Hudson, Truman & Sawyer,
Music has always been very important in my life. Though I sing ridiculously off key & can can only play two songs on guitar from memory- my life and many of it’s memories involve music. It’s an amazing gift that a musician has. To be able to define moments in complete strangers lives. To make you cry & laugh & smile & dance. There are artists, albums & songs that will always be a part of who I am. Things I can go back to when I need to find strength or reason or happiness.
When I hear “Saw her Standing There” by The Beatles, I will forever think of being around 6 in the family room that eventually became my little brother’s room with my dad & uncle. They used to play guitar together. Set up amps, microphones, etc. And that song I always got to sing with them. I will forever see my father in that song. And, though our relationship hasn’t always been wonderful- that memory is pure love.
“Piece of my heart” by Janis Joplin makes me remember decorating our first Christmas tree in Danville, & probably for a few years after that. It was such a fun tradition to bring out the old records after we’d switched to CDs at Christmas & sing and dance around the living room. Forget Christmas music- Janis is where it’s at. Also: my mom, though I probably don’t say it enough is one of the coolest people who ever lived.
“Runaround” by Blues Traveler- though a family favorite for years before- will always remind me of my brother & the one night we recorded ourselves singing it while he played guitar. And how hard we laughed at the recording. That day had actually been one of the hardest days of my life. And I’m not even sure if my brother knew what had gone on that day- but little 13 year old Andrew really helped me out of a dark place that night.
I have songs “with” people & “for” people, for emotions & moods. I have songs that remind me of every single person I’ve ever met. Living & dead. People who knew & those who didn’t.
But, few albums move me the way Harvest Moon does. It’s strange, because in my childhood- it was a sad album. An album overplayed in my house as my parents divorced. It was always a beautiful album- but connected to a lot of sad memories. And then one night- 20 years later- I played it for the 3 of you as you went to sleep. And the tradition continued. For days, weeks, months. There are only a few albums I put you three to sleep listening to & this one is by far the most special. It’s sometimes hard to put into words those moments in life where everything clicks- but when I hear the first three notes of “unknown legend” & I look at the three of you & your smiling faces? It’s the most amazing feeling. I love picking Sawyer up to dance with me while Truman dances along in his crib. And now instead of this beautiful album being tied to sad times- it’s tied to this night time ritual we’ve created. And as I dance with you I find myself thinking, hoping- that those same three notes that begin the album will one day bring you back to this moment. Even if you are still too young to really REMEMBER, I am willing to bet this song will always find you peaceful & happy- like a drowsy happy baby in your mommy’s arms.
Mommy.
