2020 was a year of challenges, social and political upheaval, fear and uncertainty… threats to our health and livelihood… and a call to ACTION. This week sees the culmination of a very fraught election process in the USA, one which will set an important precedent for future generations. We were all faced with big decisions in 2020: What actions would we take to get our society out of this mess? How might we participate in the political process? Would we take to the streets and protest? Would we choose to believe science, wear a mask and practice social distance? And what actions might we take to help amplify truth, and drown out the din of “alternative facts”.
As we faced these tough questions, we also tried to just live our lives, stay healthy, adjust our daily routines and make sense of it all. We tried to hold on to the things we loved, even as we found ourselves increasingly vulnerable and isolated. And somehow we collectively found new ways to connect and be creative. We Zoomed, we live-streamed, we touched elbows, we put on our masks and went to rallies. We VOTED in record numbers. In the Broadway musical “Hamilton”, the word legacy is defined as “planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” We all leave some kind of legacy, sometimes in small immeasurable ways: random memories that our childhood friends have of us, an appreciative smile we gave to a supermarket cashier… The way we live our daily lives serves as an example to others. And if we live well and do good, that has an effect on the world.
“Every day is a test, are we living our best legacy?“
This recording of “Legacy” features my Whisper Kiss comrades Shelley Lotus (vocals) and Karen Bergmann (cello). Hope you enjoy!
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LEGACY A lot of bad things been happening Avalanche of mistrust It’s Armegeddon or bust Progress so slow, undetectable But if we’re gonna make it home by dawn I think we better move along So the story goes (wherever it wants) The madness grows (stronger by the day) What’ll we say on the judgment day? Did we fight the good fight or did we just stay home and pray? Our memory sees what it wants to see It’s not my job to play referee And I don’t worry about my legacy I’m just trying to hold on to you and me Red and blue, black and white Division of the cruel and kind Decision of the highest minds Privilege breeds contempt for policy The experts will disagree But it’s obvious you and me So the story goes (wherever it wants) The madness grows (stronger by the day) What’ll we say on the judgment day? Did we fight the good fight or did we just stay home and pray? Our memory sees what it wants to see It’s not my job to play referee And I don’t worry about my legacy I’m just trying to hold on to you and me You and me, holding it together in a crumbling universe You and me trying to make it better when the odds just keep getting worse Me and you, every day is a test are we living our best legacy? So the story goes (wherever it wants) The madness grows and grows and grows What’ll we say on the judgment day? Did we fight the good fight or did we just stay home and pray? Our memory sees what it wants to see Such imperfect souls are we And I don’t worry about my legacy I’m just trying to hold on to you and me