On December 4th at 2:43am the moon was New.
Last cycle’s focus was on Living. In it I wondered at the thought of “focusing on abandon rather than abandonment”. We spend so much of our lives compromising and conforming – rather than letting go of the reins that had been handed to us and actually Living our own lives. The past few years have seen me make bolder steps in that direction – the trip to Australia in 2019 to see Mike and Micky – and again this year to LA. Music has always been the motivator for me – from the first time I heard Michael Nesmith say “if you love music, you can play music”. (See the first comment for the link and you’ll understand).
In a tragic twist to my focus on Living, Nez passed away on Friday, December 10th. The only other passing in my life that has been as profound was my father in 2001. The relationship with Nez was more than musician and fan. This artist is etched in the fabric of who I have become and what I aspire to be. Meeting him, shaking his hand, and giving him MY music was more a “checking in” and letting him know how far his inspiration traveled. I spent maybe a minute talking to him, if that… but it was real and it was true.
I had thoughts of themes for this cycle – but they dissolved over the weekend. It wasn’t until tonight when I thought of those themes again that I realized that where they intersected was the truth of this cycle, elegantly crafted by Nez.
When they’re crafted to convey a verbal message, Lyrics are critical to a song for me. If a writer cared to commit to a phrase, then I believe that’s something to be honored. It’s why I annoy bandmates with my insistence on getting all the words right. Lyrics matter. Nez was a lyrical poet – which is why Lyrics are the cycle for this month.
I find it interesting too that the word Lyric is derived from the word Lyre, and the Lyre has morphed over time to become the kithara, which brings us guitar. If Lyrics matter, so does etymology.
Grief has hidden many of my own words from me tonight – so I’m going to let Nez finish this out. In the attached clip you’ll hear him explain how when artists create something, once that creation is borne out into the world, it stops being “theirs” and belongs to everyone. “It cannot be a part of me, for now it’s part of you”.
Listen to your favorite songs or your favorite artists, and listen to the words they chose and ponder why. The clues aren’t always clouded.
Tapioca Tundra
Reasoned verse, some prose or rhyme
Lose themselves in other times
And waiting hopes cast silent spells
That speak in clouded clues
It cannot be a part of me
For now it’s part of youCareful plays on fields
That seem to vanish
When they’re in between
And softly as I walk away
In freshly tattered shoes
It cannot be a part of me
For now it’s part of youSunshine, ragtime
Blowing in the breeze
Midnight looks right
Standing more at easeSilhouettes and figures stay
Michael Nesmith
Close to what he had to say
And one more time, the faded dream
Is saddened by the news
It cannot be a part of me
For now it’s part of you
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