06 - Just a Step Amongst the Stairs

So here's the idea.  Feature a song a day for every day of the most magnificent season of Autumn.  The songs are ones that capture the thoughts/ideas/images/feelings of the season for me.  It's my "Autumnal Playlist" if you will.

Today's song is a bit of a mood changer.  Especially considering the subject matter it brings to mind when I hear it.


 Song 06/Day 06

Today's Song:  "Overcome," off the album V, by the amazing band LĪVE.


Live had become one of my favorite bands a few years before V hit the market.  A lot of their music has that Autumnal feel to it.  Like most music I "discover," I come across it from movies/trailers/or tv.  I think this may be one of the earliest accounts of it.  I heard the song "Lightning Crashes," used on a trailer for the Sandra Bullock flick, "Hope Floats," in the spring of '98 (end of Freshman year at Evangel University.)  I don't think I ever saw the movie.  But it turned me onto this band that I soon found out was from my same county in PA.

Soon after I had raided the local used CD stores and picked up, "Throwing Copper," and "Secret Samadhi."  The latter would bring me to one of my all time favorite songs, which will appear on this list on October 8th.  The album V debuted on September 18th, 2001.

A week after 9/11.

This song struck me when I first heard it, and I connected it to the events.  I guess a lot of people felt that way.  Months later a music video of this song would air featuring footage of the aftermath.  It was powerful.  It cemented that event with this song in my mind.  I remember listening to it and it became like a prayer of sorts.  There were tears at times.

Music can be powerful and potent.  I think every person reacts differently.  For me this song will forever be mournful and in honor of those who died in the attacks, and those who worked tirelessly to save as many as they could.  It makes me long for the unity our nation had in the weeks following those horrible events.

I am particularly struck by the lyrics:

Beautiful drowning
This beautiful drowning
This holy water
This holy water, is in my lungs

I'll let the song speak for itself.

Day 06/Song 06 - Overcome by Live.

-jesse

TEN

Forget the conspiracies.

Set aside the investigations.

And really forget your politics.

Today is about remembering those who died.  To honor those who's lives were taken, and those who gave them trying to save others.

If it's not to painful for you, remember where you were that morning.  When you first started to hear about a plane flying into the WTC.  Were you like me, thinking it was a small plane?  Feeling horrible for the lives that were lost.  Then you see the second plane hit, and realize it was a full size commercial flight.

Both of them.

As the news and images poured across our screens we wept and prayed.  Then we started to hear about people trying to rescue those trapped inside the smoldering buildings.  We heard about the Pentagon, and flight 93.  "Let's roll," became a motto for bravery and courage.

When evening came we started to see numbers.

A hole had been punched through the heart of America.

But something began to happen.  Volunteers were advancing on New York to help.  That hole started to get bandaged.  Old Glory, the Star Spangled Banner, our flag was flying everywhere.  From the remains of the towers in NYC.  Along the streets of Manhattan.  On homes, and cars, and bikes, and schools all across this country.  "Proud to be an American," took on new meaning for everyone from Maine to Hawaii.

We were unified as a country.

But that was ten years ago.

We are more divided now than we were before the attacks.  That hole never really healed.  We eventually started to pick at it.  It festered and oozed.  It got infected.  Flags were banned in apartment communities.  Funerals of soldiers are protested.  We've been taught to feel ashamed that we're American...in our own country! 

Infections can be fought.

We have every right and responsibility to be proud of who we are.  Not an arrogant pride that tells us we can do what ever we want.  But one of respect and honor for the people who have made this nation great.  People like the passengers of flight 93, the rescue workers in NYC, firefighters and police in your home town.  And all those throughout history who gave their lives in service or battle to this country.

My uncles and father.  My sister.  A niece.  A nephew.

My mother who is the most patriotic person I have ever met.

So remember those who died or gave their lives ten years ago.  Remember what they died for.  They died for normal folks like you and me to have another shot at tomorrow.  To seize the opportunities that living in this country provides.

Rise up off your couch, your desk chair, and go out and share life with someone.  Visit someone in prison.  Go see your sick uncle in the hospital.  Take flowers to your mother.  Play with your kids, smile, laugh, and enjoy life.