As often happens when bullshitting, I heard something interesting the other day. I asked a friend if he was into the band Snow Patrol. He said yeah, he'd seen them open at a Killers concert and they were better than he expected. So I played "Run." Apparently, at the show, which was in a huge stadium (Chicago?), singer Gary Lightbody implored the crowd to sing along. He said, and I'm paraphrasing here, "ya know, I need a favor from you (the crowd). Since we started out, we've had this dream that a huge crowd would sing along to one of our songs." He went over the chorus, telling them what to sing and when to sing it. Of course, the people were more than willing to oblige. Wouldn't you? I mean, how cool is that? If the singer of some band is willing to take the time to teach you the lyrics to his music, isn't it the least you can do to help make his dream come true? My friend said it was really a touching moment. I would agree.
Snow Patrol "Run" lyrics (crowd part) (It's on my playlist!)
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say
Nice lyrics, Gary.
Now, for those of you who don't know, I am hearing averse (I can't really think of a good word to use there). I don't hear high pitched noises: security alarms, car door alarms, high pitched telephone ringtones, s's, t's, f's....things of that nature. I have hearing aids that help, but you (especially if you are a girl with a high -pitched voice) are likely going to have to slap me upside the head from time to time to get my attention.
So, lyrics about sound (or lack of) tend to stand out for me a bit, with their suddenly literal meanings. So this one is kinda cool. "Even if you cannot hear my voice I'll be right beside you dear." Semi-deafness is....... interesting, for lack of a better word. I don't mind the jokes. Every day, there is at least one reference to my lack of hearing acumen, followed by raucous laughter by all around. There are also plenty of rolling eyes and frustrated sighs of impatience. Still it's no big deal. At least if you are getting a reaction out of someone, you know they're engaged. And I've never been shy of providing unintentional entertainment for friends.
It is not so much fun when there is no reaction at all. Or when someone just gives up on telling you something because they get frustrated having to repeat themselves. Some things are just harder to laugh off. Those situations truly sadden me. I'm not sure that I really blame anyone else...... but to think someone wouldn't want to say something to you, not because you're an ass, not because they don't want you to know, but because they have decided that you knowing what they said was not worth repeating. Brutal. Heartbreaking.
I've also been accused of selective hearing.... by people I've known all my life! That I am somehow making it all up. Why can I hear the low rumble of distant thunder but not the treefrogs five feet away from me? There's social situations, in large groups, especially, where I cannot follow anything that's going on, and people think I am aloof because I'm not talking, or maybe I say something inappropriate for the conversation. It makes it hard to relax because I am concentrating on doing something the whole time that should come naturally.
Writing, then, is fantastically cleansing for me. I don't have to think about what is being said when it is written to me. I don't have to guess words or try to fill in the blanks. But while I can react and respond while writing, I also miss out on the spontaneity and give and take of conversation.... the unpredictable, the surprising, is missing from my life.
I'm sure deaf and hearing-impaired people can relate to all of this. It would be easy to become reclusive. but I am also sure the only way to deal with it that makes any sense is to be bold and let people know what you are. You then have a choice at least whether to accept me or not. I think that's why I like those lyrics. Somewhere inside, we all want to be told by our loved ones, "you're alright. it doesn't matter to me." I don't want to feel like anyone is sacrificing anything by trying to communicate with me. Nothing sucks more than someone accommodating my hearing loss, but being visibly upset having to do so.
So anyway, I think I should put out a cd of songs about sound. it could be called, "Silence is Sexy," like the Einsturzende Neubaten song of the same name. I found another one recently: "Shameful Metaphors" by Chevelle (again, notice the irony of a literal meaning of sound as a metaphor): So why then ....Has all my life made no sound.....And are your eyes.....Closing even now.......My life made no sound......I fear your eyes closing.
Nice lyrics.
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