We all need an escape. Every. Single. One. Of. Us. We all need that little release from the reality we seem to find ourselves in, to just let go of our worries and thoughts and just go to our happy place. Music is my escape.
For as long as I can remember, I turn to songs and lyrics when my heart is troubled, my mood is down, my spirits need lifting. It wasn't until high school that I truly learned to appreciate lyrics and music the way it is supposed to be appreciated. You see, there was this English teacher, Mr. Yeager. Boy was he a tough nut, but one of my all time favorite teachers, one from whom I learned a lot about writing, speaking, and listening. He had a class that he created called Modern Folk Rock Composers and most of us couldn't wait to take the class. Heck, who wouldn't want to listen to music instead of learning grammar, I mean REALLY!!?? It was in his presentation of the class that I learned to look for the meaning in song, look for the point the lyricist may have been making, and to interpret songs a bit deeper than just liking it because it sounds good.
Since that class, I have been unable to listen to songs without really listening (perhaps that is a reason I truly do love Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus, but please don't judge me on that!). Music is my escape. It is a universal language that everyone (well, ok, almost everyone) can appreciate. Seriously, look at all the different genres of music there are....Blues, Jazz, Country, Rock, Pop, Rap, Alternative, Classical, Show tunes, Oldies, Classic Rock, Southern Rock, and the list goes on and on. One look at my iPod, and you will see I have a very eclectic taste in music. My high school students used to cringe when the iPod would start up in class, because I allowed THEM to choose the first song of the day and then it just played through. Sure I added some songs at their request, but where it landed in the thousands of songs was anyone's guess. We may have heard a wonderful rendition of The Beastie Boys song Paul Revere to be followed by Blessed Assurance, the Third Day version. Sometimes Li'l Wayne would pop on and then be quickly followed by the theme song for Phineas and Ferb. Forcing some of them to suffer through country tunes only to have a Bill DeHart original pop on and watching expressions......music quickly became their escape too.
As I taught one of my units on the different ways stories are told, I used music to get my point across, finding songs that truly told a story. I introduced them to Thunder Road by my all time favorite Bruce Springsteen and challenged them to interpret the story being told. They listened to American Pie by Don McLean and to round out the listening, I introduced them to one of my most beloved story songs by Ms Dolly Parton, Me and Little Andy. It amazed me how intense the students were as they listened, as their eyes welled with tears, as they asked to hear it just one more time. I impressed upon them using music, not as a tool for bad mouthing people but as a way to connect. To tell a story. To escape, when they needed to escape.
Music is my escape. When I am feeling low, I turn to music. When I am happy, I turn to music. When I need to figure out what mood I am in, I turn to music. Music truly is my escape. As soon as I publish this particular blog, I may sit down and write a Thank You note to Mr. Yeager and offer my sincere gratitude for his class so many years ago.....lessons I learned that are still with me today and then I am going to put my headphones on and listen to some music and unwind.
Until tomorrow, my friends.....find the beat, friends, and soothe your soul and just get lost in rock and roll and drift away.........
Think Thankfully!!
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