Written 10 years ago, in the week that Leonard Cohen died and Trump got himself elected, this was originally a contribution to Jim’s ‘Song Lyric Sunday’ thread.
YNWA
Tough week alright, and who could blame Helen for not feeling able to come up with a specific theme for this Sunday?
Much as I am a huge fan of Leonard Cohen, we perhaps need something a little more uplifting in these times. Besides, if I hear another strangulated version of ‘Hallelujah’ any time in the next six months it’ll be way too soon.
My comfort zone as far as musical genres go is definitely rock, in the broad sense, and as a general rule, I’d walk a mile over broken glass to avoid a ‘Musical’. However, I make one honourable exception, and it’s for the song ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical ‘Carousel’.
When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm, there’s a golden sky
And the sweet, silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your hearts
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your hearts
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone
Written by Rodgers & Hammerstein
I’ve never seen Carousel and have no wish to, but I have heard this song literally (and I do mean literally) hundreds, if not thousands, of times. That’s because – in case you don’t know – for more than fifty years it has been the anthem of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club, (among whom I proudly count myself). Hearing this still never fails to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
May I humbly suggest that you crank up the volume as far as it will go: then maybe – just maybe – you’ll get an inkling of what it’s like to be right in the middle of it.
If it requires any further explanation, consider this comment by the legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly:
Seems timely.
