Good morning everyone and welcome to May 4.
Instead of the usual puns about May the 4th be with you I thought instead I would share a different set of discoveries with you this morning.
What do I have in common with the following people?
Stevie Wonder
Billy Joel
Bob Dylan
Bing Crosby
Pete Seeger
Johnny Cash
James Brown
Well, I’d like to say that we are all known for our incredible vocal ability but with me in the group, that just wouldn’t be right. You know how much I love to sing in chapel, but I think you also know how bad my voice is. So, it can’t be the singing.
It is in fact that we were all born in May. We are May babies. When I look at the list of people born in May, is it just coincidence that I can tell you straight away of at least one song by each of them that I absolutely love. These are songs that have played, and still play, a very important part in my life.
Some songs make me cry, some make me want leap in the air, some make me dance around the kitchen and some take me to a specific memory straight away. That’s the power of music I guess.
Given that this year, I will hit something of a milestone birthday, I have been reflecting on my soundtrack – what songs would I play to represent my life so far. There are so many, but these guys would definitely be in there. Whether it’s a memory of a friend, of the birth of one of my children, of falling in love, of a holiday, of leaving home to go to uni for the first time, of crazy times with friends. These are some of the songs that tell the story for me.
Stevie Wonder: Signed Sealed Delivered, I’m Yours
Billy Joel: Piano Man
Bing Crosby: Acc-en-tu-ate the Positive
Pete Seeger: We Shall Overcome – the 60s civil rights movement
Johnny Cash: A boy Named Sue : resilience
James Brown: I feel Good- joy
Bob Dylan: Forever Young – This is my all time favourite – as much a prayer and a blessing as it is a song.
“May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young”
See my favourite performance by Bob of Forever Young at The Band’s final concert, The Last Waltz here
