I grew up listening to Neil Diamond. He pours his heart and soul into his music and as a writer, I appreciate the meaning behind his lyrics. His latest CD, Melody Road is one of my favorite because all the songs reflect a man who has finally found happiness.
Last week, I started listening to his Greatest Hits, 1966 – 1992 in my car. Singing along with his thirty-seven songs have brought back memories of my youth. They also make me wonder “what if” and stories have evolved. The other day I heard “Morningside” and almost had to pull over. It took my breath away. Grabbed my heart and brought tears to my eyes.
It’s about an old man who carves a table “for my children” yet dies alone. No one came to his funeral and his table ended up becoming his epitaph. Neil Diamond was unable to be with his grandparents when they died. “I was struck by it when my grandparents passed away – that they did die alone – that they weren’t with their children when they died.” His “what if” moment came when he saw a beautiful table, imagined it being carved by hand and “for some reason the two things came together and the song started then.”
It pulled at me because I realized why my ninety-year old mother’s face lights up whenever we come to visit. I hear happiness in her voice whenever I call. I found myself thinking of my own children and grandchildren and how much I miss them. Since they’ve flown the nest, we no longer have their laughter ringing throughout the house as much as we’d like.
I don’t mean to be so melancholy but hearing that song makes me realize we all need to slow down and enjoy our families more. “Morningside” has also planted the seed for my novella Please come which I hope to have completed in the next couple weeks.
If you would like to read and hear Neil Diamond’s “Morningside”, please click, http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/neildiamond/morningside.html
I would love to hear your thoughts, even memories about Neil Diamond.