“Okay, Bruce. What do you want to do with the rest of your life?” > “I want to sing.”

I sat yesterday and scrolled through my playlists on YouTube Music. I was sensing into songs I want to learn or relearn. Four decades ago, I sang my favourites and accompanied myself on guitar.

I created a new playlist called “Learn”. Right now it holds 61 songs, 7 of which I memorized long ago. I see a path ahead. Study those seven, plus a new one that I worked on a few months ago – “Song For A Winter’s Night”. Eight songs that I will perform on the street (and perhaps from my balcony!)

I will go to Ghent City Hall and get a permit to sing in public. I don’t want money. I want people to listen.

This morning I went to a tiny park beside the Leie River and waited till I was alone. “I’ll start with a classic Gordon Lightfoot love song.”

I stared at the lyrics on my phone and began to sing. I remembered … some of it.

I adjusted the pitch so the lowest note would be comfortable for me. I looked at the words of the five stanzas and remembered patterns that I knew long ago. I found the phrases that had disappeared from my mind and focused on them:

“And when the morning came”

“Is the old roof still leaking”

“And looking at the rain”

My voice wavered. Even though alone, I was nervous. Slowly I increased the volume. I hit the low notes with ease. I was approaching the last phrase (“Did she mention my name?”) in which the pitch of the notes is higher, requiring more air. I gazed across the river and a woman was looking at me as she walked by the white van.

I went self-conscious and my voice trailed away …

Ahh yes … part of the process

I will continue

***

Did She Mention My Name?

It’s so nice to meet an old friend and pass the time of day
And talk about the hometown a million miles away
Is the ice still on the river? Are the old folks still the same?
And by the way, did she mention my name?

Did she mention my name just in passing?
And when the morning came, do you remember if she dropped a name or two?
Is the home team still on fire? Do they still win all their games?
And by the way, did she mention my name?

Is the landlord still a loser? Do his signs hang in the hall?
Are the young girls still as pretty in the city in the fall?
Does the laughter on their faces still put the sun to shame?
And by the way, did she mention my name?

Did she mention my name just in passing?
And when the talk ran high, did the look in her eyes seem far away?
Is the old roof still leaking when the late snow turns to rain?
And by the way, did she mention my name?

Did she mention my name just in passing?
And looking at the rain, do you remember if she dropped a name or two?
Won’t you say hello from someone? There‘ll be no need to explain
And by the way, did she mention my name?