After the performance it made me pull out the song and listen to it again. As I did, I relived watching and hearing Barry sing it live. I recalled the emotion in his voice; the actual physical manifestations from clinching of fists, to appearing
like he was going to jump off the stage; and the fact that although he was in the theater that night singing, he was not there in spirit. That song took him to a different place as he was completely lost in the lyrics. It's one of those songs that says so much and every time you listen to it you hear something completely different.A look at the lyrics shows us why:
Midnight
Not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan
Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
It was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I musn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin
Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning
Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my day in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day has begun
The thing about this song that strikes me today is the underlying theme of hope: I must think of a new life and I musn't give in...a new day has begun. I like to be reminded that every day is a new beginning. That you can hold on to your memories, but let go of the past. Today that message makes me smile.
A new day has begun,
Texas Fan
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4 comments:
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who thought that Dred Lock Boy totally screwed the pooch on this song. Barry put some emotion into it, related to it in some way. DLB was reduced to "Gee I hope I don't suck, even though I know I'm going to because I'm not made for this kind of song."
8^D
When I heard that Barry did "Memory" the weekend you were there..You lucky girl ! I'm gonna blog tonight about my experience with Barry singing "Memory", so check it out......I have never shared this one, but since Barry could bury himself into his "Memory" in front of a packed house, I guess it's time I share mine.....I can relate to how you have been feeling....These past few weeks have felt as though a "New Day has Begun"......... for me also.
Jason didn't make any mention of it, and neither did the judges, but he was extremely sick last night. I think if it hadn't been for that, he would have done a beautiful job on a stripped down arrangement. I think Randy Jackson is the south end of a north end mule the way he has gone after Jason every week, and I won't even get into what I think of Simon although he's been more even handed with his treatment of Jason. Guess you can tell I really like that kid huh?
I like Jason too. I've loved some of his performances and its clear that Paula loves him too. But last night was the wrong choice of song for him. I just don't think you can strip down a song like that--too much passion and emotion in it. Too bad he was sick, but I think they've all had their sick nights.
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