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The Heart of Music

It’s hard to describe what happens to me when I strap on my guitar and strum the first chord of the first song of the first set. Something or someone else takes control, directing every move, every chord change, every word. I’m just the vessel, the transportation; destination unknown.

I think the heart of music is each of us, all of our hearts combined to form many vessels, many forms of transportation, with many unknown destinations. The beauty of all that is we don’t need to understand the heart itself, we just need to feel the body that contains it. But how is that possible?

Make a playlist of 20 or 25 of your favorite songs, then share that with someone, anyone, and ask them to make one and share it with you. I’m convinced that if we do that it just might be possible to feel, to see each other again. And heal ourselves from the hatred and division that has infected us.

Here’s a playlist of 20 of my favorites in no particular order. I know it might be hard for some of you to list only 20, or maybe even two or three, but even if it’s just one song that touches you in a special way, share it here with us in a comment. And then go out and feel the bodies of music all around you.

  1. Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (Bob Dylan)
  2. Slither (Mandolin Orange)
  3. Misty’s Nightmares 1 & 2 (Father John Misty)
  4. Love is All (The Tallest Man On Earth)
  5. She Lit a Fire (Lord Huron)
  6. Over The Rainbow (Eva Cassidy)
  7. Red Light (The Paper Kites)
  8. Cedar Lane (First Aid Kit)
  9. Blacktop (Julien Baker)
  10. Holocene (Bon Iver)
  11. Tennessee Whiskey (Chris Stapleton)
  12. Hey Hey What Can I Do (Led Zeppelin)
  13. Hotel California (Eagles)
  14. How To Forget (Jason Isbell)
  15. Wooden Ships (Crosby, Stills & Nash)
  16. Pink Rabbits (The National)
  17. The House That Built Me (Miranda Lambert)
  18. I Can Almost See You (Hammock)
  19. Am I Going Up (All Them Witches)
  20. Blue Moon of Kentucky (Bill Monroe)
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See what condition my condition is in

I recently had to start taking blood pressure medication but for years I hadn’t taken anything and have felt just fine. I knew about the adage “the silent killer” but just ignored it and figured that when it was my time to check out I’d rather not know about it beforehand.

But if I could pick the time and place it’d be at one of my favorite breweries, performing with one of the bands I’m in, holding my guitar, singing the original song I wrote: “I Know Where I’m Going.” There’s no way of knowing if it’ll happen like that, but hey, there’s no harm in asking.

My BP appears to be under control now, and along with the medication I’m taking (hydrochlorothiazide) I think it’s also helped that I’ve begun to take charge of my temper. Do I have complete control yet? No, but it’s kind of easier done than said when you have a general idea of what ticks you off because you can kind of catch it before you lose it.

I think there’s too much anger in the world today and if everyone would try to rein in their tempers like I’ve been doing we’d probably get along with each other a little better. I should’ve started harnessing mine a long time ago!

Peace.