...it only feels like darkness
'Til somebody turns on the light
LP
My Mom passed away almost 3 1/2 years ago, and it feels at once like yesterday and at the same time, a lifetime ago. It is quite surreal. I guess that probably put me into this reminiscent mood about the people I have lost in my life that meant a lot to me... and still do.
The result is the music that I am sharing here for Three Tune Tuesday by 
I am writing this on Friday 9th September for Tuesday's Three Tune Tuesday by
Every Tuesday I'm going to share 3 songs that I like to listen to and I invite your feedback in the comments below. Better still, why not have a blast of your own Three Tune Tuesday and mention me in the post and I'll come and find the post and upvote it. It'll be a sweet way for us all to discover new music. You'll also be in with a chance of winning a prize.
LP
I came across Laura Pozzoli, better known as LP, a little while ago here on Hive when, I believe, 
I was quite taken by LP's unique style and voice. I have been listening to her greatest hits album this evening whilst I seek inspiration for writing. I often listen to music when I need to connect to something deeper within myself, and when I am looking for the trigger to spark creativity. It's like that transition needed between activities... the unwinding of time between work and home life.
Her song One last time is about love lost, relationships past, and her ongoing connection and longing for them all, despite the fact that the people she writes about are no longer in her life. Some have passed on, others were simply in her life for a reason or a season and have now departed... but have clearly left indelible footprints on her heart and soul. It's a love song, an ode to fond memories.
This song evokes memories of my own... I have lost many people in my life, from my sweet childhood soulmate, Ty, at around 8 years old, to school and Uni friends who committed suicide or who died tragically in car accidents, to my gran who died when I was 15 years old, and finally to my Mom - being the most significant loss of them all, and I cannot believe that more than three years have passed already since that day I received the dreaded call from my dad.
But I dealt with the losses. I allowed myself to feel every intense emotion and worked through my grief. With my mom, I was so very fortunate to have the love of my Dad, my siblings, my husband, and kids, and perhaps most importantly, the love of a very dear friend who was my rock through it all.
This friend was first and foremost one of my Mom's very close friends. I was at school with her daughter... so I scored twice... I had the joy and privilege of having been close to her daughter and as the years rolled on I became close to her too. When my mom passed, she never left me alone. She messaged me every single day, multiple times... sometimes it was a short hi, how are you doing, my angel? Other times it was a bible quote or a song shared from youtube, a goodnight message, something beautiful shared with me about my mom... always it was kind, loving, thoughtful, sensitive. I loved her for it. I still do.
Donna Taggart
One of the songs she shared with me which made me sob so deeply each and every time, and which was so in tune with how I was feeling, was the incredibly soulful and stirring Jealous of the Angels sung by Donna Taggart, an Irish singer from Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Just listening to it again this evening, I have a lump in my throat, and tears welling in my eyes. I found the lyrics and melody to be so moving and cathartic and I would encourage anyone who needs some comfort after having lost a loved one, to listen to it.
It's not my place to question
Only God knows why
I'm just jealous of the angels
Around the throne tonight
Full Lyrics
Jesse Clegg
The last song that I would like to share this evening is one that captured my heart at a concert that I attended in London at the Hammersmith Apollo in August 2017 with my sister. It was to be the last concert I would attend of one of my favourite artists from my teen and University years, Johnny Clegg, an icon and legend of South African music. He passed away not long afterward, having fought a long battle with cancer. On The Final Journey tour he was accompanied by his son and fellow musician Jesse Clegg who spent the first 6 years of his life on tour with his daddy. At one point during the concert, they sang a duet called I've been looking, which Jesse wrote as a tribute to his dad.
Standing on the edge and lookin' at your face
To tell you how I feel
To tell you how I feel
These are the things I can't replace
I was so taken by this stirring and emotional rendition; a poignant ode to the love between a parent and child. I went looking for it online as soon as the concert ended and could not find it anywhere, so I sent a message to Jesse on his Youtube channel to ask him where I could get the download. His channel stated that he was quite responsive but I had no idea he would be that responsive as I received a reply 45 minutes later.
Now, this is one thing you may not know about South African artists - they mostly do not go around with airs and graces and are actually quite down-to-earth and approachable. They appreciate their fans and often connect with them directly on social media - none of this paying others to do all their PR for them. To this end, I have had drinks with Prime Circle in a private bar in London after a concert - having received a personal invite from their manager simply because I made inquiries on their website about their next tour in London. I've sung on stage with Spoonfeedas - ok I happen to know the lead singer lol - and I had a messenger chat with Jesse Clegg a couple of days after the London concert.
Turns out that the song was not available yet, but he promised to send me the link when it was released and you bet I downloaded it quickly when it arrived in my inbox. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
...it only feels like darkness
'Til somebody turns on the light
Full Lyrics
And so we come full circle.
Grief and sadness can grip you tightly in what feels like eternal darkness... both require time to work through them. But time is a great healer, and good friends and family make the journey easier. We may just need a little help turning on the light... and music plays its part too 馃挆
Header image From dark to light by dashabelozrova on Getty Images in Canva Pro Library.
One last time lyrics written by Mike Del Rio, Laura Pergolizzi, and Alex Feder and performed by Laura Pozzoli (a.k.a LP) source
Jealous of the Angels written and composed by Jenn Bostic,
Jimmy Fortune, Zachary Runquist, and Barrett Yeretsian. P by Performed by Donna Taggart
Full lyrics here
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A Writer 'nd a Half banner by Penderis and used with permission, simply because I love it!