Work in Progress or Finished Product?

A few days ago, I posted an entry offering up lyrics inspired by events from my childhood. For the most part, I was pleased with what I had come up with. However, there were a few lines that didn’t quite fit and did not seem to resonate with the rest of the song.

I went back and made an initial revision, which improves things somewhat. However, I still wasn’t completely satisfied with the end result. So, I took yet another stab at polishing up the lyrics.  (Even as I began writing this entry, I made yet one more change.) I don’t know yet if this will end up being the final product, but I do think it is improved over the original version. I hope you agree.

Music Saved My Soul

The music was my shelter
From angry voices coming down the hall
Angelic, those records
Every time they played, I’d heed their call

Black circles spinning ’round
At 45 or 33 and a third
Kept me from losing hope
I found my church in the notes I heard

In my darkness, the music found me
I let those sweet sounds surround me
Lift me up, keep me warm
Those voices sheltered me from every storm
My gospel readings came from every track
Of every album I had in my stack
And while it could never make me whole
I know the music saved my soul

From Sinatra to The Beatles
And every song in between
I found salvation in every note
The music washed me clean

A cheap hi-fi was my altar
I knelt before that heavenly sound
My bedroom was my church
That turntable was sacred ground

Those discs were hypnotizing
Healing me as they went ’round and around
I was lifted up by angels
Every time I heard their sound

In my darkness, the music found me
I let those sweet sounds surround me
Lift me up, keep me warm
Those voices sheltered me from every storm
My gospel readings came from every track
Of every album I had in my stack
And while it could never make me whole
I know the music saved my soul

Maybe music couldn’t make me whole
But I know it damn sure saved my soul

© 2018 Walt Huntsman. All rights reserved.