Well first of all I’m annoyed I deleted the Marionettes version of us singing a beautiful arrangement of this classic (Quaker? Christian?) hymn. We sang it a few years ago, and it was almost an anthem for our likkle bu’ tallawah Trini community choir. The words and the beautiful arrangements helped steady restless or grieving spirits, and bring us all back in touch with the beauty of the world and the lights in our lives, while reminding us why we do what we do – when long rehearsals, ‘buffs sharin’, and the stresses of life can begin to feel like too much. How could we keep from singing? But all that’s far beside the point – I’ll re-rip and upload it later. 😉

I’d posted the following quote on the Marionettes FB page today, which is how this all got started:

In this life we are all just walking up the mountain. And we can sing as we climb, or we can complain about our sore feet. Whatever we choose, we still gotta do the hike. I decided a long time ago: singing made a lot more sense.

Facebook page administration can be funny, for all those who do it too. How and when best to catch people’s attention is always abuzz in conversations among digital marketers. I’d scheduled the post since yesterday, just liking what it signified, and thinking the start of the week was as good a time as any for a little pick-me-up. But you never know how many people will see or engage with it, no matter how much homework you do. And sometimes, frankly, eyeballs aren’t the point for me: I like to believe who needs to see it will see it or be directed to it, and that is more valuable to me than how many hundreds of people like or share the post (though that’s nice too if the positivity can go viral). So I was so pleasantly surprised to see that, before I had even had a chance to go in and “like” that post, it was already at the top of my feed and already clearly had moved people.

One of our former members (former only because she doesn’t live in Trinidad any more, but is still very much a present member of the international Marionettes family!) then aptly quoted from the opening lines of “How can I keep from singing?” And she’d hit the nail on the head, and struck a chord (literally?) with me and perhaps countless others as we sought inspiration for the week. Life can be hard for folks, no matter how much they smile and laugh and play it off like they’ve got it all under control. Whether family, health, finances, work, fear, whatever, when we can come together – even virtually – and nudge each other on with a smile and a song, that is absolutely priceless.

Again, I wish I had the Marionettes version to post, but the brilliant Eva Cassidy can probably do it justice, right? 😉

 

 

My life goes on in endless song
above earth’s lamentations
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear its music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness ’round me close,
songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble sick with fear
and hear their death knell ringing.
When friends rejoice both far and near
how can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing;
All things are mine since I am his
how can I keep from singing?

My life goes on in endless song
above earth’s lamentations
I hear the real, though far-off hymn…
How can I keep from singing?

 

There’s always something to smile and sing about; always something to be grateful for; and always a new day, a new minute or new hour to hope for. Keep on truckin’ and singing, beautiful people. 🙂