Poems About Hope, Songs About Death
A few days ago, I returned from serving as the musician for Camp Arcadia in Arcadia, Michigan. While I was there, I played a concert with my frequent co-conspirator, Tanner Olson. Tanner is a writer and poet. We do this often, putting on shows in various cities around the country of music and poetry.
When we first started working together, I joked that we should call our show “Poems about Hope, Songs About Death”. Tanner said that would sound too dark and no one would come. I mean, he might be right, but if you really boiled our work down to a couple of words, hope and death would be a decent summary.
“Death is uncomfortable, but it is a part of everyone’s story whether they like it or not, and it is present everywhere.”
I remember a handful of years ago realizing how present this theme of death was in my work. I was playing a small concert venue in lower Manhattan. I was several songs into my set when it struck me that everything I had sung up until that moment, in some way referenced death. I remember sharing my realization, mid-concert, out loud into the microphone. I assured the audience that the next song was not about death, only to realize in the second verse that I was, as it turns out, wrong. At least I’m consistent…we all laughed, in spite of this fact, and I probably went on to play another song that, at least in some tangential way, continued with the theme.
I can’t say that I write about death as a topic intentionally; it happens naturally, I suppose. Death is uncomfortable, but it is a part of everyone’s story whether they like it or not, and it is present everywhere, both the reminder that it’s coming, and the reality that it is nearby. Frankly, there are times when it feels a little too present.
Not long before leaving for camp, I learned my uncle had died suddenly and unexpectedly, and upon returning from the trip, I heard from two friends that they had lost a parent. Even while at the camp, I received news of the death of the great songwriter, Glen Hansard. All of these deaths had ripple effects that impacted people close to them. To quote the songwriter Kip Fox, “Death is all around”. It really is, despite our best attempts to avoid it, keep it at bay, or deny the fact that death will eventually come for us too.
“Fortunately for all of us, hope is not dependent on whether we feel it or not.”
There’s the old saying that there are two things that all people have in common: death and taxes, but that’s not true. You can choose not to pay your taxes (though there will be consequences), but you cannot choose to not face death. I think it is for this reason that Tanner and my work often complement each other so well.
We all need hope. Without hope, death is it. Sorrow has no relief. And, to be fair, in the face of death, you certainly may feel like there is no hope, but fortunately for all of us, hope is not dependent on whether we feel it or not. Bold words from a songwriter, I know.
It's true though. Most often, we need hope when we are convinced it isn’t there. Perhaps this is why I’m a songwriter, perhaps this is why Tanner is a poet. Because, in the midst of a death-filled world, through our art, we can reflect some of the Hope that we have, in our work, into the lives of those who hear the words that we speak or the songs that we sing. That they might be reminded that death will not have the last word. There is reason to hope.