Required Reading

Friday, December 30, 2011

Just do it for love.



"In your world of noise
Or in your quiet place
Whatever you say
Whatever you do. . . .

Just do it for love."

~ anonymous man on the beach

This lovely man sang an original song for my friends and me today on the beach. He threw back his head and lifted his voice over that salty air like no one was even watching. And it was beautiful. Really, really beautiful like bells ringing in unison or Etta James singing "At Last."

I asked him his name and he just laughed real easy-like and said, "Yeah, mon, I'm just the singing guy." And that was as much as he was willing to say so I left it at that.

The Singing Guy sang that song plus another by Tracy Chapman that was hauntingly soulful. We applauded and he beamed brighter than that Caribbean sun -- seeming to appreciate our genuine entertainment far more than those few loose bills we dropped into his hat.

That made me think about all of the amazingly talented people in tiny pockets all over the place and how few people get to see them or hear them. Strumming guitars and writing music that sounds as perfect as anything I could purchase on iTunes. Or maybe even better.

As a writer, I relate to this. Our applause was affirming. And affirmations feel good.

And so I offered more. "Singing Guy, I loved your original song the best of all. Those are good words for me to hear in my head going into a new year. Thank you for sharing them with us."

And he beamed again. This time even brighter.

I recorded his song and have replayed it for myself two and a half times already. (That's how I remembered the lyrics.) Even though he gave me permission to share his picture and my little iPhone video, I wasn't fully sure if I should. Hmm. Will think about that some more.

"In your world of noise
Or in your quiet place
Whatever you say
Whatever you do. . . .

Just do it for love."

That's a good word on a whole lot of levels. Yeah, mon.

***
Happy Friday.

8 comments:

  1. Maybe he WANTS someone to see it other than the people who come to the beach. I was thinking about talent in random places the other day. There are some FANTASTIC singers at the church I grew up in that are completely unknown outside of the few places where they've sung. And they are definitely better than some people who make millions. Life is amazing. Happy New Year!

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  2. You have given voice to thoughts I have had so often. Raw talent and ability, musical/intellectual/physical/etc., that will likely never be known to the world. How many amazing artists, scientists, thinkers are lost to us simply because of the places and circumstances into which they are born?

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  3. Forgot to say... Have a wonderful time surrounded by those beautiful colors and sounds. And as always, thanks for sharing yourself and your talents - the world is a better place for NOT having missed your gifts.

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  4. I feel as if I am drowning in love here.
    Same-same.
    Love to you from me. Okay? Okay.
    One love.

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  5. Happy New Year..may God continue to Bless you and the family....

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  6. something tells me you are not in Atlanta! Have fun and enjoy the time off.

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  7. Thanks for doing it for love, & for sharing it here, Dr. Manning!

    Wishing you & your loved ones & everyone at Grady a healthy, happy, & blessed 2012!

    Lena

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  8. happy new year! i would love to hear his song.

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"Tell me something good. . . tell me that you like it, yeah." ~ Chaka Khan