Lyric For The Day 8.6.11 from Sit Down by James

 

“Those who feel the breath of sadness
Sit down next to me
Those who find they’re touched by madness
Sit down next to me
Those who find themselves ridiculous
Sit down next to me
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate

Oh sit down
Oh sit down
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down, down
In sympathy”

-      From Sit Down by James

This hit from the early nineties and indeed late nineties too even though written in 1988 had passed me by as a lovely summer anthem for rock festivals. Then at a meeting of the Mornington Community Project last week one of the Board Ken Humphries shared in passing how this used to be the song of the project. I went back to it and found a song that rings with belonging and empathy. It is about finding that place where you are unconditionally loved and welcomed into community, large or small. Writer Tim Booth apparently wrote it for two of his heroines Doris Lessing and Patti Smith. It was also sung by Jesus in the BBC’s “Manchester Passion.” From the lips of Jesus it becomes even more potent. What better welcome can I give anyone I meet today in need of some love.

Comments

[overtonout]

This song was number 2 to The Bryan Adams song from Robin Hood. It is a song which always takes me back to that time. I spent four and a half months sitting everyday in the Special Care Baby Unit of the local hospital beside my premature twins comforted by the picture of being beside Jesus in sadness and possibly touch by madness. A wonderful song.