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Life: The Musical – Epilogue

The Story
Life: The Musical is an original aFa production is a journey featuring songs of about life. Each act features an aspect of life as a theme with music supplied around that theme.

Program (Past Posts)
LifeTheMusicalAct 1: Life
Act 2: Born
Act 3: Names
Act 4: Young
Act 5: Dream
Act 6: Teens
Act 7: School
Act 8: Adulthood
Act 9: Work
Act 10: Play
Act 11: Hope
Act 12: Love
Act 13: Positive Emotions
Act 14: Negative Emotions
Act 15: Growing Old
Act 16: Death
Act 17: Remembrance

Epilogue

Epilogue: a section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a comment on or a conclusion to what has happened (Oxford Dictionary)

From birth to death, from young to old, from emotions to work and play, Life: The Musical has taken attendees through the journey of life. The 17 acts captured snippets of life, but as we know, life is so much more.

Alisha (Abtwixt) submitted a song in Act 16 (Death) that sparked this epilogue. Although originally written for Lost (the TV show), the performing artist in this video recorded this with something personal in mind. He posted these words on his YouTube post.

Most of you know that I received a second chance at life after a donor heart was placed in my chest on September 9, 2009. Ironically, my younger brother passed away 3 months earlier while I waited for the transplant surgery. He was unable to donate his organs. Today, beating in my chest is the heart of another young man who like my brother has gone home to the God who gave us life. (Paul Cardall)

Yes, life is much to life, sometimes simple, other times complicated. Times full of joy, and testy, frustrating, and gut-wrenching. Many of you have songs in your heart about life .. the songs with lyrics that touch you personally. In that spirit, I invite you to post a song about life, and if you can, please share a short note of why your choice is important to you.

Wishing you nothing but the best in your life … and thank you for being part of mine.

110 thoughts on “Life: The Musical – Epilogue”

    • Cathy,
      Great choice because you know I’m a big Moody Blues fan – thus I have to mention that I can’t believe they aren’t in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Interesting video, too … and thanks for sharing the tie to your life with Peter!

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  3. First of all, I am beyond honored that my previous entry inspired such a post, so thank you! Secondly, I think this is the most challenging theme you have picked yet… songs that have touched my life, I could no sooner choose a favorite star in the heavens!

    But, I think I will pick what I have deemed to be the most beautiful song in the world since I discovered it when I was teenager, and which has countless times washed away my anxiety, anger, sadness, etc. This is Loreena McKennit’s “Dante’s Prayer”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eKUdsUH3Gc

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    • Alisha,
      Once I read the Cardall’s words, the mind was churning about using it as the epilogue’s opener, but I stayed characteristically mum. Meanwhile, I love Loreena McKennit’s entire collection on the CD with this song. Awesome … and glad to know how this song helped you.

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  4. Oh Frank, what an exquisitely beautiful piece of music. Thank you so much for sharing.
    You too, Alisha. I adore Loreena McKennitt (pretty much everything she ever recorded…)

    I’ve been trying to find that one song since you put out the call. I cannot think of one in particular… there are many. But this may sound cheesy and I cannot explain the whys of it but Bryan Adams “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman” goes right to my core. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwIwbhLiv8s

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  5. Frank, your chosen video and music is really beautiful. And the story is uplifting. v Thank you.

    My chosen song, ‘Anthem’ from the great Leonard Cohen contains the lines ‘There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in’. This song has accompanied me through decades – and those two lines have always been healing and uplifting. We are human and we are fallible – our human journey together is about learning to love and forgive and trust and believe. It is such a challenge!

    This is one of the songs I would have played at my funeral – along with “Hallelujah’ Played really loud 🙂 http://youtu.be/_e39UmEnqY8?list=PLagyD8lcEMAyjFt23ghL6SLBgWlFJG1JS

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  7. So many different songs came to my mind and many are important to me for different reasons. But I finally settled on Josh Groban’s “To Where You Are,” because I weep every time I hear it. I think it is just a beautiful song that makes me think of loved ones who have passed, I miss very much, but do feel are somehow still close to me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHStYNXnOH4 There is a sense of hope in this song that maybe goes well with who I am when I think about “Life.” Thank you for giving me many weeks of enjoyment with your series, Frank. I’m really sorry it’s come to an end! But thanks!

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  8. This was actually harder than I first thought. Songs or music which inspired & deeply touched me were either wordless or with lyrics irrelevant to life [as mentioned], so I ended up with two which -in my view- sum up the controversy of …life -both music and lyrics. Peter Hammill: A Louse Is Not A Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwZ_tOZB1Qo and The Beatles: Because https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWlLPJG9Cvg
    A beautiful Thursday to you, my friend! 🙂

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    • Marina,
      I didn’t know the Hammil song, so thanks for sharing. Finding a song isn’t as easy as one thinks, especially for anyone who doesn’t focus on lyrics … then again,those than can have a difficult time making a choice!

      And yes, so many instrumentals strike a cord within our core as they tell a story without words.

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  11. Mine is a Beatles song, I’ll Follow the Sun. http://youtu.be/_Uk_6WWy0RA It takes me back to my childhood, to my first album. But more it captures that important lesson: tomorrow may rain.

    I hope this is the correct link. I tried to post a YouTube from my iPad the other day, and instead of the one I thought I had copied, I posted the Shangri-Las — my entry to the last segment of this series!

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  17. Shouldn’t the entire thing be featured in some independent/techie film festival?
    Will tell that the energy and concepts of this song can help over many difficulties:
    William Tell Overture (finale) by Rossini. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM-d34egzXg
    When the going gets tough, the tough gets going to save the day and make the world a better place.
    This is the opening song for “The Lone Ranger” show when I was little – The actors took their job as role models very seriously and encouraged everyone to follow the Lone Ranger’s Code. (Say what you want about stereotypes, but where I grew up, around many real Indians, Native Americans were honored, revered and respected. We thought Tonto was the smart one. Sorry, Johnny D., that you were raised differently.)
    Here’s the Lone Ranger philosophy (from WIKI)
    “I believe…
    That to have a friend, a man must be one.
    That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.
    That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.
    In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for what is right.
    That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.
    That ‘this government of the people, by the people, and for the people’ shall live always.
    That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.
    That sooner or later…somewhere…somehow…we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.
    That all things change but truth, and that truth alone, lives on forever.
    In my Creator, my country, my fellow man.[16]

    In addition, here’s some of the rest of the guidelines Fran Striker and George W. Trendle drew up that embody who and what the Lone Ranger is:

    He always used perfect grammar and precise speech devoid of slang.
    When he was forced to use guns, he never shot to kill, but to disarm his opponent as painlessly as possible.
    He never wins against hopeless odds; i.e., he was never seen escaping from a barrage of bullets merely by riding into the horizon.
    The Lone Ranger never drank or smoked; and saloon scenes were usually shown as cafes, with waiters and food instead of bartenders and liquor.
    Criminals were never shown in enviable positions of wealth or power, and they were never successful or glamorous.
    He decided to use only silver bullets, to remind himself that life is precious and not to be thrown away.”
    (Quoted from WIKI)
    SO all that’s why this song was chosen. “Hi-Yo, SIlver! Away”

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  18. Hi Frank – Being new to blogging, I’m sorry I missed “Life the Musical.” It sure is fitting with your eclectic blog and the many topics you cover. I want to tell you that your blogging “voice” to me has always been very positive and uplifting and it has helped me try to find a place here. Your generosity and cheerful nature are something I always hear. I don’t have a song right now, but if I think of one, I’ll come back and share it with you. Thanks for being here 🙂

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  19. Each day when I sit at my piano, I don’t know what I am going to play first…it might be Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, or “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach. Depends on. the mood. Life is all of the music…like music, it is always moving, in rhythm, in melody, even in the silence between the notes….it’s impossible for me to put it in a box…I have no one song. But I’ve enjoyed coming to listen to all of these. Thanks, Frank.

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  25. Mine is Somewhere Out There sung by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram. When our son was born, he was a preemie baby with complications. I was only allowed to have him out of his incubator to hold and rock for a short period each day. The nurses had a radio playing, and this song played every day when I rocked him. It was incredibly hard to go home and leave him there at the end of the day. He was “somewhere out there.” It didn’t help later when he was old enough to fall in the love with the animated movie, An American Tail, and watch it over and over again – even though his mommy always wanted to cry at the music. 🙂 The song will forever be connected to his birth in my mind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFp10zmArgg

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  27. Sometimes your posts generate the most awesome comments Mr Frank. Your job here is obviously to act as moderator to a wonderful group of incredible commentators. Although late to your party I would like to add “Lifes been good”. If you can look back on your life, at any given time and say this, then you are a very lucky person. Life has, indeed, been good… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXWvKDSwvls

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  28. I am going to go straight up Mexican here & choose a song that reminds me of my dad – he is my life. I adore both of my parent’s. But – my dad – he da’ man. 😉
    The older that I get – the more that I’m like him & I love it. LOL
    Camino de Guanajuato by Jose Alfredo Jimenez http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_iWQ7ol1QM
    Loose translation: http://www.amazon.com/forum/latin%20music?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=FxYX0NZS8PR3P9&cdPage=1&cdSort=newest&cdThread=Tx13QMIPVTK1SIY

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  29. Now that I’ve gone back to the beginning and given my two cents’ worth (much to Frank’s chagrin!) may I submit a new choice? I have gone through birth to to death with some remembrance and all the in-betweens and must modify my choice to better represent moi. This is my favourite young Scot, Paulo Nutini signing “High Hopes” – so many videos to chose from! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVwpxaKW11Q

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  30. A BIG THANK YOU to Alisha. Good choice for your post.

    I sang the song below at a USO dinner/dance when I was 10 years old. I was frightened to death. But, I was proud of my fortitude since I was not chosen from my Singing/Dance studio to sing. I continued to press for it even though on stage on my fear had me question – why? I’ve always persevered my adversities because of it.

    I chose Over The Rainbow ~Angelis~ http://youtu.be/052l5kBz8Nk
    I know that Josh Groban (another fav of mine) sings this but the imagery of the video by Angelis represents what the song means to me. A return from a celestial white glow that
    carries me in Love’s Light.

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