Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > What Helps?
Music in recovery
NickySkye:
Hi recovery friends,
just wanted to say that music has been and is a big part of my life, a source of enjoyment. In this recovery process I've learned to see everything differently, music included. There is music that I find especially uplifting and meaningful now and thought this thread might be a good place to post music suggestions or lyrics that have been a part of anybody's healing.
There are a couple of pieces of classical music that are especially meaningful to me now. One is by Mahler, the third movement of his Symphony no. 1. It is the animals celebrating the death of the hunter.
You can listen to it online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/classical/mahler1.shtml
"Third Movement
The huntsman's funeral is evoked by a bleak, minor-key version of the children's round 'Frère Jacques', first played by a solo double bass above muffled drum-beats. Pairs of oboes and trumpets offer a mock-sentimental commentary. A dreamlike central interlude arrives, with muted violins murmuring a melody from Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen ('Songs of a Wayfaring Lad', 1896). The march returns, and a sudden spurt of pace speeds the huntsman towards his grave"
Then there is a piece of classical music that is uplifting, peaceful and serene:
Vaughan Williams': The Lark Ascending
There are the lyrics of Marianne Faithful, raw, jagged, uncensored pain in her Broken English album. It is like no other angry music I have ever heard. Especially her obscene song of jagged sexual jealousy called Why Dja Do It She Said.
http://www.inlyrics.com/display/Faithfull_Marianne_Lyrics/Why'd_Ya_Do_It_Lyrics/43150.htm
There is another song of a woman bitter about her obsession with her narcissist lover by Joan Armatrading called Tall In the Saddle:
Say what you will
You can't take the stars at night
Take your love
But that doesn't stop my life
You've been fooling around
I looked to you for love
Thought you walked on holy ground
But oh, you're mean
I thought that here
Was a guy, brave and strong
A brother to his brothers
Brave and strong
Was preaching what to practice
But that don't mean a thing
You're mean
Tall in the saddle
One of these days you're gonna have to dismount
You don't leave me downhearted
But I'm sorry that you had to go
'Cos we had fun, fun, fun, fun
Fun, fun, fun
We had fun while it lasted
We had fun while it lasted
You were God's gift to girls
You persuaded
Then you beat up on their hearts
You made it, you made it
You made it, you made it
Oh you're just mean
Tall in the saddle
One of these days you're gonna have to dismount
You don't leave me downhearted
But I'm sorry that you had to go
'Cos we had fun, fun, fun, fun
Fun, fun, fun
We had fun while it lasted
We had fun while it lasted
And another song that also makes me think it's lyrics about narcissist codependence:
Down to Zero
Oh the feeling
When you're reeling
You step lightly thinking you're number one
Down to zero with a word
Leaving
For another one
Now you walk with your feet
Back on the ground
Down to the ground
Down to the ground
Down to the ground
Down to the ground
Brand new dandy
First class scene stealer
Walks through the crowd and takes your man
Sends you rushing to the mirror
Brush your eyebrows and say
There's more beauty in you than anyone
Oh remember who walked the warm sands beside you
Moored to your heel
Let the waves come a rushing in
She'll take the worry from your head
But then again
She put trouble in your heart instead
Then you'll fall
Down to the ground
Down to the ground
You'll know heartache
Still more crying
When you're thinking of your mother's only son
Take to your bed
You say there's peace in sleep
But you'll dream of love instead
Oh the heartache you'll find
Can bring more pain than a blistering sun
But oh when you fall
Oh when you fall
Fall at my door...
These days I need more innocent music, joyous, uplifting, like Paul Simon's Graceland Album
And emotionally awake, melodic bliss of singers like Eva Cassidy's heavenly, sublime rendition of Somewhere Over The Raibow.
I recommend her SONGBIRD, anthology album of songs from the three previous CDs, 1998. This album has gone "triple platinum" in the United Kingdom and "gold" in the United States, Australia, and Norway.
http://evacassidy.org/eva/songs.htm
Songs on the Songbird album:
1. Fields Of Gold
2. Wade In The Water
3. Autumn Leaves
4. Wayfaring Stranger
5. Songbird
6. Time Is A Healer
7. I Know You By Heart
8. People Get Ready
9. Oh, Had I A Golden Thread
10. Over The Rainbow
Anybody else have music they love that has been good in their recovery?
all the best,
Nicky
tayana:
Songs that have been helpful to me. "Let Me Live" and "I want to break free" by Queen and "It's my Life" by Bon Jovi. There are others, but I can't think of them at the moment.
seeker:
OK, very long post coming up! :)
Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Positively 4th Street" were my battle cries when I went to work to do battle with a full-fledged N before I knew what N was! Lyrics below. Very cathartic. I also listen to Loggins & Messina for life-affirming music. Just upbeat "I like you" music. Yes! I'm an Oldie :wink: "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now." Enjoy, everybody. S.
PS these songs are even more powerful when you hear him shout them out!
Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And ask him do you want to make a deal?
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Positively 4th Street
You got a lotta nerve
To say you are my friend
When I was down
You just stood there grinning
You got a lotta nerve
To say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on
The side that's winning
You say I let you down
You know it's not like that
If you're so hurt
Why then don't you show it
You say you lost your faith
But that's not where it's at
You had no faith to lose
And you know it
I know the reason
That you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd
You're in with
Do you take me for such a fool
To think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide
What he don't know to begin with
You see me on the street
You always act surprised
You say, "How are you?" "Good luck"
But you don't mean it
When you know as well as me
You'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once
And scream it
No, I do not feel that good
When I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief
Perhaps I'd rob them
And now I know you're dissatisfied
With your position and your place
Don't you understand
It's not my problem
I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment
I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is
To see you
Portia:
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phoenix:
bye
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