This tool for the journey comes from Ben Taylor. Unbeknownst to him he gave me this 'tool' a few years ago and it is because of this tool I ultimately came to know him. Ben gave me this gift through his exhale in the bridge of one of his songs long before I met him. Subsequent to receiving this gift I have had the blessing of coming to know more closely the spirit in which he and his band share their musical offerings.
In my humble opinion we live in a musical era where their type of creative generosity and thoughtfulness is rarer than it should be. Far too many musicians trade grace for gloss, yet Ben (et al) seems gently insistent that we 'listeners' be intelligent and engaged... and I respect their artistic integrity and posture a great deal.
Regarding the 'tool' he gave me...in order to show it to you I need to share with you the lyrics of Ben's powerful song:
Digest
When
it gets me depressed I find
That it's best with my chest high
As I stretch my lungs & express my love,
Hold my breath & forget my pride,
To reflect that the rest of our lives are a measure of time.
We may as well try to express some style.
I exhale my prayer.
(And) follow it with my eyes as it fills the air.
In the back of my mind I imagine that you can hear
As if you could still be near me.
But
Lately I've been breaking my mind,
Trying my best but it's taking its time.
Cause
I've been forced to digest this wasteful emptiness.
I'm supposed to laugh as if there's nothing going on.
I know life goes on regardless,
But nothing's been the same
Since you've been gone.
Another run around the sun,
Look at the things we've seen.
What have we both become?
What have we dreamed?
Who have we lost?
And what have we won?
I never could've believed that you wouldn't have finished what we'd begun.
I never dared to imagine you would've been taken away from us.
Lately I've been breaking my mind,
Trying my best but it's taking its time.
Cause
I've been forced to digest this wasteful emptiness.
I'm supposed to laugh as if there's nothing going on.
I know life goes on regardless,
But nothing's been the same
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone.
Now times change & the game plays on,
And the truth remains but the rules have all gone wrong.
Life rises, now here we are
Still looking for the place where we belong.
Stronger than habit & fantasy,
Deeper than gravity.
What will be has to be.
God planned it, I understand it.
I hadn't imagined you'd leave me stranded
On this stage in these lights where I'm standing.
No right to complain
Cause it's already more than I'd ever have asked.
But without you
The best has yet to pass & now this song is about you.
And I've been forced to digest this wasteful emptiness.
I'm supposed to laugh as if there's nothing going on.
I know life goes on regardless,
But nothing's been the same
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone.
**That it's best with my chest high
As I stretch my lungs & express my love,
Hold my breath & forget my pride,
To reflect that the rest of our lives are a measure of time.
We may as well try to express some style.
I exhale my prayer.
(And) follow it with my eyes as it fills the air.
In the back of my mind I imagine that you can hear
As if you could still be near me.
But
Lately I've been breaking my mind,
Trying my best but it's taking its time.
Cause
I've been forced to digest this wasteful emptiness.
I'm supposed to laugh as if there's nothing going on.
I know life goes on regardless,
But nothing's been the same
Since you've been gone.
Another run around the sun,
Look at the things we've seen.
What have we both become?
What have we dreamed?
Who have we lost?
And what have we won?
I never could've believed that you wouldn't have finished what we'd begun.
I never dared to imagine you would've been taken away from us.
Lately I've been breaking my mind,
Trying my best but it's taking its time.
Cause
I've been forced to digest this wasteful emptiness.
I'm supposed to laugh as if there's nothing going on.
I know life goes on regardless,
But nothing's been the same
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone.
Now times change & the game plays on,
And the truth remains but the rules have all gone wrong.
Life rises, now here we are
Still looking for the place where we belong.
Stronger than habit & fantasy,
Deeper than gravity.
What will be has to be.
God planned it, I understand it.
I hadn't imagined you'd leave me stranded
On this stage in these lights where I'm standing.
No right to complain
Cause it's already more than I'd ever have asked.
But without you
The best has yet to pass & now this song is about you.
And I've been forced to digest this wasteful emptiness.
I'm supposed to laugh as if there's nothing going on.
I know life goes on regardless,
But nothing's been the same
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone.
No right to complain
'cause it's already more than I'd ever have asked
Wow - what a gift and a scolding, a reminder and an affirmation these words have been to me.
It should be said it does not matter what Ben meant when he sang these words because as the listener I am not only allowed but also expected to do my part in this creative circle. It is my job to slow down, listen and interpret his lyrics to find the gift he was giving - viewing it through my own lens. Within each song is a gift specifically for me if I am willing to take the time to hear it. This lovely 'dance' between singer and listener is why music - more than any other creative medium - is the 'Universal Language'.
One never truly knows the impact our words, our exhale, will have on others...as we are not always aware of who is 'listening' or how our words will be heard. As a singer/songwriter this seems especially challenging because songs ripple out far and wide (for years) and thus have more potential to touch people repeatedly than other forms of art. The glorious part is their gifts are given freely for us to interpret and what we receive is shaped by our ability to 'listen', and by our own life experiences. We get to add ourselves to the art through our interpretation if it.
An artist's painting, or poem, song or story - all are snapshots of moments in time; flashes of joy and pain, love and beauty, frenzy and repose - introspection and insights breathed out onto vinyl and canvas and paper - these things of the heart and mind become something solid through the willingness of the artist to feel and then share those feelings. This type of 'eyes wide open' exploration and examination takes more courage than many people realize.
As patrons of art our interpretations become an essential part of completing the circle of giving which was initiated by the artist. We give back by our ability to listen with open hearts and minds; to hear not only what was said, but also to listen well enough to discern the more invisible, harder to find bits. Their treasure is found when we engage with the art and breathe in their gifts, when we listen and actually hear what is being said in the places high above the words which were sung or spoken...
My interpretation of Ben Taylor is he is generous as an artist in his exhale. He is intelligent and witty and he is certainly willing to step outside the box and take risks with his music, yet his lyrics also leave much low-hanging fruit for the listener. He reminds us of gravity but also lifts us up with lighter gifts and gives us permission to laugh at him as well as ourselves. His heart is palpable because he is willing to share it. He does not appear to have the need to emulate anyone else in his craft, yet his respect for others in his field is certainly evident.
Ben's gifts to me through his music have been many, but the one which will always stand out for me remains the same:
'No right to complain cuz' it's already more than I'd ever have asked'.
Already more...so much more than I'd ever have asked.
These words started as a reminder but have become a part of my foundation - part of the ground I stand on; a valuable tool for my journey.
I don't want to take things for granted, not my life, not the people in it, nor the gifts and blessings I have been given. It isn't as though these words sung by Ben were new to me, but somehow I listened and heard them in a new way that day - and this changed something inside of me for the better. Ben didn't do this - I did, but he contributed through his art, through his exhale...and this has been a gift to me from him.
Already more...rather than 'not enough'...is the glass half full or half empty? Perhaps we should just be so damned glad we are blessed to have a glass at all when so many in the world do not. For me it isn't about how much is in the glass but rather what we do with however much we are given. Do we recognize the glass and the gifts...and then pay it forward?
In this life I have already more than I'd ever have asked, and a singer I didn't even know reminded me to keep my priorities and perspective in their proper place...all because I was listening.
In-Joy the journey! Stay open and keep listening!
Cheryl
You can find more info about Ben and his band as well as their upcoming tour dates at:
www.bentaylormusic.com
