Singing My Songs

I became a musician back in 1964, with the invasion of The Beatles. I have played music professionally, as a lead singing drummer, both on the road and in house bands for over twenty-eight years. Then, I learned to play guitar back in 1981. My life has never been the same since! With the guitar, my vocal ability and my creative nature, I was soon trying to write my own songs. They came slowly at first, sometimes with years in between, but I continued to play around with good words and melodies. Now I have thirty-three songs that I proudly call my own.
Last night, I played guitar and sang my songs at a local open mic at Meyers Fall Market that only happens once each month. I was second to go on, after a budding young poet read his poems inspired by a Hollywood movie. As I sat down to play, I noticed that I had a very large, alert and captive audience to perform to. Well that’s nice, I thought. And perform I did, singing five of my latest original songs; I Think I Got It This Time, Just The Thought of You, Still Singing, Somehow, You Don’t Have To Do Anything and Now I’m Old, my favorite. At this age of my life to openly admit to being “old” and singing a song about it, is like a divine joke to me. I am old, by Social Security standards, sixty-two, but I still feel the same as I have most all of my life. Of course, I told everybody that my new, much anticipated CD, entitled Still Singing, Somehow, is in the mail and due to arrive anytime. I sure hope so anyway. Waiting on the postal service can sure test one’s patience. This CD, which was recorded with a group of friends, is meant to accompany my inspirational memoir of the same title. I also announced that there would be a CD release party later this month. That got a good round of applaud.
However, as I was singing my songs, I became aware that I felt alone on stage, with God listening to what I wrote and playing through me at the same time! I really don't pay much attention to the audience when I play; I'm too caught up in the experience of feeling this unity with God that seems to happen on good nights, especially when I realize that He gave me the inspiration for each of my songs. To me, this is as good as it gets. I know that other singer/songwriters can relate to what I’m talking about. I wish everybody could experience this joy. Writing and singing my own songs seems to be my spiritual path. And it didn’t happen overnight. It took years of searching, waiting, exploring and patience to find my path but now I’m exactly where I want to be. To be creative is our function in life, and it can be so much fun when you find your own gift. I truly believe everybody has one. Finding it is the challenge.