Fur Elise

This is the first time I've awakened (since I started keeping track) with a song that doesn't have words. I woke up with Fur Elise by Beethoven in my head, and not the most well-known part, either. It was what piano teachers call the "B section" (or, according to Wikipedia, below, the C section), the part that young piano students don't know about. They just want to play the part they've heard before, and don't realize how technically challenging the B and C parts are.

I heard this song most recently at a piano recital on Wednesday at Holy Cross, given by Olga Oseth. She's a 20-year-old college student who works at Lake Song. She did a lovely job on it.

Here's some interesting info about Fur Elise:

Für Elise

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"Für Elise", opening

Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor (WoO 59 and Bia 515) for solo piano, commonly known as "Für Elise" (English: "For Elise"), is one of Ludwig van Beethoven's most popular compositions.^[1][2][3]

[edit] History

The score was not published until 1867, 40 years after the composer's death. The discoverer of the piece, Ludwig Nohl, affirmed that the original autographed manuscript was dated 27 April. This manuscript has been lost.
It is not certain who "Elise" was. Max Unger suggested that Ludwig Nohl may have transcribed the title incorrectly and the original work may have been named "Für Therese"^[4], a reference to Therese Malfatti von Rohrenbach zu Dezza (1792–1851). She was a friend and student of Beethoven's to whom he proposed in 1810, though she turned him down to marry the Austrian nobleman and state official Wilhelm von Droßdik in 1816.^[5] According to a recent study by Klaus Martin Kopitz, there is flimsy evidence that the piece was written for the German soprano singer Elisabeth Röckel (1793–1883), later the wife of Johann Nepomuk Hummel. "Elise", as she was called by a parish priest (she always called herself "Betty"), had been a friend of Beethoven's since 1808.^[6] In the meantime it has been proven that Rudolf Schachner, who in 1851 inherited Therese von Droßdik's musical scores, was a relative of Babette Bredl who in 1865 let Nohl copy the autograph in her possession. Thus Kopitz's hypothesis is definitely refuted.
The pianist and musicologist Luca Chiantore argued in his doctoral thesis and his recent book "Beethoven al piano" that Beethoven might not have been the person who gave the piece the form that we know today. Chiantore suggested that the original signed manuscript, upon which Ludwig Nohl claimed to base his transcription, may never have existed.^[7] On the other hand, the musicologist Barry Cooper stated, in a 1984 essay in the Musical Times, that one of two surviving sketches closely resembles the published version.^[8] It has also been suggested that Elise simply refers to a term at this point in history which simply meant 'sweetheart', therefore suggesting this piece was written for Elise (Theresa Malfatti).^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Music

Bagatelle in A minor ("Für Elise") Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Piano performance (MIDI rendition)

The piece is in A Minor and is set in 3/8 time. It begins with an A minor theme marked 'Poco moto' (with movement), with the left hand playing arpeggios alternating between A minor and E major. It then moves into a brief section based around C major and G major, before returning to the original theme. It. then enters a lighter section in the subdominant key, F major. It consists of a similar texture to the A section,where the right hand plays a melody over left hand arpeggios. It then enters a 32nd note C major figure before returning to the A section. The piece then moves to an agitated theme in D minor with an A pedal point, as the right hand plays diminished chords. This section then concludes with an ascending A minor arpeggio before beginning a chromatic descent over two octaves, and then returning to the A section. The piece ends in its starting key of A minor with an authentic cadence. Despite being called a bagatelle, the piece is in rondo form. The structure is A - B - A - C -A. The first theme is not technically difficult and is often taught alone as it provides a good basic exercise for piano pedalling technique. However, much greater technique is required for the B section as well as the rapid rising A minor figure in the C section.
The letters that spell Elise can be decoded as the first three notes of the piece. Because an E♭ is called an Es in German and is pronounced as "S", that makes E-(L)-(I)-S-E: E-(L)-(I)-E♭-E, which by enharmonic equivalents sounds the same as E-(L)-(I)-D♯-E. Furthermore, since "Dis" is the pronunciation of D♯, if the first several notes of the composition are sung with note names, it becomes E-Dis-E-Dis-E (...), creating a word that, as a mondegreen, sounds significantly similar to the name "Elise" (the "L" sound and "D" sound are alveolar consonants).

Time of My Life by David Cook

Time of My Life was coming in loud and clear when I woke up but I lost it soon after. All I could remember was the word "life", which didn't exactly narrow it down when I tried the lyric search. I also thought it might be by Kris Allen, so I tried him, too. Then I thought it might have been "Time of Your Life" by Green Day, but after reading those lyrics knew it wasn't. Eventually I thought of David Cook, but was dubious. But there it was! This is most likely a song I heard on 102.9 on the way home from the Cities on Monday. So glad they are done with Christmas music!!

I've been waiting for my dreams
To turn into something
I could believe in
And looking for that
Magic rainbow
On the horizon
I couldn't see it
Until I let go
Gave into love and watched all the bitterness burn
Now I'm coming alive
Body and soul
And feelin' my world start to turn

And I'll taste every moment
And live out loud
I know this the time
This is the time
To be more than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life

Holding onto things that vanished
Into the air
Left me in pieces
But now I'm rising from the ashes
Finding my wings
And all that I needed
Was there all along
Within my reach
And as close as the beat of my heart
[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/d/david-cook-lyrics/time-of-my-life-lyrics.html ]

And I'll taste every moment
And live it out loud
I know this is the time
This is the time
To be more than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life

And I'm out on the edge of forever
Ready to run
I'm keeping my feet on the ground
My arms open wide
My face to the sun

And I'll taste every moment
And live it out loud I know this is the time
This is the time
To be more than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
My life
More than a name
Or face in the crowd
I know this the time
This is the time of my life
This is the time of my life
Time of my life....
Time of my life...

Breakeven

All I heard at first was the intro...a kind of rumbling guitar. I thought it might be Barbara Ann by the Beach Boys, but luckily the words began coming through. It was Breakeven by the Script. I think this is a great song. I know I heard it on Cities 97 on Monday on the way home from Charchian's Christmas Tea. I remember hearing it, and I also remember hearing them say it was by the Script, whom I'd never heard of before.

Script

Songwriters: Frampton, Andrew Marcus; Kipner, Stephen Alan; O'Donoghue, Daniel John; Sheehan, Mark Anthony;

I'm still alive but I'm barely breathing
Just prayed to a God that I don't believe in
'Cause I got time while she got freedom
'Cause when a heart breaks, no, it don't break even

Her best days will be some of my worst
She finally met a man that's gonna put her first
While I'm wide awake, she has no trouble sleeping
'Cause when a heart breaks, no, it don't break even, even, no

What am I suppose to do when the best part of me was always you?
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay?
I'm falling to pieces, yeah
I'm falling to pieces

They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding
'Cause she's moved on while I'm still grieving
And when a heart breaks, no, it don't break even, even, no

What am I suppose to do when the best part of me was always you?
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay?
I'm falling to pieces, yeah
I'm falling to pieces, yeah

I'm falling to pieces
(One's still in love while the other one's leaving)
I'm falling to pieces
('Cause when a heart breaks, no, it don't break even)

You got his heart and my heart and none of the pain
You took your suitcase, I took the blame
Now I'm tryin' make sense of what little remains, oh
'Cause you left me with no love and no love to my name

I'm still alive but I'm barely breathing
Just prayed to a God that I don't believe in
'Cause I got time while she got freedom
'Cause when a heart breaks, no it don't break
No it don't break, no, it don't break even, no

What am I suppose to do when the best part of me was always you?
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay?
I'm falling to pieces, yeah
I'm falling to pieces, yeah

I'm falling to pieces

Read more: http://www.metrolyrics.com/breakeven-lyrics-script.html#ixzz19VwaHYPx

Need A Little Christmas

I think I've had more than "a little Christmas" in the past couple of weeks! Yesterday Emily, Julia and I went to Charchian's for a really nice tea in honor of Sam and Rachel. It was so relaxing and pleasant...felt so good to be HOSTED instead of HOSTING for once. I love my relatives!! Anyway, Need A Little Christmas was in my head this morning. I guess it's from the musical "Mame". I can't remember hearing it this season; I've kept the "Christmas music only" stations off the radio because the music is usually so inane, and it's not a song we play here at home. Yesterday I had Cities 97 on during the (long) drive so I know I didn't hear it there. Must just be my subconscious telling me that maybe I overdid it this year and that just a LITTLE Christmas goes a long way!

OT: I love my GPS so much but need to update the maps and I don't know how. It got me to Emily's house and then to Charchian's and back to Emily's, but it was confused by the new highway work on 101. I didn't need it from 101 home, obviously, but if that map is out of date I'm sure many more are as well.

Lyrics to We Need A Little Christmas :

Haul out the holly
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again
Fill up the stocking
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now

For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute
Candles in the window
Carols at the spinet

Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute
It hasn't snowed a single flurry
But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry

So climb down the chimney
Turn on the brightest string of light I've ever seen
Slice up the fruitcake
It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough

For I've grown a little leaner
Grown a little colder
Grown a little sadder
Grown a little older

And I need a little angel
Sitting on my shoulder
Need a little CHristmas now

For we need a little music
Need a little laughter
Need a little singing
Ringing through the rafter

And we need a little snappy
"Happy ever after"
Need a little Christmas now

Haul out the holly
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again
Fill up the stocking
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now

For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute
Candles in the window
Carols at the spinet

Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute
It hasn't snowed a single flurry
But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry

So climb down the chimney
Turn on the brightest string of light I've ever seen
Slice up the fruitcake
It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough

For I've grown a little leaner
Grown a little colder
Grown a little sadder
Grown a little older

And I need a little angel
Sitting on my shoulder
Need a little CHristmas now

For we need a little music
Need a little laughter
Need a little singing
Ringing through the rafter

And we need a little snappy
"Happy ever after"
Need a little Christmas now

Winter Wonderland

An incredibly intense but fun Christmas week has ended. I haven't slept much, and haven't had songs in my head when I've awakened. Last night I slept hard and had vivid, crazy dreams. I awoke with Winter Wonderland in my head. "Winter Wonderland" was one of the songs in the Christmas Charades game we played last night. Watching Anna try to act it out was one of the best parts of the day. Simply hysterical! I was the one who finally guessed it. I'll also always remember Winter Wonderland as the song my brother John played on his tenor sax solo in 6th grade.

The famous Christmas song Winter Wonderland was first published in 1934. The composer was Felix Bernard (1897-1944) and the lyricist was Richard B. Smith (1901-1935). Probably the most popular versions of this classic Christmas song, Winter Wonderland, were recorded to high acclaim by the Andrews Sisters and Perry Como.
The lyrics of Winter Wonderland have undoubtedly contributed to the magical vision of snow at Christmas together with the tradition of building snowmen and therefore turning fantasy into reality by creating a real Winter Wonderland.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
When you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we've made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kids knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Highway Run

Well, this one was really obscure. Literally the only words I remembered were Highway Run, and I was a little worried that the lyric search wouldn't be able to help me. But, after a couple dead ends, I found the right song. It's by Journey. I can't imagine why this one was in my head, except that I originally thought it might be by Neil Diamond, and Tom and I talked about Neil Diamond's Cherry Cherry Christmas last night (and Cherry Cherry was also referenced in an article in the paper yesterday).

I do recognize Highway Run now that I've read all the lyrics. I actually thought it was 2 different songs, with the "highway run" part and the "forever yours" part:

Highway run
Into the midnight sun
Wheels go round and round
You're on my mind
Restless hearts
Sleep alone tonight
Sendin all my love
Along the wire

They say that the road
Ain't no place to start a family
Right down the line
It's been you and me
And lovin a music man
Ain't always what it's supposed to be
Oh girl you stand by me
I'm forever yours...faithfully

Circus life
Under the big top world
We all need the clowns
To make us smile
Through space and time
Always another show
Wondering where I am
Lost without you

And being apart ain't easy
On this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy
Of rediscovering you
Oh girl, you stand by me
I'm forever yours...faithfully

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Faithfully, I'm still yours
I'm forever yours
Ever yours...faithfully

Donkey Carol

Donkey Carol is a beautiful Christmas song in 5/4 time. We sang it in Christmas Choir quite a few years ago, and Megan Bunness directed it. Tom and I listened to it last night, and he googled Megan's name to see what she's been up to since leaving Onamia. She is apparently quite well known in the Denver area as a music professor and singer. She did have a beautiful voice...

Anyway, I had to ask Tom the name of the song this morning when I woke up with it in my head. Kind of a blah name for a very exciting song.

    

Hey, Soul Sister

I knew if I waited long enough Hey, Soul Sister would be my wake-up song. It was my song on Sat. morning. I don't know why it reminds me of Julia and Jeff, but it does. I think I dreamed this song all night Friday night because Julia talked to us at dinner about Jeff a bit. We'll finally meet him the day after Christmas. We had a really fun dinner at the Hilton in Minneapolis with Julia, Emily and Joe.

Hey, hey, hey

Your lipstick stains
On the front lobe of my
Left-side brains
I knew I wouldn't forget you
And so I went and let you
Blow my mind

Your sweet moonbeam
The smell of you in every
Single dream I dream
I knew when we collided
You're the one I have decided
Who's one of my kind

Hey soul sister
Ain't that mister mister
On the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair, you know
Hey soul sister
I don't wanna miss
A single thing you do
Tonight

Hey, hey, hey

Just in time
I'm so glad you have
A one track mind like me
You gave my life direction
A game show love connection
We can't deny

I'm so obsessed
My heart is bound to beat
Right out my untrimmed chest
I believe in you
Like a virgin, you're Madonna
And I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind

Hey soul sister
Ain't that mister mister
On the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair, you know
Hey soul sister
I don't wanna miss
A single thing you do
Tonight

The way you can cut a rug
Watching you is the only drug I need
So gangster, I'm so thug
You're the only one I'm dreaming of

You see, I can be myself now finally
In fact there's nothing I can't be
I want the world to see you'll be with me

Hey soul sister
Ain't that mister mister
On the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair, you know
Hey soul sister
I don't wanna miss
A single thing you do
Tonight



Read more: http://www.metrolyrics.com/hey-soul-sister-lyrics-train.html#ixzz18bnJyVGt

Open Your Heart

I woke up this morning with just a melody and a few words in my head. I couldn't remember hearing the song before. But when I typed the few words ("lock" and "hold the key") into my lyric search I discovered that the song was Open Your Heart by Madonna. Now I know where I heard it, and it was quite recently, too! I watched a rerun (which I hadn't seen before) of Glee on Tuesday, which featured the music of Madonna. Rachel and Finn sang this one.

I see you on the street and you walk on by
You make me wanna hang my head down and cry
If you gave me half the chance you'd see
My desire burning inside of me
But you choose to look the other way
I've had to work much harder than this
For something I want don't try to resist me

Open your heart to me, baby
I'll hold the lock and you hold the key
Open your heart to me, darlin'
I'll give you love if you, you turn the key

I Never Told You

Once again I woke up to I Never Told You. I also woke up to what Tom and I call "The Music", which is a weird, plaintive collections of musical tones coming from outside. We figured out that it is coming from a sawmill south of town, which for some reason is particularly loud at night, in our bedroom, on cold nights. Anyway, this morning as I was listening to I Never Told You, I realized that it was playing in the same key as "The Music". (The Music is quite out of tune, but contains several notes that are a big part of I Never Told You.) So...that may explain why I've been hearing I Never Told You! I hope I don't have to wake up to it all winter!!

Need You Now

I'm kind of surprised that Need You Now by Lady Antebellum hasn't been my morning song until now. It's one of my very favorite songs to listen to and to sing along with, and again, I've only heard it while driving to see Sam in St. Paul. It also reminds me of Julia, and how she felt after her breakup with Luke. My other current favorite song is Hey, Soul Sister by Train. This song reminds me of Julia now, with her new boyfriend Jeff (who I've never met, so I really have no idea if the song fits or not). Julia is so much happier these days. Hey, Soul Sister is almost always in my head, so it's kind of surprising that it hasn't been a morning song yet. Someday! Anyway, Need You Now makes me wonder if I'd like other Lady Antebellum songs--probably way too country!

Picture perfect memories, scattered all around the floor. Reaching for the phone cause, I can't fight it any more. And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.For me it happens all the time. It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now. I said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now. And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now. Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door. Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before. And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.For me it happens all the time. It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now. I said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now. And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now. I guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all. It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now. And I said I wouldn't call, but I'm a little drunk and I need you now. And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now.I just need you now. Oh baby I need you now.

I Never Told You

I haven't posted for a while because I haven't really had any songs in my head in the morning! Kind of a relief. But today I had I Never Told You by Colbie Caillat (who until this moment I'd never heard of). I don't know why I heard this song; I don't really know it or particularly like it. But it does remind me of driving to St. Paul to see Sam (it's a Cities 97 song, and I only listen to Cities 97 when I'm driving to or from St. Paul by myself) so that makes it a good song!!

I miss those blue eyes
How you kiss me at night
I miss the way we sleep

Like there's no sunrise
Like the taste of your smile
I miss the way we breathe

But I never told you
What I should have said
No, I never told you
I just held it in

And now,
I miss everything about you
Can't believe that I still want you
And after all the things we've been through
I miss everything about you
Without you

I see your blue eyes
Everytime I close mine
You make it hard to see
Where I belong to
When I'm not around you

How Beautiful

After this weekend I have songs swirling and changing in my head faster than Tom changes channels with the remote! The first song I heard this morning, though, was How Beautiful by Twila Paris. The concert last night was amazing. A couple of songs really affected me emotionally, and this was one of them. Kim sang the solo beautifully, and our group of 12 was together in every way.

How beautiful the hands that served
the wine and the bread
and the sons of the earth.
How beautiful the feet that walked
the long dusty roads
and the hills to the cross.
How beautiful
how beautiful

how beautiful is the body of Christ.

Another song that really moved me was The First Noel. We did such a great job! Bob really pulled it out of us. People laugh at his dramatic conducting style, but he is amazing at getting us to respond. Brienna's reading of A Beautiful One also was very emotional for me.

The First Noel and Night of Silence

The concert in Isle went great last night, and Tom and I stayed up afterwards with a glass of wine and a wonderful cd of guitar Christmas songs.

At about 2:30 this morning we were awakened by the (extremely loud) ringing of Tom's cell phone, from the hospital telling him that our niece Abbie was trying to reach him. Abbie was extremely upset because, she said, "Granddad won't stop calling me!" He had called her repeatedly over the past 15 minutes, and she was very worried.

Tom called his dad, who was disoriented and couldn't explain why he was still up at 2:30 and why he had been trying to reach Abbie. Tom went over to see his dad (ended up taking him to the ER to be checked over).

When the phone rang, The First Noel was in my head. I found the song very comforting as I tried to get back to sleep after Tom left.

The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
in fields as they lay;
In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
   
     Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
    Born is the King of Israel. 

I woke up for good at 5:30, with Night of Silence in my head. That helped calm me down, too. Tonight is the second concert. I hope it goes well, and I hope the day goes fast so I can go back to bed--hopefully for a good night's sleep. I hope Ben is okay, too.

Night of Silence has been a big part of Christmas music for me since I sang it with Doyle and Judy at the Methodist Church on Christmas Eve 1993. We sang it with Gale on piano and her daughter Leah on violin, and it was gorgeous with all the candles lit and the congregation singing Silent Night.

We're singing it with Christmas Choir this year, has we have off and on a number of times. I'm singing a solo on the first verse.

I loved waking up to this song today.

NIGHT OF SILENCE

by Daniel Kantor
1. Cold are the people, Winter of life, We tremble in shadows this cold endless night, Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping, Flowers that will echo the sunrise, Fire of hope is our only warmth, Weary, its flame will be dying soon.
2. Voice in the distance, call in the night, On wind you enfold us you speak of the light, Gentle on the ear you whisper softly, Rumors of a dawn so embracing, Breathless love awaits darkened souls, Soon will we know of the morning.
3. Spirit among us, Shine like the star, Your light that guides shepherds and kings from afar, Shimmer in the sky so empty, lonely, Rising in the warmth of your Son's love, Star unknowing of night and day, Spirit we wait for your loving Son.

What Ya Gonna Name Your Baby Boy

Another Christmas Choir song! I'm going to be glad when the concerts are over after this weekend. I just can't keep up my energy. This is a good song, though; it's been a hard one but we're doing pretty well.

How Beautiful Upon the Mountains

Yesterday morning I had How Beautiful Upon the Mountains by Marty Haugen in my head. I wasn't a fan of this song when we first sang it in Christmas Choir, but now that just a small group is singing it I like it a lot!! Tom told me that he had it "blaring" in his head yesterday morning too, and he wondered if he was actually hearing it from MY head!

How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of peace
Glad tidings of peace

Blessed Be Your Name

Just as I expected, Blessed Be Your Name was in my head this morning. I don't like the part about "you give and take away", but the rest of the song is lovely. The funeral was beautiful, and the kids sang wonderfully. I am completely drained, after a week of worrying about Tom, getting ready for Thanksgiving, and 2 days of church/funeral.

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Watch, O Lord

Since I helped sing Watch, O Lord last night at Mary V's prayer service I wasn't surprised to find it in my head this morning.

Watch, O Lord, with all those awake this night
Watch, O Lord, with all those who weep
Give your angels and saints charge over all who sleep

It is a beautiful song, and I know it has meant a lot to Mary's family over the 4 + years she was sick. I couldn't believe Patti and Arden were able to sing every word with us. I could never have done it.

Today at the funeral I'm helping some of the kids lead Dance with Me and Blessed Be Your Name, so I'm sure those will be in my head tonight.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

I woke up at 5:00 a.m. with All Things Bright and Beautiful playing in my head. It's a Christmas Choir song, although it's not specifically for Christmas (the theme of CC this year is Beauty).

This song immediately made me remember that Mary V. died yesterday. She wanted to be a vet, like the author of the books named for this song. I don't know if I'll have anything to do with the music at Mary's funeral on Monday, but this song would be very appropriate.

• Refrain:
  All things bright and beautiful,
  All creatures great and small,
  All things wise and wonderful:
  The Lord God made them all.

1. Each little flow’r that opens,
   Each little bird that sings,
   He made their glowing colors,
   He made their tiny wings.

Over the River and Through the Woods, Heaven Gonna Touch the Earth

It's Thanksgiving Day. Mary Virnig died early this morning, and the day was very much colored by that news. Her bravery and grace leave many of us changed forever and our hearts are broken for her family.

In the middle of the night I awoke to Over the River and Through the Woods. Definitely a Thanksgiving song, especially with the beautiful new snow we have today.

Over the river and through the woods
To Grandmother's house we go
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
Through white and drifted snow

Over the river and through the woods
Oh how the wind does blow
It stings the toes and bites the nose
As over the ground we go


This morning the song was, once again, Heaven Gonna Touch the Earth. This song brings strong imagery to my heart--those times when the divine is felt here on earth--the "thin places". The song is also about angels. I don't exactly know why I'm drawn to angels, but I believe that they are real. And I've always thought of Mary V. as an angel of some sort. She will live on in the lives and hearts of all of us.

Heaven gonna touch, gonna touch the earth
Heaven gonna touch the earth
The angels told the shepherds of the Saviour's birth
Heaven gonna touch the earth
Heaven gonna touch the earth

Heaven Gonna Touch the Earth...and Lead Me, Guide Me

Tom's head/jaw pain had gotten horrifically worse the past few days, to the point where he wasn't eating, sleeping, or WORKING. If you know Tom you know that not working means he must be in utter misery. Yesterday he saw the dentist, who didn't find anything wrong and scheduled him with an endodontist today. Last night Tom broached some serious topics, such as 1) could I cope financially and in other ways if he died and 2) has he done enough to teach the girls his values.

This scared me and made me think about life without him. I had lots of trouble sleeping.

When he woke up moaning in pain at 12:40 a.m. the song Heaven Gonna Touch the Earth (a Christmas Choir song) was in my head.

After a very restless night I woke up at 6:00 a.m. with Lead Me, Guide Me (a song I played at the Methodist Church on Sunday) in my head:

Lead me, guide me along the way,
For if you lead me I cannot stray.
Lord let me walk each day with Thee.
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.

I feel as if God was protecting and guiding me through the night.

Today at 10:30 we went to the endodontist, who found a badly cracked tooth. We went to Centrasota later today at 1:30 and the tooth was extracted. Thank God, no more pain! I was thinking the worst. What a relief!

Nine to Five

I woke up at exactly 5 a.m. and at the moment I looked at the clock Nine to Five popped into my head. Then I went back to sleep till almost 7.

I've never had a job like this--at least not since I left college. So glad I've got my teaching degrees!!

Workin' nine to five, what a way to make a living
Barely gettin' by it's all takin' and no givin'
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
Nine to five, for service and devotion
You would think that I would deserve a fair promotion
Want to move ahead but the boss won't seem to let me
I swear sometimes that man is out to get me.

Into the Woods

I haven't gotten much sleep the past couple of nights. Tom is having horrible pain in his head, jaw and teeth, and I've been worried (plus of course he isn't sleeping well, which keeps me awake, too).

When I'm not sleeping well the music isn't front and center like it usually is, and I have to lie still and wait for it to emerge from the cobwebs.

Saturday morning I had, instead of a song, a vocal exercise going. Back story: Thursday night I worked at Family Fun Night at the elementary school. We use the music room for our early childhood activities. As we were cleaning up the cast from Into the Woods, the current high school musical, came in with their director to warm up. One of their warm-ups went like this:

1_121_12321_1234321_...etc. It could also be sung like this: Do_do re do_do re mi re do_...etc.

It was a new one to me, and I liked it. Saturday morning that exercise was in my head, and my fingers were even moving the way they would on the piano. LH accompaniment, too!

Last night I went to see Into the Woods. Tom ended up not going because his dad fell and hurt his head and Tom needed to stay with him to be sure he was okay (plus Tom's head/tooth pain was particularly bad last night). It is a very dark musical. I'd love to see it again, done by professionals. Maybe this spring Brienna and I can see it Off-Broadway.

Anyway, the theme song, Into the Woods was in my head. Right now I can't conjure any of it up. Here are some of the lyrics:

Into the woods,
It's time to go,
I hate to leave,
I have to, though.
Into the woods-
It's time, and so
I must begin my journey.

Into the woods
And through the trees
To where I am
Expected ma'am,
Into the woods
To Grandmother's house-

Your Kiss Is On My List

Yikes! Your Kiss Is On My List by Hall and Oates? Where did this one come from? All I can say is--I have been feeling like I might be coming down with the flu (headache, sore throat, watery eyes and mushy brain) and I'm just not myself!

Love the music, hate the words.

You Are a Light On My Path

Wow, so many church songs! You Are A Light On My Path is another one that Bethany Branches sings. Leah sings the solos. We do it as a medley with You Are the Light of the World and This Little Light of Mine.

I'm thinking about Bethany Branches a lot lately, which is probably why these songs are in my head. Just found out that the LaMoreaux committee is funding my request for t-shirts for the kids with the new BB logo on them. That's great--except that unless something changes drastically there won't be a Bethany Branches after the next year or 2. Brienna and Mitch will be done after this year. Leah will be done after next year, and Kiera, Zac, Jennifer and Leevi the year after that. There are so few younger kids in our church. I don't know what we'll do.Sometimes I'm kind of glad. I'm a little burned out. Mostly I'm sad, though.

By Grace

This morning's song was By Grace by Jonathan Rundman. This is a new song, sung by Bethany Branches for the first time this past Sunday. I have to admit, I chose it for Sunday because Bishop Tom Aitkin was the speaker, and I figured a song about grace would impress a Lutheran bishop.

Bishop Tom gave an excellent message about how God loves and includes everyone, "no exceptions". It was a powerful message in today's political climate, and also an important one for the young people (including 4 confirmands) to hear. It made me proud to be a Christian and a Lutheran, and I don't feel that way very often these days.

Just have to mention a couple of other unrelated things. I spent the day with Sam and he is talking so much better! Emily called to say she and Joe are engaged! Beth turns 30 on Friday, and flies to NY with Steve and Sam tomorrow for 12 days!

You Are the Light of the World

I woke up at 3:15 this a.m. with You Are the Light of the World by Cathy Pena in my head. This one was not a surprise. I often have this one in my head at all times of the day and night. I have it on a cd and our young people at church sing it almost every month. I love it.

I think I am very good at helping other people shine their lights, but I'm not sure I do a very good job of shining my own light. Something to think about....

By the way, after waking at 3:15 I couldn't get back to sleep for a long time. Then suddenly it was 7:20 and I was late for work and had to jump in the shower, get dressed, and leave home without coffee or breakfast. On the way to work I realized....there was no song in my head! And there hadn't been since I woke up. I haven't overslept in...hmmm...several decades. And I can't remember a time ever that I've awakened without a song.

The Tide Is High

I've been thinking about starting a blog for quite some time. This seems like a perfect day to begin. Every morning when I wake up there's music in my head--always something different. Sometimes the reason for the song makes lots of sense (a song we've been rehearsing for choir, or a song I've been listening to) but other times there's no obvious reason.

Today's song was one of those--totally random. In fact, I didn't even know the title and only a few of the words. So I found a lyric search engine and typed in what I thought the words were: "The time is right and I'm moving on; I'm gonna be your number one". Most of those words were wrong, but the search engine found the right song: The Tide Is High by Atomic Kitten.

Why that song? No clue. I woke up at 3:15 with the song in my head, and soon went back to sleep, dreaming about trying to find out the name of the song, with help from many strangers and friends (one of whom gave me a helpful song-finding book). When I woke up again at 5:15 the song was still in my head--just the (incorrect) line mentioned above. It's the kind of song I might hear a bit of while trying to find something good on the radio during a long drive. I drove to the Cities twice this weekend, so maybe I did hear a small piece of that song! I've never, until this morning, heard of Atomic Kitten, but I thank them for the dream and the motivation to begin my blog.