I was mindlessly searching YouTube this afternoon and came across a gem. It just may be my favorite song ever, recorded in the late '80s by 10,000 Maniacs. This video is a 2005 live version, recorded by former Maniacs lead singer Natalie Merchant. I wish she and her bandmates would reunite. They were the soundtrack to my college years.
I remember the first time I heard the name "Les Anderson." A bunch of Wichita State University communication majors were sitting around on campus, talking about classes they planned to take. Several people warned me: watch out for Les Anderson. He was tough. He had a murderous grading scale. It was nearly impossible to get an A. They weren't kidding. But he wasn't tough just to be a tyrant. From his teaching sprang a fleet of incredible, successful journalists, writers, editors, broadcasters, public relations experts, advertisers, non-profit professionals...I could go on and on. Most importantly, he created a legion of people who wanted to make a difference in the world. The greatest gift Les gave to them all? He believed in them, cared about them for their own personal stories as well as the stories they told for class assignments or in the pages of his hometown newspaper. Les was my teacher. My boss. My mentor. My conscience. My champion. My friend. When I started c...
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If you intend to live again,
Then open your eyes and don't pretend you're feeling there's nothing worth believing.
God, if you persist you'll die like this,
And wither in the midst of your first season,
Cut down with no reason.
How can you be so near and not see everything?
If you intend to live again,
Then take the outstreched hand of the one that needs you.
It's been so long, we've missed you.
Why do you intend to speed your end?
Lie in the dark and let your limbs grow weaker, sinking low then deeper.
How can you be so near and not see everything?
Feel what might be. see what i see.
Again and again and again and again say you don't.
You say you don't, but you will.
How can you be so near and not see?
Another fave of mine is this one, These are Days, which was printed on the first page of our wedding program:
These are days you'll remember.
Never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be warm as this.
And as you feel it, you'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky.
It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.
These are days you'll remember.
When may is rushing over you with desire to be part of the miracles you see in every hour.
You'll know its true that you are blessed and lucky.
It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.
These are days.
These are the days you might fill with laughter until you break.
These days you might feel a shaft of light make its way across your face.
And when you do you'll know how it was meant to be.
See the signs and know their meaning.
It's true, you'll know how it was meant to be.
Hear the signs and know they're speaking to you, to you.