We decided to start playing music for the girls at about 3 months. We bought a little set of “ear plugs” that pressed against Faith’s belly which plugged into the ipod. The first night we did this, we didn’t have to ask each other what song to play first, Soulshine!
I scrolled to the what I think is the purist of the many live recordings of the song from Gov’t Mule’s “With A Little Help From Our Friends” recorded New Years Eve 98-99. This version features Chuck Leavell, Derek Trucks and the late great Allen Woody on bass. At the end of the song Derek breaks a string on his guitar but rips on seamlessly without missing a note.
As we played the song, we looked at each other and smiled as tears streamed down both our cheeks. We knew we had just introduced the girls to the love and power of music that has been such a big part of ours since we were both small children.
Fast Forward 5 ½ months to approx 7:15-pm Friday March 27th in the recovery room waiting to be taken in for the C-section.
I turned to Faith and said” If things go according to schedule the girls will be here about the time the Allmans take the stage", thinking that we would be have them around 8:30pm like the doctor was saying. (The shows had been starting between 8:40pm and 9:00pm) Well, that wasn’t the case, but everything happens for a reason, right. There were a couple of emergencies that took priority over us, so we kept getting pushed back and by 10pm we were in the O.R. getting ready to meet the girls. Lucie was born at 10:13pm and Leola at 10:14. Personally, I think it was a few minutes earlier than that but that’s what they put on the birth certificate.
After sitting in the recovery room with Faith and the girls for a few hours, they sent my home to meet my parents who were on their way to NY. It was 2am
I picked up a 6 pack and a frozen pizza and headed home.
I waited for my parents to arrive at around 4am. As I ate my pizza and drank my beer I decided to see how the Allman Brother’s show went.
At approx 10pm the Allman Brothers played Soulshine w/ Kid Rock as their special guest! (give or take depending what time they went on). I was overwhelmed with emotion! As I balled like a baby I text Faith to let her know that this had actually happened!
And the tears kept flowing when the next song they played was “Can’t You See” by the Marshall Tucker Band (who are from South Carolina, for you folks who don’t know that, can’t you see what women are doing to me!)
Fate, Coincidence, or Luck? I believe it was Destiny! Better yet MAGIC!
If you haven’t heard the song you can listen to the actual event above (sorry it's so shakey) and sorry I don't have the recording handy that we first played for the girls, but
this version by Beth Hart fits the post perfectly, being that the song will be sang by the girls in the future.
SOULSHINE
Written by Warren Haynes 1994
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3 comments:
OK, so I have been trying really hard to make it through each day without crying. As I am reading this after being up every hour last night with both girls, tears are streaming down my face. Mom says, "Are you crying?" But it's not out of sadness but joy and happiness. First because even though I am exhausted, the morning light on each little face reminds me that each minute I spend with them is a blessing even though it is 3:00 in the morning. Second because I know that you and I are giving our girls a special gift, the love of music, that they will take with them forever and hopefully pass it down to their children as was done to us.
Soulshine will always and forever be our (all 4 of us) song. Each time I hear the words I am reminded that when I can't find anything to be happy about (which will be hard these days) I always look inside my soul and let it shine. I love you, all three of you.
Ok, I just read this and I am getting a little weepy at my desk. Soulshine is a very special song to my family as well. Justin and I chose this as our wedding song and I play it whenever I'm feeling down. We also want to share the love of music with our little one and we were lucky enough to have some great shows come our way when she was still in my belly (her first shows in utero were Stevie Wonder, Gov't Mule, and Black Crowes). So happy to hear we have this connection...
Thank you so much for the comment! I'm so glad to hear that there are people that know me and what I do, who read my blog.
Yes that songs is magical! Take care
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