy boots And a "Go Army" shirt folded in the back
This thing burns gas like crazy But that's all right People got their ways of copin' Oh, and I've got mine
I drive your truck I roll every window down And I burn up Every road in this town I find a field, I tear it up Till all the pain is a cloud of dust Yes, sometimes, I drive your truck
I leave that radio playin' The same ole country station Where you left it
Yeah, man, I crank it up You'd probably punch my arm right now If you saw this tear rollin' down my face Hey, man, I'm tryin' to be tough
And Mama asked me this mornin' If I'd been by your grave But that flag of stone Ain't where I feel you, anyway
I drive you truck I roll every window down And I burn up Every back road in this town I find a field, I tear it up Till all the pain is a cloud of dust Yes, sometimes, I drive your truck
I've cussed, I've prayed, I've said goodbye I've shook my fist and asked God why These days, when I'm missin' you this much
I drive your truck I roll every window down And I burn up Every back road in this town I find a field, and I tear it up Till all the pain is a cloud of dust Yes, sometimes, Brother, sometimes, I drive your truck
I drive your truck I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind I drive your truck
I love this song too. It relates to my recent death experience because I can vision my brother driving his friend Greg's jeep out in a field with the music up loud. If you did not read my introduction Greg was a close family friend, like a brother to me, and was killed from an ATV accident that my brother Jason was involved in too on my 20th birthday. Greg and my brother would drive the jeep on Greg's farm and just have a good ol time together. I worry about my brother a lot because I know he continues to ask God why (just as the lyrics say) and may never know why Greg was taken from us.
This might be a bit of a stretch, but I frequently hear a song on the pop and alternative radio called "Little Talks" by an Icelandic group called "Of Monsters and Men". The lyrics at points are disjointed and do not make complete sense, but overall the way I interpreted the song--which one of the members of the group confirmed in an interview (http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/discovery-of-monsters-and-men/#/_)--is that it describes a woman learning to cope with life after the death of her husband. She struggles to complete everyday tasks and slowly loses grip on reality, as she succumbs to the difficulty of continuing to live by herself. I really find the song meaningful and appreciate the emotion expressed behind the very catchy tune. I have included a link to the lyrics and the music video below.
I recently read a book over the winter break called, "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusack (my apologies if I misspelled the author's last name wrong, I currently do not have my copy with me) and it is about this little girl who is growing up in Nazi Germany. The book's narrator is Death. I found this to be an interesting concept because I, for one, had never read a book where Death was a personified character. This story begins on a train where the main character (the Book Thief), her mother and little brother are on a train traveling somewhere. Her little brother does not make the trip and at one of the stops, has to be buried in an unmarked grave, in an unknown town. The story goes through five years of the Book Thief's life and is just a very compelling read. I couldn't put it down, but I also couldn't just sit and breeze through the book like one could with one of the "Harry Potter" novels. If anyone would like to borrow my copy, I would be more than glad to loan it to you, once it is returned from one of my friends. All I ask is that you return it to me when you are finished! :)
I'd actually like to borrow it, if that's okay... This might be weird, but for some reason I find the Holocaust fascinating. Like what aspect of human kind can compel people casting such devastation to take place on other people? I actually didn't know what section to write this in, but I watched a show on the History channel about the missing human lamp from the Holocaust. For those unfamiliar, there was a Nazi wife of an officer who was obsessed with skin and tattoos of Jewish corpses. She would did through the casualties and pick out bodies that had tattoos and take the skins and make tapestries and keepsakes. Legend has it she even made lamp shades from human hides. During the Nuremberg Trials, these lamps were never found and could not be taken as evidence against this woman. The lamps would have given her a death sentence, but instead she served the rest of her life in prison... It just makes me wonder the value some people forget to put on a life. You would think that Nazis like this woman were some social path, where she was a normal person. She had children and probably loved them. She had a mother who died during the war and she felt real things for other people, but not them? How could she perform such things on others? It really amazes me. What kind of human nature does that? Can that even be called human nature? Just so awful and sad...
Jackie, of course you can borrow it! My friend just returned it to me- she didn't have time to sit down and read it between work and school, so she told me she would wait until summer. I will try to remember to bring it tomorrow! Don't feel weird about being fascinated by the events of the Holocaust, because I find it interesting as well. I've even thought about buying and attempting to read "Mein Kampf" (spelling?) just to read Hitler's own words to get a first person idea of what propaganda he had spewed that compelled a nation to turn against its own people because of their religion. I think you will really enjoy the book- it is a tear jerker at some points though. But it is a great read.
I also am a huge fan of the Holocaust. My grandfatehr served in WWII as a paratrooper behind enemy lines. After his return he played professional baseball and retired. When I was young he never talked about the war much, but a few years ago I did find out from him while sitting with him in his assisted living home that he has blood relations to Nazi/Germany. I have yet to track down the names of my relatives, but he stated how much he hated the war knowing he was "fighting his brothers". Oldly, my grandfather only had a sister. After his death a two months ago, I began to look into this, haven't found much yet, but my interest in any Nazi/WWII/Germany events has grown tremendously!
There was this movie I watched not to long ago with a friend of mine called a Walk to Remember. It's about a rebel, Landon, who falls in love with the reverend's daughter, Jamie. Jamie is ridiculed in school for the way she dresses and for her Christian beliefs, but Landon seems curious about her when he's forced to join the school play. Landon realizes that he likes her and takes her out on a date. He didn't know that he would fall in love with her, even when she said she didn't want him too. They begin to date and fall in love with each other, but around the time they were about to graduate, Jamie tells Landon that she has Leukemia, and has stopped responding to treatment. Landon then realizes that he only has a short time with her, so he doesn't put it all to waste. She had a list of dreams and aspirations and Landon wanted to complete as many of them as he can for her. Her #1 dream was to get married in the church that her parents got married in, and Landon made her dream come true. This brings me back to saying that when someone we care about is sick and dying, we do all we can to be with them for as long as we can. Landon stood by her til the very end and though she was dying, he didn't leave her alone. It's hard to hear when someone we care about is ill, but all we can do is be supportive and pray that everything will be okay
I have something I constantly read and look over on my phone that I have not been able to delete. In relation to songs and reading text, text messages have been something I look to for inspiration. My best friend's mother just lost her life from a two year battle with stage four breast cancer; upon enduring countless rounds of chemo, Rhonda Connor did not survive as it took away everything she had left. As an extremely close friend, I got to witness everything happening as it got worse. I lived an hour away from her and her family so never got to see them as frequently as I had in high school. Text messages were the only things keeping me informed most times as I would read them and instantly be updated on her status and read the words "i love you" at the end. There are text messages on my phone that I saved to read and they are an insight to how her spirit lifted itself higher as she got worse news. Looking on the bright side of things is what she did everyday. When I got news that she had been re-diagnosed I asked why and had absolutely no response. Rhonda heard the news and would say "bring it on, girls are tough" In the final months of her life, she would hear news and tell me the situation and always follow her message with "please don't tell my kids." These messages are what seems to be all I have left to remember her by. She was given two weeks to live and passed away on July 4th of 2012 before noon. I received a text the night before, something very uncharacteristic of her to send, and I understood it after her son told me she lost her fight...This message was a goodbye without actually saying the words. Every time I hear the George Strait song "Here For a Good Time" I think of her and the message she sent in her final days that said not to give up and always be thankful for what is in your life. I'm still struggling most days to find a way to cope with her leaving but I believe that she never really left; she is just gone physically. Until her passing I would have told you it was a load of garbage, but I believe everyone has a purpose in life; Rhonda's purpose was to bring people together, even after she had left. I just wanted to get this out without telling someone so I thank whoever reads this and that it impacts you the way it is still impacting me.
The days are cold livin without you (without you) The nights are long I'm growin older I miss the days of old thinkin about you (about you) You may be gone but you're never over
These are song lyrics By Eminem. This song reminds me of death because Eminem is singing about losing one of his best friends by the name of Proof. He was a member of his band D12 and was considered a great rapper. This song has helped me with grieving over a loss because it shows us that even that the person you care for is gone, there never over and the life does go on and that you will see that person again someday.
I don't know if anyone listens to tool on here but they have a song called wings for marie (part 1 and 2) and the lead singer talks about his mother who has been in a coma for like 10,000 days and how he is ready for her to end her suffering and go to heaven. Its a very amazing song. Whats interesting is that this was written around 2006, In an earlier album when this first happen to his mom he was full of resentment and anger toward god and he wrote the song called Judith. He felt very angry towards his mom for even believing in god. Over time you can tell that when he wrote wings for marie that anger and resentment is gone and he is accepting that his mom is dying and wants her to go to heaven."Wings For Marie (Pt. 1)"
You believed. You believed in moments not conceived. You believed in me.
A passionate spirit. Uncompromised boundless and open. A light in your eyes, then, immobilized.
Vacant, broken. Fell at the hands of Those movements that I wouldn't see. Cause it was you who prayed for me so. What have I done to be a son to an angel? What have I done to be worthy?
Day light dims leaving cold fluorescence. Difficult to see you in this light. Please forgive this selfish question, but What am I to say to all these ghouls tonight?
She never told a lie. Well might of told a lie. But never lived one. Didn't have a life. Didn't have a life. But surely saved one. Saved on.
Alright, now it's time for us to let you go. "10,000 Days (Wings Pt. 2)"
We listen to the tales and romanticize, how we follow the path of the hero.
Boast about the day when the rivers overrun, How we'll rise to the height of our halo.
Listen to the tales as we all rationalize, our way into the arms of the savior. Feigning all the trials and the tribulations.
None of us have actually been there, Not like you...
Ignorant siblings in the congregation. Gather around spewing sympathy, Spare me...
None of them can even hold a candle up to you. Blinded by choice, these hypocrites won't see.
But enough about the collective Judas. Who could deny you were the one who illuminated? Your little piece of the divine.
And this little light of mine, a gift you passed on to me I'm gonna let it shine to guide you safely on your way.
Your way home...
Oh, what are they gonna do when the lights go down? Without you to guide them all to Zion? What are they gonna do when the rivers overrun? Other than tremble incessantly.
High is the way, but our eyes are upon the ground. You are the light and the way. They'll only read about. I only pray heaven knows, when to lift you out.
10,000 days in the fire is long enough. You're going home...
You're the only one who can hold your head up high. Shake your fist at the gates saying, "I have come home now...!" Fetch me the spirit, the son and the father. Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended.
"It's time now! My time now! Give me my Give me my wings...!"
Give me my [x5]
(Give me my wings)
You are the light, the way, that they will only read about.
Set as I am in my ways and my arrogance. Burden of proof tossed upon the believers. You were my witness, my eyes, my evidence, Judith Marie, unconditional one.
Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescence. Difficult to see you in this light. Please forgive this bold suggestion. Should you see your maker's face tonight, Look him in the eye. Look him in the eye and tell him, I never lived a lie, never took a life, But surely saved one.
I recently watched a movie with am exceptionally boring plot call "In Time". While I would not recommend the movie to anyone, there was one comment mentioned by an auxiliary character that I found interesting and that I wanted to share.
The central premise of the film is a literal realization of the phrase "time is money", as people are able to barter and exchange with time that is allotted to them for living. Accordingly, some quickly become rich and wealthy, amassing enormous amounts of time that effectively bestow immortality, while the poorer live day to day with very little time on their so-called "clocks" and struggling to earn enough time to stay alive.
This character I referred to happens to be very rich with centuries of time on his clock. For some reason, though, he decides to descend into a dangerous neighborhood, where he is pursued by a kind of gang bent on stealing his time. When the main character of this film saves the man, he asks him what he was thinking wandering around in such a poor part of town. The 85-year man explained that he had a death wish, that although his body was young, his mind was old, and that he wanted to die.
He claimed that humanity is not destined to live forever. That even if the body can be maintained, the mind will decay. He continues to explain that a lack of imminent death robbed his life of meaning and that he was ready to move on. I found this commentary to be very interesting and meaningful. Recognition that death ultimately bewaits everyone is crucial to what it means to human and--I think--drives us to make the most of the time we have. I cannot even imagine what life would be like, if death did not await us at the end.
There is a duette song by Brad Paisley and and Alison Krauss called "Whisky Lullaby" which is a story about a man who was cheated on by his wife and could never get over her and thought that taking his life was the only way to end his suffering. His wife felt so guilty for causing his death and she decided to take her life as well. This is an extremly sad song that evokes a lot of emotions...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZbN_nmxAGk (music video)
She put him out, Like the burning end of a midnight cigarette, She broke his heart, He spent his whole life trying to forget, We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time, But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind, Untill the night,
Chorus: He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger, And finally drank away her memory, Life is short but this time it was bigger, Than the strengh he had to get up off his knees, We found him with his face down in the pillow, With a note that said "I'll love her 'till I die." And when we burried him beneath the willow, The angles sang the Whisky Lullaby, Lalalalalalala Lalalalalalalaaaaaa Lalalalalalala Lalalalalalalaaaaaa
The rumors flew, But nobody knew how much she blamed herself, For years and years, She tried to hide the whisky on her breath, She finally drank her pain away a little at a time, But she never could get drunk enough to get him off her mind, Untill the night
Chorus: She put that bottle to her head and pulled the trigger, And finally drank away his memory, Life is short but this time it was bigger, Than the strengh she had to get up off her knees, We found her with her face down in the pillow, Clinging to his picture for dear life, We laid her next to him beneath the willow, While the angles sang the Whisky Lullaby, Lalalalalalala Lalalalalalalaaaaaa Lalalalalalala Lalalalalalalaaaaaa
The song O Death by Ralph Stanley is about asking death to wait another year. It also says that when we die is not in our control, and they will do anything in order to live just a little longer. This song just reminds us that death will come whether we want it to or not, it is our end and our future, and we just have to accept that it will happen to all of us.
O, Death O, Death Won't you spare me over til another year Well what is this that I can't see With ice cold hands takin' hold of me Well I am death, none can excel I'll open the door to heaven or hell Whoa, death someone would pray Could you wait to call me another day The children prayed, the preacher preached Time and mercy is out of your reach I'll fix your feet til you cant walk I'll lock your jaw til you cant talk I'll close your eyes so you can't see This very air, come and go with me I'm death I come to take the soul Leave the body and leave it cold To draw up the flesh off of the frame Dirt and worm both have a claim O, Death O, Death Won't you spare me over til another year My mother came to my bed Placed a cold towel upon my head My head is warm my feet are cold Death is a-movin upon my soul Oh, death how you're treatin' me You've close my eyes so I can't see Well you're hurtin' my body You make me cold You run my life right outta my soul Oh death please consider my age Please don't take me at this stage My wealth is all at your command If you will move your icy hand Oh the young, the rich or poor Hunger like me you know No wealth, no ruin, no silver no gold Nothing satisfies me but your soul O, death O, death Wont you spare me over til another year Wont you spare me over til another year Wont you spare me over til another year
This does not have as much to do with Death and Dying, as it does with human nature, but it was very coincidental and I hope it is alright if I share it.
As I was comparing The Matrix to Descartes, the song "Soul Meets Body" came up on my Pandora. Even if you have never heard the song, it is palpable from the title that it presents a very dualist way of thinking, similar to that presented by Descartes and The Matrix. Specifically, it is referring to the elusive boundary between the material body and the immaterial mind that philosophers like Descartes and toher dualists have long been trying to find (in order to solve the mind-body problem). While some of the lyrics do not seem relevant to this, I think it is addressed pretty clearly in the verses.
A link to the video is included here (including the lyrics): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEVS1KY-exY.
One of my favorite poems from my senior year english class is "The Last Night That She Lived" by Emily Dickinson.
ReplyDeleteIt talks about a woman who is dying and how the people around her have to prepare for her death. It says that the woman died peacefully and how it made the author jealous that the woman was able to pass on and be free of all the sadness and hard times that the people who were there for her would have to go through. I just think that this is an interesting way of looking at death; seeing it as peaceful and easy experience for the dying individual and all the burden of the death really being on the ones left behind.
THE LAST night that she lived,
It was a common night,
Except the dying; this to us
Made nature different.
We noticed smallest things,—
Things overlooked before,
By this great light upon our minds
Italicized, as ’t were.
That others could exist
While she must finish quite,
A jealousy for her arose
So nearly infinite.
We waited while she passed;
It was a narrow time,
Too jostled were our souls to speak,
At length the notice came.
She mentioned, and forgot;
Then lightly as a reed
Bent to the water, shivered scarce,
Consented, and was dead.
And we, we placed the hair,
And drew the head erect;
And then an awful leisure was,
Our faith to regulate.
One of my most favorite songs that relates to death experiences for me is Tim McGraw's 'If You're Reading This'. This song relates to my experiences and makes me feel greatful for the men and women that serve our country. I have had many friends and family members enlist in the military, but only one has never made it home. My closest friend was injured by an IED on both of his tours. The first disfigured his face after a metal rod struck him through his head, and he refused to accept a discharge. He returned for a second tour 9 months later and stepped on an IED. He has not lost any limbs but is currently in Washington DC still retrieving treatment for his "salvaged" legs as a part of the Wounded Warrior Project.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, three months after his return, one of our friends was not so lucky. He spent six years in Afganistan and Iraq constantly bouncing between the two. He returned home to base in South Carolina safe and sound. Two weeks later he announced to friends and family he had been suffering from PTSD and was to be honorably discharged. Two days before his return, he was found dead. He committed suicide by saving all of his medications and taking them all at one time. Fortunately for his friends and family, he left a note for his reasoning stating that he refused to return home to people that were so proud of the monster he'd become and he wanted to be remembered for the good things he had done and didn't want us to suffer with him.
This song represents the pride that soldiers take in their battles, in war and psychologically. It is a man writing a letter to his love about how proud he was to be there and how he will not be returning home alive, but he is right at home where he is going. I relate to this song after reading my friend's suicide note to his family and friends, and with reading it I understood the pain he felt and how happy he was going to be from leaving us. Even with the circumstances, I am still proud of my friend and I respect the choice he made. This experience has given me a new perception on not only death, but suicide.
If you're reading this
My Mommas sittin there
Looks like I only got a one way ticket over here
Sure wish I
Could give you one more kiss
And war was just a game we played when we were kids
I'm laying down my gun
I'm hanging up boots
I'm up here with God and we're both watching over you
[Chorus]
So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my momma always prayed
That it would go
And if you're reading this
I'm already home
If you're reading this
Half way around the would
I won't be there
To see the birth of our little girl
I hope she looks like you
I hope she fights like me
Stands up for the innocent and weak
I'm laying down my gun
I'm hanging up boots
Tell dad I don't regret that I followed in his shoes
[Chorus]
So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my momma always prayed that it would go
And if you're reading this
I'm already home
If you're reading this
There's going to come a day
When you'll move on
And find some one else
And that's ok
Just remember this
I'm in a better place
Where soldiers live in peace
And angels sing amazing grace
[Chorus]
So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my Momma always prayed that it would go
And if you're reading this
I'd just like to say that I normally do not listen to country music, but I gave this song a chance. Wow. I am impressed. That was really powerful, especially the way that the singer compares death to a homecoming. Great song.
DeleteI am glad you posted a country song. I am a huge country music fan unlike many people. Lots of people think country music is depressing and it always relates to death and break-ups. Does anyone else have opinions about country music? Do you think it is depressing?
DeleteI think country music is just like every other genre. All of them cover life stories about death, love, cheating-lovers, being young, etc. I think it just puts it into a perspective that people can relate to that are like the artist.
DeleteEmily- I am a big country fan as well but I definatly do not think all country music is depressing. There are a ton of upbeat songs by Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, and many other country artists. However, like all other music genres, there are the extremly sad songs too. But I don't think that becasue country music does play some depressing songs, it does not deserve to be labled as "depressing music."
DeleteI'm sure those of us who listen to country music have heard Lee Brice's new song on the radio called, "I Drive Your Truck." The song hits home with me because my sister is preparing to be deployed this summer. I actually might be driving her jeep while shes away and I wonder and hope that it won't be me in that song. It makes me wonder how I'd cope with it and how much I'd miss her. Like the guy in the song, would I be angry? Would I struggle hard to be stay strong? In the song, he says everyone has their own way of coping. Can you know how you can handle something like death? Can you plan how you will react when you receive that call?
ReplyDeleteCan you prepare how you will recover? I don't think you can. Death is unexpected sometimes that the shock and the other emotions can also come unexpectedly, emotions that you may never thought you'd feel. Even if you know death is coming, I don't think anyone is ready to face it when it does. You feel like you are bracing yourself for the blow, but death still hits and can hurt just as much.
Eighty-nine cents in the ashtray
Half empty bottle of Gatorade
Rollin' on the floorboard
That dirty Braves cap on the dash
Dogtags hangin' from the rear view
Old Skoal can and cowboy boots
And a "Go Army" shirt folded in the back
This thing burns gas like crazy
But that's all right
People got their ways of copin'
Oh, and I've got mine
I drive your truck
I roll every window down
And I burn up
Every road in this town
I find a field, I tear it up
Till all the pain is a cloud of dust
Yes, sometimes, I drive your truck
I leave that radio playin'
The same ole country station
Where you left it
Yeah, man, I crank it up
You'd probably punch my arm right now
If you saw this tear rollin' down my face
Hey, man, I'm tryin' to be tough
And Mama asked me this mornin'
If I'd been by your grave
But that flag of stone
Ain't where I feel you, anyway
I drive you truck
I roll every window down
And I burn up
Every back road in this town
I find a field, I tear it up
Till all the pain is a cloud of dust
Yes, sometimes, I drive your truck
I've cussed, I've prayed, I've said goodbye
I've shook my fist and asked God why
These days, when I'm missin' you this much
I drive your truck
I roll every window down
And I burn up
Every back road in this town
I find a field, and I tear it up
Till all the pain is a cloud of dust
Yes, sometimes,
Brother, sometimes, I drive your truck
I drive your truck
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
I drive your truck
I love this song too. It relates to my recent death experience because I can vision my brother driving his friend Greg's jeep out in a field with the music up loud. If you did not read my introduction Greg was a close family friend, like a brother to me, and was killed from an ATV accident that my brother Jason was involved in too on my 20th birthday. Greg and my brother would drive the jeep on Greg's farm and just have a good ol time together. I worry about my brother a lot because I know he continues to ask God why (just as the lyrics say) and may never know why Greg was taken from us.
DeleteThis might be a bit of a stretch, but I frequently hear a song on the pop and alternative radio called "Little Talks" by an Icelandic group called "Of Monsters and Men". The lyrics at points are disjointed and do not make complete sense, but overall the way I interpreted the song--which one of the members of the group confirmed in an interview (http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/discovery-of-monsters-and-men/#/_)--is that it describes a woman learning to cope with life after the death of her husband. She struggles to complete everyday tasks and slowly loses grip on reality, as she succumbs to the difficulty of continuing to live by herself. I really find the song meaningful and appreciate the emotion expressed behind the very catchy tune. I have included a link to the lyrics and the music video below.
ReplyDeletelyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ofmonstersandmen/littletalks.html
music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghb6eDopW8I
I recently read a book over the winter break called, "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusack (my apologies if I misspelled the author's last name wrong, I currently do not have my copy with me) and it is about this little girl who is growing up in Nazi Germany. The book's narrator is Death. I found this to be an interesting concept because I, for one, had never read a book where Death was a personified character. This story begins on a train where the main character (the Book Thief), her mother and little brother are on a train traveling somewhere. Her little brother does not make the trip and at one of the stops, has to be buried in an unmarked grave, in an unknown town. The story goes through five years of the Book Thief's life and is just a very compelling read. I couldn't put it down, but I also couldn't just sit and breeze through the book like one could with one of the "Harry Potter" novels. If anyone would like to borrow my copy, I would be more than glad to loan it to you, once it is returned from one of my friends. All I ask is that you return it to me when you are finished! :)
ReplyDeleteI'd actually like to borrow it, if that's okay... This might be weird, but for some reason I find the Holocaust fascinating. Like what aspect of human kind can compel people casting such devastation to take place on other people? I actually didn't know what section to write this in, but I watched a show on the History channel about the missing human lamp from the Holocaust. For those unfamiliar, there was a Nazi wife of an officer who was obsessed with skin and tattoos of Jewish corpses. She would did through the casualties and pick out bodies that had tattoos and take the skins and make tapestries and keepsakes. Legend has it she even made lamp shades from human hides. During the Nuremberg Trials, these lamps were never found and could not be taken as evidence against this woman. The lamps would have given her a death sentence, but instead she served the rest of her life in prison... It just makes me wonder the value some people forget to put on a life. You would think that Nazis like this woman were some social path, where she was a normal person. She had children and probably loved them. She had a mother who died during the war and she felt real things for other people, but not them? How could she perform such things on others? It really amazes me. What kind of human nature does that? Can that even be called human nature? Just so awful and sad...
DeleteJackie, of course you can borrow it! My friend just returned it to me- she didn't have time to sit down and read it between work and school, so she told me she would wait until summer. I will try to remember to bring it tomorrow! Don't feel weird about being fascinated by the events of the Holocaust, because I find it interesting as well. I've even thought about buying and attempting to read "Mein Kampf" (spelling?) just to read Hitler's own words to get a first person idea of what propaganda he had spewed that compelled a nation to turn against its own people because of their religion. I think you will really enjoy the book- it is a tear jerker at some points though. But it is a great read.
DeleteI also am a huge fan of the Holocaust. My grandfatehr served in WWII as a paratrooper behind enemy lines. After his return he played professional baseball and retired. When I was young he never talked about the war much, but a few years ago I did find out from him while sitting with him in his assisted living home that he has blood relations to Nazi/Germany. I have yet to track down the names of my relatives, but he stated how much he hated the war knowing he was "fighting his brothers". Oldly, my grandfather only had a sister. After his death a two months ago, I began to look into this, haven't found much yet, but my interest in any Nazi/WWII/Germany events has grown tremendously!
DeleteThere was this movie I watched not to long ago with a friend of mine called a Walk to Remember. It's about a rebel, Landon, who falls in love with the reverend's daughter, Jamie. Jamie is ridiculed in school for the way she dresses and for her Christian beliefs, but Landon seems curious about her when he's forced to join the school play. Landon realizes that he likes her and takes her out on a date. He didn't know that he would fall in love with her, even when she said she didn't want him too. They begin to date and fall in love with each other, but around the time they were about to graduate, Jamie tells Landon that she has Leukemia, and has stopped responding to treatment. Landon then realizes that he only has a short time with her, so he doesn't put it all to waste. She had a list of dreams and aspirations and Landon wanted to complete as many of them as he can for her. Her #1 dream was to get married in the church that her parents got married in, and Landon made her dream come true. This brings me back to saying that when someone we care about is sick and dying, we do all we can to be with them for as long as we can. Landon stood by her til the very end and though she was dying, he didn't leave her alone. It's hard to hear when someone we care about is ill, but all we can do is be supportive and pray that everything will be okay
ReplyDeleteI have something I constantly read and look over on my phone that I have not been able to delete. In relation to songs and reading text, text messages have been something I look to for inspiration. My best friend's mother just lost her life from a two year battle with stage four breast cancer; upon enduring countless rounds of chemo, Rhonda Connor did not survive as it took away everything she had left. As an extremely close friend, I got to witness everything happening as it got worse. I lived an hour away from her and her family so never got to see them as frequently as I had in high school. Text messages were the only things keeping me informed most times as I would read them and instantly be updated on her status and read the words "i love you" at the end.
ReplyDeleteThere are text messages on my phone that I saved to read and they are an insight to how her spirit lifted itself higher as she got worse news. Looking on the bright side of things is what she did everyday. When I got news that she had been re-diagnosed I asked why and had absolutely no response. Rhonda heard the news and would say "bring it on, girls are tough" In the final months of her life, she would hear news and tell me the situation and always follow her message with "please don't tell my kids." These messages are what seems to be all I have left to remember her by. She was given two weeks to live and passed away on July 4th of 2012 before noon. I received a text the night before, something very uncharacteristic of her to send, and I understood it after her son told me she lost her fight...This message was a goodbye without actually saying the words.
Every time I hear the George Strait song "Here For a Good Time" I think of her and the message she sent in her final days that said not to give up and always be thankful for what is in your life. I'm still struggling most days to find a way to cope with her leaving but I believe that she never really left; she is just gone physically. Until her passing I would have told you it was a load of garbage, but I believe everyone has a purpose in life; Rhonda's purpose was to bring people together, even after she had left. I just wanted to get this out without telling someone so I thank whoever reads this and that it impacts you the way it is still impacting me.
Cancer sucks
The days are cold livin without you (without you)
ReplyDeleteThe nights are long I'm growin older
I miss the days of old thinkin about you (about you)
You may be gone but you're never over
These are song lyrics By Eminem. This song reminds me of death because Eminem is singing about losing one of his best friends by the name of Proof. He was a member of his band D12 and was considered a great rapper.
This song has helped me with grieving over a loss because it shows us that even that the person you care for is gone, there never over and the life does go on and that you will see that person again someday.
I don't know if anyone listens to tool on here but they have a song called wings for marie (part 1 and 2) and the lead singer talks about his mother who has been in a coma for like 10,000 days and how he is ready for her to end her suffering and go to heaven. Its a very amazing song. Whats interesting is that this was written around 2006, In an earlier album when this first happen to his mom he was full of resentment and anger toward god and he wrote the song called Judith. He felt very angry towards his mom for even believing in god. Over time you can tell that when he wrote wings for marie that anger and resentment is gone and he is accepting that his mom is dying and wants her to go to heaven."Wings For Marie (Pt. 1)"
ReplyDeleteYou believed.
You believed in moments not conceived.
You believed in me.
A passionate spirit.
Uncompromised
boundless and open.
A light in your eyes, then, immobilized.
Vacant, broken.
Fell at the hands of
Those movements that I wouldn't see.
Cause it was you who prayed for me so.
What have I done to be a son to an angel?
What have I done to be worthy?
Day light dims leaving cold fluorescence.
Difficult to see you in this light.
Please forgive this selfish question, but
What am I to say to all these ghouls tonight?
She never told a lie.
Well might of told a lie.
But never lived one.
Didn't have a life.
Didn't have a life.
But surely saved one.
Saved on.
Alright, now it's time for us to let you go.
"10,000 Days (Wings Pt. 2)"
We listen to the tales and romanticize,
how we follow the path of the hero.
Boast about the day when the rivers overrun,
How we'll rise to the height of our halo.
Listen to the tales as we all rationalize,
our way into the arms of the savior.
Feigning all the trials and the tribulations.
None of us have actually been there,
Not like you...
Ignorant siblings in the congregation.
Gather around spewing sympathy,
Spare me...
None of them can even hold a candle up to you.
Blinded by choice, these hypocrites won't see.
But enough about the collective Judas.
Who could deny you were the one who illuminated?
Your little piece of the divine.
And this little light of mine, a gift you passed on to me
I'm gonna let it shine
to guide you safely on your way.
Your way home...
Oh, what are they gonna do when the lights go down?
Without you to guide them all to Zion?
What are they gonna do when the rivers overrun?
Other than tremble incessantly.
High is the way,
but our eyes are upon the ground.
You are the light and the way.
They'll only read about.
I only pray heaven knows,
when to lift you out.
10,000 days in the fire is long enough.
You're going home...
You're the only one who can hold your head up high.
Shake your fist at the gates saying,
"I have come home now...!"
Fetch me the spirit, the son and the father.
Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended.
"It's time now!
My time now!
Give me my
Give me my wings...!"
Give me my [x5]
(Give me my wings)
You are the light, the way,
that they will only read about.
Set as I am in my ways and my arrogance.
Burden of proof tossed upon the believers.
You were my witness, my eyes, my evidence,
Judith Marie, unconditional one.
Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescence.
Difficult to see you in this light.
Please forgive this bold suggestion.
Should you see your maker's face tonight,
Look him in the eye.
Look him in the eye and tell him,
I never lived a lie, never took a life,
But surely saved one.
Hallelujah
It's time for you to bring me home.
I recently watched a movie with am exceptionally boring plot call "In Time". While I would not recommend the movie to anyone, there was one comment mentioned by an auxiliary character that I found interesting and that I wanted to share.
ReplyDeleteThe central premise of the film is a literal realization of the phrase "time is money", as people are able to barter and exchange with time that is allotted to them for living. Accordingly, some quickly become rich and wealthy, amassing enormous amounts of time that effectively bestow immortality, while the poorer live day to day with very little time on their so-called "clocks" and struggling to earn enough time to stay alive.
This character I referred to happens to be very rich with centuries of time on his clock. For some reason, though, he decides to descend into a dangerous neighborhood, where he is pursued by a kind of gang bent on stealing his time. When the main character of this film saves the man, he asks him what he was thinking wandering around in such a poor part of town. The 85-year man explained that he had a death wish, that although his body was young, his mind was old, and that he wanted to die.
He claimed that humanity is not destined to live forever. That even if the body can be maintained, the mind will decay. He continues to explain that a lack of imminent death robbed his life of meaning and that he was ready to move on. I found this commentary to be very interesting and meaningful. Recognition that death ultimately bewaits everyone is crucial to what it means to human and--I think--drives us to make the most of the time we have. I cannot even imagine what life would be like, if death did not await us at the end.
There is a duette song by Brad Paisley and and Alison Krauss called "Whisky Lullaby" which is a story about a man who was cheated on by his wife and could never get over her and thought that taking his life was the only way to end his suffering. His wife felt so guilty for causing his death and she decided to take her life as well. This is an extremly sad song that evokes a lot of emotions...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZbN_nmxAGk (music video)
ReplyDeleteShe put him out,
Like the burning end of a midnight cigarette,
She broke his heart,
He spent his whole life trying to forget,
We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time,
But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind,
Untill the night,
Chorus:
He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger,
And finally drank away her memory,
Life is short but this time it was bigger,
Than the strengh he had to get up off his knees,
We found him with his face down in the pillow,
With a note that said "I'll love her 'till I die."
And when we burried him beneath the willow,
The angles sang the Whisky Lullaby,
Lalalalalalala
Lalalalalalalaaaaaa
Lalalalalalala
Lalalalalalalaaaaaa
The rumors flew,
But nobody knew how much she blamed herself,
For years and years,
She tried to hide the whisky on her breath,
She finally drank her pain away a little at a time,
But she never could get drunk enough to get him off her mind,
Untill the night
Chorus:
She put that bottle to her head and pulled the trigger,
And finally drank away his memory,
Life is short but this time it was bigger,
Than the strengh she had to get up off her knees,
We found her with her face down in the pillow,
Clinging to his picture for dear life,
We laid her next to him beneath the willow,
While the angles sang the Whisky Lullaby,
Lalalalalalala
Lalalalalalalaaaaaa
Lalalalalalala
Lalalalalalalaaaaaa
Lalalalalalala
Lalalalalalalaaaaaa
Lalalalalalala
Lalalalalalalaaaaaa
The song O Death by Ralph Stanley is about asking death to wait another year. It also says that when we die is not in our control, and they will do anything in order to live just a little longer. This song just reminds us that death will come whether we want it to or not, it is our end and our future, and we just have to accept that it will happen to all of us.
ReplyDeleteO, Death
O, Death
Won't you spare me over til another year
Well what is this that I can't see
With ice cold hands takin' hold of me
Well I am death, none can excel
I'll open the door to heaven or hell
Whoa, death someone would pray
Could you wait to call me another day
The children prayed, the preacher preached
Time and mercy is out of your reach
I'll fix your feet til you cant walk
I'll lock your jaw til you cant talk
I'll close your eyes so you can't see
This very air, come and go with me
I'm death I come to take the soul
Leave the body and leave it cold
To draw up the flesh off of the frame
Dirt and worm both have a claim
O, Death
O, Death
Won't you spare me over til another year
My mother came to my bed
Placed a cold towel upon my head
My head is warm my feet are cold
Death is a-movin upon my soul
Oh, death how you're treatin' me
You've close my eyes so I can't see
Well you're hurtin' my body
You make me cold
You run my life right outta my soul
Oh death please consider my age
Please don't take me at this stage
My wealth is all at your command
If you will move your icy hand
Oh the young, the rich or poor
Hunger like me you know
No wealth, no ruin, no silver no gold
Nothing satisfies me but your soul
O, death
O, death
Wont you spare me over til another year
Wont you spare me over til another year
Wont you spare me over til another year
This does not have as much to do with Death and Dying, as it does with human nature, but it was very coincidental and I hope it is alright if I share it.
ReplyDeleteAs I was comparing The Matrix to Descartes, the song "Soul Meets Body" came up on my Pandora. Even if you have never heard the song, it is palpable from the title that it presents a very dualist way of thinking, similar to that presented by Descartes and The Matrix. Specifically, it is referring to the elusive boundary between the material body and the immaterial mind that philosophers like Descartes and toher dualists have long been trying to find (in order to solve the mind-body problem). While some of the lyrics do not seem relevant to this, I think it is addressed pretty clearly in the verses.
A link to the video is included here (including the lyrics): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEVS1KY-exY.