The Song Goes On

Response to Prompt #4

The Song Goes On

by Helen Sadler

After tossing out many ideas of how to address this prompt, I finally knew I just had let the idea come to me. I decided the best thing to do was just listen.

Earlier this week I woke from some intense dreaming and was hearing the song “You Can Close Your Eyes” by James Taylor playing in my head.  My first thought: this is my catalyst. I didn’t have any idea at the time what it could possibly be. After all, the word “home” doesn’t even appear in the song.

Yesterday I listened to several versions on YouTube and began to think, well, maybe this isn’t it.  No connection to the actual singing of the song.

But today, once more I felt the urging, so I looked at the lyrics. I could “see” the possibilities then; I could hear the ending. So here I am at my computer typing away, getting to the actual point of this whole thing…something that is going to happen now, spontaneously, in the moment. It is the trust in the home of my writing circle that has led me to this point. So perhaps home in this case is partially about finding home with like-minded friends in the writing dream  -- our partnership. But, there is more. Here it is.

Well the sun is surely sinking down
But the moon is slowly rising

They sit together on the lanai. Over thirty years of sitting together, casually talking. Sunrises, sunsets, moon rises, storms, darkness.

And this old world must still be spinning 'round
And I still love you

Never any doubt, from that first day at the park in the snow. Never any doubt this was real love.

So close your eyes
You can close your eyes, it's all right

We are witnesses of each others’ lives. We are sustained and bolstered by this knowledge. We are comfortable enough to close our eyes. It is safe there, home inside this marvelous feeling. This solid, strong, unyielding feeling.

I don't know no love songs
And I can't sing the blues anymore
But I can sing this song
And you can sing this song
When I'm gone

We have sung all the genres of songs to be sung. We hum together, sing loudly together, harmonize, and back each other up. No one leads. No one follows. It is just music, pure and constant.

Well it won't be long before another day
We're gonna have a good time
And no one's gonna take that time away
You can stay as long as you like

We have lived long enough to have every kind of good time possible. We have lived long enough to know that it can get taken away. This is why our home has to be more than the physical body.

So close your eyes
You can close your eyes, it's all right

When one of us closes our eyes for the last time, it’s all right. The safety lies beyond.

I don't know no love songs
And I can't sing the blues anymore

But I can sing this song
And you can sing this song
When I’m gone

The gift of home is in the song.

No matter our proximity, this does not change.

No matter our distance, the song will go on.

12:09 P.M.  10/4/15                 Song lyrics copyright James Taylor