Sleep Before Waking

Ever have a song come on the radio, (or on Pandora, in my case) that instantly sinks into your very bones and digs in to remain there for the rest of time? That happened to me the other day, and despite my best intentions, I forgot it and let it go. And yet, the song would NOT go quietly.

I turned on Pandora today while I cleaned, something I do every time. (And I have been cleaning, a lot.) The song came on again, this time, first.

“Speed of Sound” by Coldplay

The progression of those first few notes just plays some hidden chord in the very center of my spirit and I go somewhere…not here.

This has happened a few times before in my life, one of the best examples is the first time I heard “A Sort of Homecoming” by U2 (my favorite band). That song called to me like a captain to the sea. It stayed with me until it almost felt like the song was playing a part of me I could only experience when I listened to it, or when I was in Ireland. Yes, Ireland…for some reason.

Well, it happened again. I see Ireland when I hear this song. Odd, since I am going to Ireland this New Year’s and instead of just envisioning this existance; standing in a field on a hill with this song playing, instead of just letting that visual exist in my mind, I am GOING to make it happen. I am bringing my iPod, headphones, and a very understanding friend. I may cry. I’m not sure.

I’ve had a similar experience once before. “Lucky Man” by the Verve inspired an image of standing on the Great Wall of China. I did that very thing, and I turned on that very song…it wasn’t quite what I saw in mind, given that they brought us to the most unhappy and hateful staircase on the planet; 2400 steps straight up into the ether. I made it less than halfway…not quite how I’d dreamed it.

This time around, I’m going full tilt. The field, the song, I claim the experience now. No one can take it from me.

No one.