Simple Gifts: Obama Inauguration

I was inspired to find out more about the song "Simple Gifts" after being so moved by it's melody at the Inauguration of Barack Obama. Below are the lyrics to the song. The original lyrics are italicized and the lyrics that were added sometime later follow.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,javascript:void(0)
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,
(refrain)
'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.

It is time for Americans to act with the new energy of a nation reborn. We have all asked for change but we must also act with change in mind. I hope not only for this country but for myself, that I can change.

It is January 20, 2009, and I am proud of America.

Year in Review - Concerts and Theater

Hello to anyone who has bothered to check out my blog. It has been abandoned for some time but I'm feeling slightly more like myself than I have in a couple of months and also got curious about something on this, the first day of the new year. I'm sitting at the airport waiting for my delayed flight to board and wondering, how many shows did I see this year? I won't be able to count them all but since I have the time, here's the list:

Jesus Christ Superstar - Jan 3
Garth Brooks - Jan 26
Rogue Wave - Jan 31
Flight to Athena - Feb 28
Elton John - Apr 19
Michael Buble - May 11
Wicked - May 22
Boeing-Boeing - May 23
The Police - May 26
Cats - June 7
George Michael - June 17
Old 97s - June 20
O.A.R. - June 24
Ricky Gervais - July 9
Ricky Gervais - July 12
John Mayer - Aug 1
Phantom of the Opera - Aug 9
A Chorus Line - Aug 13
The Wizard of Oz - Aug 17
Dawn Mitschelle - Aug 19
Jamie Cullum - Aug 20
Davy Jones - Aug 23
Spring Awakening - Aug ?
The Raconteurs - Sep 24
All's Well That Ends Well - Sep 26
Neil Diamond - Oct 2
Jason Mraz - Oct 31
Madonna - Nov 4
Alanis Morissette - Nov 10
Jay Brannan - Nov 17
The Color Purple - Dec 3
Super Diamond - Dec 6
O.A.R. (Sophie's Green Christmas) - Dec 10
Snow Patrol - Dec 13

This is not as impressive as last year and I think the list is a bit incomplete but I'm glad that I'm able to make music and the arts so much a part of my life.

Already lined up this year:
John Legend
Brian Wilson
Elton John and Billy Joel

Here's to 2009!