Initially, I wasn’t going to do a post about this because I have a tough guy reputation to protect. But for the sake of great art I will humble myself to you all.
I was having a bitch of a week—awful from top to bottom. At the very moment that things reached critical mass and I was on the threshold of losing it, this song came on. I hadn’t heard it before and am only vaguely familiar with the artist. Before he got to the second verse I had burst into tears like a little girl—something I haven’t done for a very long time. Not even when my mother passed away a few months ago. It was awful and cathartic.
Who needs a psychiatrist or religion with stuff like this floating around to help you out of the rabbit hole and through the thick bramble? This is The Weight off of Twelve Mondays, the new album by Ari Hest.
I’m going down to the riverbank this morning
Way before the family is awake
Gonna lay me down at the foot of the water
And spill out all my troubles for everyone’s sake
You can’t have love when you never can surrender
I’ve been spreading around my anger like a plague
I’ve sailed this far with my boat on fire
Fighting flames each day, too stubborn to expire
I will soak my soul
Let the river take control
I know it’s not too late
To let go the weight
The sun will rise and shine on me this morning
It will seep its way into my heart
And untie all the knots that have hardened me through the years
And I’ll embrace wisdom that sun will impart
And with this heat burning inside me
I will warm all of the people that I love
In their darkest of hours and weakest of minds
I’ll light up their nights with every star I can find
Exile on Pain Street 
“You can’t have love when you never can surrender“oh, crap. i’ve been doing it wrong…nothing wrong with a good soul-cleansing cry, tough guy. you must have needed it…
Good on you. See, you’ve broken free of the midwestern Catholic shackles at least a bit!
When we experience grief, we must experience it. This have I learned.I’m glad that you found a trigger for your release. Take it from me,dude, even tough guys have to cry sometimes.Thanks for sharing this. I found “The Weight” on Youtube and gave it a listen. I’ll have to find more by this guy and check it out.
Daisy: Yea, but now I don’t feel so tough. Leah: I didn’t really enjoy the experience. I’d like my emotional shackles back, please.Rob: It’s a great song musically as well. The kind of fuck up part is that I found out he did a free outdoor concert along a river about :10 minutes from my house just last week!
If you thought last week was a bitch tomorrow begins mercury in retrograde– google that, cause it’s not pretty.
Now you’re getting it.. Music is a blessing, while that religious malarkey is merely a temporary crutch.
How dare you make me tear up at 3:33 in the morning?!?!Blah *sniffle*
*hugs*
FGS: Welcome! I have no idea what that means and I’m afraid to Google it. I’ll just take your word that it’s not good.Jimmy: I suppose religion touches some people the same way that that song knocked me on my ass. It’s just that no harm ever came from music. Religion? Don’t get me started.E: Another successful sneak attack by The Banishment! Ho ho.Nurse: Thank you. Can I get two of those?
I want to listen but I can’t Im’ at work. I like how some songs have that effect. I hope you ‘banish’ the bad things this week so it’s not so ‘unbearable'(see what I did there)(funny eh)
Jo: The only reason I maintain a blog is so that you have a repository for your Brit wit.