here is an idea for discussion that came to me during the course of a long drive home. In the past some have started threads re favourite songs or listings of songs, songwriters etc. This generally does not go very far in terms of dialogue and serves no purpose in this regard. And so I ask not for 'favourites' in this discussion. Here is the notion. Amongst the great bulk of poetic and lyric literature there are ocassionally phrases, a few lines or a stanza that for some reason or other touches us with its great literary skill or heart-felt insight. Sometimes we are touched because it relates to something from our current or past life. Whatever, we are struck by a "pearl" in the midst of all these verses. I would like to engage discussion on the high points of poetry or lyric that have made a difference, changed a life, touched a nerve, evoked a potent response or confirmed a viewpoint.
Might I suggest that we use this section of the forum to comment on member's works or any other poet/songwriter that comes to mind. "Pearls" extracted from Leonard's work could be posted at the discussions on his songs and poetry.
To start this off I present to you an obscure piece of song from a New Zealand/Australian songwriter. This comes from a solo album by Neil Finn- ex Crowded House, titled "Try Whistling This". The lines are a chorus from a song called 'Faster Than Light'. Neil has been a very successful musician in Australia and New Zealand. How well he is known in other parts of the world is not known to me.
I was struck by the simplicity of his language to express the depth of his insight. Listening to this song made me pay closer attention to his music and my own thought process.
"In time you'll see that some things travel faster than light
In time you'll recognise that love is larger than life.
And praise will come to those who's kindness leaves you without debt
And bends the shape of things to come that haven't happened yet."
What struck me was the directness of his observation and the use of language that in no way is designed to baffle the listener or imply hidden meanings. He is not trying to be clever. He simply wishes to communicate.
As a songwriter I recognise that some of the appeal for these lines may be that it is something I would like to have written. This is something that occurs to me with great frequency as I am always searching for insight to make a decent song. Also as a performing musician this song inspires me as something I would like to add to my repertoire. Hopefully those who have not encountered Neil Finn's music may sometime in the future get that opportunity.
Regards,
