Myself an Saff were just listening to the radio. An old song was being played, a song that my Dad listened to on his old radiogram. He used to sit in his chair, smoking his filter less cigarettes, drinking his cup of tea. He was silent and his eyes stared off into the distance. That song transported him to a better time for him. A time when he didn’t have cancer, a time before he was sent to war. A time when his life was more peaceful and less stressful. Even the most troubled lives have golden moments. Towards the end of his days he listened to a song called “One day at a time”.
I remember my old Mum, who looking back wasn’t very old at all, singing along to “Ave Maria” in the kitchen, and travelling back to a time when she had momentary peace. I remember there was a Jewish song we were not allowed to sing or hum in the house, as it reminded my Mum of her Mums funeral. She was only a child when her Mum died, but she remembered that music.
Music played a big part in my elder sister Gwyns life. She loved listening to Tammy Wynette. And when she died at age 21 Tammy Wynette got to number one in the UK hit parade. If I ever hear the songs Lonely Street or Apartment number nine my heart cries.
I cannot listen to the group Queen now. Because the song “Who wants to live forever” breaks my heart. It reminds me of my darling little sister Ceri.
When I was young I listened to “Mama liked the roses” by Elvis Presley, and each time I cried. I thought that’s how it must be to lose your Mum. And they were right, it does feel like the song says.
When I hear the song “Seasons in the sun”, it reminds me of sitting down Lovers lane with my best friend Mikey. Saying we would be best friends forever. Again, we were just kids. But the memory is still so strong. And my go to song as a child was “Skyline Pigeon “ by Elton John. That song helped me when I struggled. We didn’t have access to counselling back then and we weren’t allowed to cry. We just had a record to listen to. Thank goodness we are allowed to say we hurt now. As kids our happy song was “My Boomerang Won’t Come Back” by Charlie Drake. It was the only song the family joined in to. Even our rescue dogs danced to that one. Unfortunately we didn’t play it enough.
Whenever I hear “Silent Night” I can almost feel my old Mum sitting by my side. And I cannot listen to “All Things Bright And Beautiful” without laughing out loud. At primary school we kids were singing it in assembly with such gusto that a large framed picture fell off the old plastered wall. It flew across the room and smashed on poor Kevin Osbourne’s head. He burst into floods of tears. It took me many years to find out why the Teachers were crying with laughter. I now realise it was the irony that the giant picture was called “The Crying Boy” by Giovanni Bragolin. If they had shared the joke we could have all joined in the merriment.
I have hundreds, maybe thousands of songs that transport me back in time. What music or song brings back those memories for you?
