June 14, 2011

• When I’m old and wise…

  As far as my eyes can see
  There are shadows approaching me
  And to those I left behind
  I wanted you to know
  You’ve always shared my deepest thoughts
  You follow where I go

  And oh when I’m old and wise
  Bitter words mean little to me
  Autumn winds will blow right through me
  And someday in the mist of time
  When they asked me if I knew you
  I’d smile and say you were a friend of mine
  And the sadness would be lifted from my eyes
  Oh when I’m old and wise

  As far as my eyes can see
  There are shadows surrounding me
  And to those I leave behind
  I want you all to know
  You’ve always shared my darkest hours
  I’ll miss you when I go

  And oh, when I’m old and wise
  Heavy words that tossed and blew me
  Like autumn winds that will blow right through me
  And someday in the mist of time
  When they ask you if you knew me
  Remember that you were a friend of mine
  As the final curtain falls before my eyes
  Oh when I’m old and wise

  As far as my eyes can see…….

  
  

  Have you heard this song?  It’s an old song (’80s) by Alan Parsons Project called “Old and Wise“. Interesting the way songs are written.   This song is about dying and someone looking back on their life – it’s not a Christian song, but some of it’s points have stuck with me over the years since I first heard it.   It’s a kind of haunting song with all the minor chords they play in it — but interestingly enough when it gets to the end of each of the “choruses” on the “Oh when I’m old and wise” part, it changes to a resolving major chords.

  I love listening to the melodic progression of chords in songs… this one particularly because although it is sad, it resolves so there’s almost a peace about the going or the thought they are having.

  These are great lyrics…

  And oh when I’m old and wise
  Bitter words mean little to me
  Autumn winds will blow right through me

  and

  And oh, when I’m old and wise
  Heavy words that tossed and blew me
  Like autumn winds that will blow right through me

  Reminds me that things that seem so HUGE now when I look back at them from far in the future will not have the same impact on me.  We are so caught up in the moment, so caught up on how people say things to us.  It seems such a huge deal at the time.  But in the end, there’s only a sad memory of a great friendship that once was, that got messed up along the way somehow.  Reminds me of Psalm 103:8 and how we should instead reflect the Lord when we are angry/upset: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

  For me, it’s not bitter, heavy words that have caused separation in friendships, rather busyness.  Everything is so busy, and I’m not able to keep up very well with friendships of those that have moved out of my immediate life circle for one reason or another.  I have had some REALLY good friends that have just slipped into a mild oblivion.   I say mild because we are friends on FB or we see each other a couple of times a year, or I only get a Christmas card from them… but I still consider them near and dear to my heart.  But this thing — busyness — just robs me of being able to connect as I would like. But I’m sure looking back on my life all this busyness in my life now “like autumn winds will blow right through me”…  Makes me take a step back and evaluate all I am doing and it’s importance over other things….

  I love this….

  And someday in the mist of time
  When they asked me if I knew you
  I’d smile and say you were a friend of mine
  And the sadness would be lifted from my eyes

  When I hear this I think of a time in the future thinking back on a friendship of someone who has died — like recently my sister-in-law.   I would smile and say she was a friend of mine – and the sadness is lifted from my eyes because I think of the fond times we shared and the fact that I will see her again in heaven — where there will be no busyness… or pain or sorrow or dying or arguing, etc etc etc. That truly brings a smile to my face.
  

  And someday in the mist of time
  When they ask you if you knew me
  Remember that you were a friend of mine

  Don’t forget about me, friends…

   

  • 3:24 am
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