All You Need Is Love

The best place for me to really hear music - really hear every aspect of a song - its performance, the arrangement, the lyrics - yes, especially the lyrics - the very best place to experience a song is at the gym.

I do my routines - resistance training, bike, a little stretching then the part I look forward to - my hour on the treadmill. Six days a week - usually early afternoon - I get to just hear the music. With my mp3 and dynamite headphones - not those puny crowded sounding ear plugs - I HEAR THE MUSIC I HEAR THE WORDS.

                                                  

What I do is fill my mp3 with all kinds of music from all my sources - Cd's, Internet downloads and music files on my computer. About 500 tracks at any given time are put into my device of every genre. I stay pretty much away from classical, however. It brings me to a place not very conducive for exercise. But everything else from jazz, rock, pop, jazz, show tunes, rap and blues - all with an emphasis on vocals.

The thing that happens on the treadmill every day is a revelation. Songs that I like but have taken for granted over the years are reborn. The beauty of the piece comes through with no distractions. And sometimes the lyrics hit me like cupids arrow to my heart. I say, 'Oh, that's what that song is about!"

Yesterday, I had in my players mix some Steve Tyrell. I really enjoy him - raspy voice, a lifetime of living in his every expression. The song that prompted this post came on AND although I have heard this lovely tune many times before by a string of top notch singers, this time was different.

 I was on a cool down speed coming to the end of my sixty minutes on the treadmill. When you are on the treadmill for more than half an hour with really good headphones piping really good music into your ears,  you are transported into a very private world that actually feels private - even with a packed gym. The movement on the machine as you tread and the music full and resonant in your ear is like sailing on a mellow cloud in a gauzy bright orange sky. So, sailing as I was on this cloud, Steve Tyrell rasps out "Don't Know Much". I have always liked this song. But did I ever really pay attention to the words? Maybe maturity has given me a third ear. Here, then, are the lyrics. And take it from me, truer words were never spoken or, that is, sung.

Look at this face
I know the years are showing
Look at this life
I still don't know where it's going

I don't know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know

Look at these eyes
They've never seen what matters
Look at these dreams
So beaten and so battered

I don't know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know

So many questions
Still left unanswered
So much I've never broken through
And when I feel you near me
Sometimes I see so clearly
The only truth I've ever known
Is me and you

Look at this man
So blessed with inspiration
Look at this soul
Still searching for salvation

I don't know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know

Maybe I'm getting sentimental in my advancing years or maybe , just maybe I am getting wiser - recognizing what's true even in a song of such profound simplicity. I can't wait until tomorrow. What truth will race to my heart on the treadmill?

and here's a link to the song - enjoy.......                                               


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLF8PnpQix0