When writing my Week 24 song for #songaweek2016, I was feeling the weight of hate in our country – the Orlando shooting, Donald Trump rallies, comments sections and Internet memes of all stripes.
Tried to write something coherent, but I think I felt most strongly the wordless singing part. Not my best week, too squeezed for time this time, but I’m committed to doing this every week and posting it here, so here it is. With electric guitar by Nathan Bloom.
This can’t go on forever
this can’t be all we’ve got
this summer afternoon that’s raging
bloody blazing hot
but does that mean that nightmares
are clinging to its heels?
and for the thousandth time the moon
looks sadly down on killing fields?
Aah . . .
I wish you hope and courage
and strength and wisdom too
I wish you all the healing balm
that love and peace need to take root
and when your heart attacks you
with fear and dull despair
I wish you hands that hold your own
and voices vowing, I am here.
Julia Bloom 
Julia–
I’ve resurfaced from the Land of Academia, now trying to catch up on some of your work. You’re blowing me away with your commitment to this challenge! I had to write a song for a class last semester, and just that one was exhausting. Also, I feel like it’s a challenge to me, because this rascal in my head just asked, “What if I tried to produce a piece of writing every week for a year?” Not saying I’m going to try, but it’s something to consider.
This has been a difficult year in this country, and I appreciate your thoughtful music as I try to process all the hate that we seem to be steeping in. Including my own hate.
Keep it up.
Jodi
Hey Jodi – thanks so much for listening and commenting! I like the way that rascal thinks 🙂 I miss your writing. (Not that even if you did write someting every week, you’d necessarily make it public – but anything you want to share, it’d be great!)