Post by I-H-F on Mar 27, 2012 22:11:20 GMT
I haven't posted much lately. Maybe it's because my laptop decided it had had enough a few months ago. And these iPhones aren't the best for browsing the Internet.
Anyway, I don't know why I feel the need to write this, but I'm doing it, so there must be a reason that I just can't fathom yet. It's a bit long-winded, so I apologise in advance to those who might want to read it.
Every now and again I hear an old song on the radio, and it brings me back to someone or something that happened in the past. Maybe it's a song that your Mum or Dad used to sing. A song that reminds you of old friends, schooldays, your children, a wedding, birthday party etc. It might not even seen like an important time, but somehow your mind goes back to a place or person upon hearing a certain song. The other day, a song came on the radio that I haven't heard for years. It always reminded me of an old schoolmate. It brought back happy memories of the good times we had in school. I'm sure most people can relate to this.
In December 2009, Hayley was performing in the Ulster Hall in Belfast, with a full orchestra. It was the first time I had heard Hayley with an orchestra, and the concert was awesome. Before that concert, 'Hine e Hine' was never really a favourite of mine. But it was to change that night. Hearing Hayley sing it with a full orchestra made me fully aware of the beauty of the song. Maybe it was the orchestra complimenting Hayley's voice. Maybe it was the acoustics of the hall. The comfortable seat. Where I was positioned. Maybe it was everything together that made it a special part of that night. I came home, and listened to Hine e Hine on CD. It sounded beautiful. I listened again. And again. I couldn't believe that it took me three years (I discovered Hayley in 2006) to fully appreciate the beauty of the song. Now, each time I hear Hine e Hine, my mind always goes back to that night in the Ulster Hall.
Today, I attended the funeral mass of a neighbour. It was a touching sermon. More of a celebration of a life, rather than a death. Towards the end, the priest read out a poem. I'm not sure if the family requested it or not, but it went...
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the soft star-shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
As the first line was being said, I knew I'd heard it before. Then I realised Hayley had sung it on her first Japanese album (only slightly different lyrics). For probably the first time, the words registered in my head. In a time of grief, I'm sure it was comforting words too, for those who had just lost a loved one.
When I came home, I had a couple of hours to spare, so I watched a recording of the funeral service of Jim Stynes. Jim was a Dublin-born Gaelic footballer, who went to Australia at aged 18, to play Australian Rules for Melbourne. To say he was a success in the Australian game was an understatement. He won all sorts of honours and broke a few records. Sadly, he passed away last week from cancer, aged 45. In recognition of his AFL career and his contribution to various charities in Australia, he received a state funeral in Melbourne. During the service, former team-mates, his brother and wife spoke of Jim. His wife spoke a few words, and then finished off with a poem. It began "Do not stand at my grave and weep...". The same poem I'd heard merely an hour or two earlier. I could sense the emotion in her voice, and it struck a chord with me again, as I'm sure it did with those in attendance, on the streets outside and at home watching on TV.
Afterwards I took out my copy of HSJS, and put on 'A Thousand Winds'. For the first time, the words meant something. As I sat and listened to the beauty of Hayley's voice, and the meaningful and heartfelt lyrics, my mind wandered to thoughts of my Dad. He passed away three months ago. Tears welled in my eyes. I'll always remember the events of today, whenever I hear 'A Thousand Winds'.
A thousand winds that blow, the diamond glints on snow, the sunlight on the ripened grain, the gentle autumn rain, the swift rush of birds in flight, the stars that shine at night... My Dad is all of those things now.
Anyway, I don't know why I feel the need to write this, but I'm doing it, so there must be a reason that I just can't fathom yet. It's a bit long-winded, so I apologise in advance to those who might want to read it.
Every now and again I hear an old song on the radio, and it brings me back to someone or something that happened in the past. Maybe it's a song that your Mum or Dad used to sing. A song that reminds you of old friends, schooldays, your children, a wedding, birthday party etc. It might not even seen like an important time, but somehow your mind goes back to a place or person upon hearing a certain song. The other day, a song came on the radio that I haven't heard for years. It always reminded me of an old schoolmate. It brought back happy memories of the good times we had in school. I'm sure most people can relate to this.
In December 2009, Hayley was performing in the Ulster Hall in Belfast, with a full orchestra. It was the first time I had heard Hayley with an orchestra, and the concert was awesome. Before that concert, 'Hine e Hine' was never really a favourite of mine. But it was to change that night. Hearing Hayley sing it with a full orchestra made me fully aware of the beauty of the song. Maybe it was the orchestra complimenting Hayley's voice. Maybe it was the acoustics of the hall. The comfortable seat. Where I was positioned. Maybe it was everything together that made it a special part of that night. I came home, and listened to Hine e Hine on CD. It sounded beautiful. I listened again. And again. I couldn't believe that it took me three years (I discovered Hayley in 2006) to fully appreciate the beauty of the song. Now, each time I hear Hine e Hine, my mind always goes back to that night in the Ulster Hall.
Today, I attended the funeral mass of a neighbour. It was a touching sermon. More of a celebration of a life, rather than a death. Towards the end, the priest read out a poem. I'm not sure if the family requested it or not, but it went...
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the soft star-shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
As the first line was being said, I knew I'd heard it before. Then I realised Hayley had sung it on her first Japanese album (only slightly different lyrics). For probably the first time, the words registered in my head. In a time of grief, I'm sure it was comforting words too, for those who had just lost a loved one.
When I came home, I had a couple of hours to spare, so I watched a recording of the funeral service of Jim Stynes. Jim was a Dublin-born Gaelic footballer, who went to Australia at aged 18, to play Australian Rules for Melbourne. To say he was a success in the Australian game was an understatement. He won all sorts of honours and broke a few records. Sadly, he passed away last week from cancer, aged 45. In recognition of his AFL career and his contribution to various charities in Australia, he received a state funeral in Melbourne. During the service, former team-mates, his brother and wife spoke of Jim. His wife spoke a few words, and then finished off with a poem. It began "Do not stand at my grave and weep...". The same poem I'd heard merely an hour or two earlier. I could sense the emotion in her voice, and it struck a chord with me again, as I'm sure it did with those in attendance, on the streets outside and at home watching on TV.
Afterwards I took out my copy of HSJS, and put on 'A Thousand Winds'. For the first time, the words meant something. As I sat and listened to the beauty of Hayley's voice, and the meaningful and heartfelt lyrics, my mind wandered to thoughts of my Dad. He passed away three months ago. Tears welled in my eyes. I'll always remember the events of today, whenever I hear 'A Thousand Winds'.
A thousand winds that blow, the diamond glints on snow, the sunlight on the ripened grain, the gentle autumn rain, the swift rush of birds in flight, the stars that shine at night... My Dad is all of those things now.
