Monday, April 9, 2012

Resurrection Robin

File:Turdus-migratorius-002.jpg 

There is a window over the sink in our kitchen where I can look at birds while I do dishes.  Yesterday, on Easter morning,  there was a big, fat robin hopping in front of a blooming Forsythia. bush. The robin's classic head tilts and worm-grabbing thrusts are great fun to watch. I found myself singing some words from deep in my memory bank.

 "When the red red robin comes bob bob bobin along, along.
There'll be no more sobbing when he starts throbbin his old sweet song.
Wake up, wake up you sleepy head,
Get up, get up, get out of bed,
Cheer up, cheer up, the sun is red.
Live, love, laugh and be happy."

Cheer up, wake up, live, love, laugh, be happy.  It's what I've been working on  and writing about in this blog for the past year.  I went online and found out this song which was featured in the 1946 film, "The Jolson Story," was written by Harry M. Woods in 1925. Here's the link to all the lyrics.  And here's a link to an original Jolson recording of this great song.

In years past singing and guitar playing have given me great joy and comfort.  I haven't been able to play with much feeling for at least five years.  Every time  I'd try the guitar would feel dead in hands.  I couldn't make it sing no matter how hard I tried.  It's flatness matched my often deflated mood.  It was like losing a very close friend who could always cheer me up.

For the past three of four weeks I've been playing guitar again. It's alive and singing and so am I.  Hallelujah!

I'm not sure what happened but something has opened up.  I'm playing every day with already recallused fingertips.  What a thrill to have this friend back in my life.

The last lines of the song are..

"I'm just a kid again, doing what I did again, singing my song.
When the red, red robin comes bob, bob bobin along."

I am singing my song again and it feels great.

Live, laugh, love and be happy indeed.