Hive Open Mic ( #openmic ) is a global community celebrating live music on Hive. Each week is a new event, encouraging musicians to share songs with an international audience.
Long time no see, sorry! I can barely believe I missed so many weeks of this special community of ours. Feels like returning home from a long strange journey. Did you miss me? I'm remembering so many souls now that I'm here. I almost want to call you out by name right now, so you feel me thinking of you. I hope you feel me.
I think we all have our love stories - that's what we're here on earth to do, right? Write! Well I don't know if anyone's love story is simple, but mine is complicated. For example, I just watched saw my kids' mom marry her new man, God bless them! I'm thankful I got to be a guest at that wedding. I also dove into a rite of passage recently, to prepare my heart to love again. Then I jumped in and out of a mystical relationship, like a magic spell. Poof! Gone.
I get the impression a lot of us are experiencing trying times right now. I might include myself in that collective experience, in fact. Feels like the Mother Earth is spinning extra fast, shaking itself clean, dispersing the clutter and residue, or something. Personally, I feel it most in my work life. I work fast, when I have work, but right now my work is slow, so I have to work faster in order to find more work. Doesn't make sense. Is everything accelerating?
In my life, I've attempted to stay optimistic, but lately I'm seeing that my smile feels forced. I think we learn to "say cheese" as infants, and we glorify those smiles as signs of our happiness. These days, deep down, I do feel joy, but I don't often smile unless I'm greeting someone. A friend called me out on that the other day. She told me that my smile was not only forced, but it might even offend someone who was suffering. She said, "You might know how to flow, but other people don't."
Maybe it's because she knew my pain. Maybe the reason she knew is because we all feel the pain. Does that mean the attitude of gratitude is no longer relevant? I don't know. These are the thoughts that created this song. I wrote it just a few days ago and I'm just learning to play it. It's not my typical flowy song. This one hits hard. Different kind of medicine, I suppose.
Maybe There's A Reason
https://youtu.be/15iGnL8Cayw
Maybe there’s a reason for my rage Maybe it’s because of this day and age People want to make this hell on earth Not if I can have my heaven first
Maybe there’s a reason a rose has thorns Maybe it’s because it doesn’t want to be torn Maybe there’s a reason a rosebud blooms Maybe it’s because its death is looming
Maybe there’s a reason I’m tripping out Maybe it's because of this fear and doubt People don’t know how to tend their fires They light ’em up and leave like dynamite
Maybe there’s a reason a rose has thorns…
Maybe there’s a reason I cover my ears Maybe it's because I'm not ready to hear People telling lies and selling violence All I need is a moment of silence
Maybe there’s a reason a rose has thorns…
Maybe there’s a reason I raise my voice Maybe it’s because I don’t have a choice People shouting out and spitting complaints That tough love just shoves me away
Maybe there’s a reason a rose has thorns…
Maybe there’s a reason I rise and shine Maybe it's because of these cold dark times People numbing out like they’re dumb and dim I just want to live this life I’m given
Maybe there’s a reason a rose has thorns…
Maybe there’s a reason I pray and sing Maybe it’s because it feels necessary People gotta do what’s balancing To make their peace when times are scary
Maybe there’s a reason a rose has thorns…
Acknowledgements
Hive Open Mic - Week 158 is underway right now, with the current theme: “Let's Defeat The Distance." We introduce new themes every Sunday, inviting musicians to share a common current. Musicians always have full freedom to bring whatever music feels inspired in the moment. There is still time to jump in and enjoy this week's Hive Open Mic event!
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