Isn’t It Amazing

Hello and happy Earth Day, friends!

My apologies to subscribers for not publishing a post yesterday. I just didn’t have anything to say. Ever have days like that?

Today’s selection came up on random play when I fired up Apple Music, settling in and warming up after spending two hours at a community clean-up with about 75 others. Last year’s event attracted about ten of us, so this was tremendous growth, and it was heartening to see so many people coming out to beautify our neighbourhood after a long winter and all the trash that its winds brought us. We even won some draw prizes for filling out so many squares on our trash bingo card! And the sandwiches were so good! It was a little colder outside this year, with some garbage still frozen into mud and puddles, though together, my sweety and I gathered three garbage bags full.

Partway through writing today’s post, I took a break and rode my bike on the indoor trainer as I felt energetic, unlike yesterday. I’m glad I did, too, as I rode in a virtual group ride that was the best experience I had in an organized event in the four years I’ve been a member of the Zwift.com training platform. The ride was organized by ZSUN, a well-established Zwift group that promotes friendship, teamwork, diversity, respect and courtesy, all of which were evident in today’s group. The ride leader was excellent at keeping the group working together and, at the back, some stronger riders helped less strong ones catch up to the main group, giving instructions on how to latch onto a passing rider’s wheel. Plus, there was plenty of good-hearted banter in the chat box. It was a fun way to spend an hour, covering just under 35 virtual kilometres (21.75 miles). Zwift is pretty amazing technology that creates community with people, quite literally, from around the world. Our dear friend from Colorado often calls tools like this “sacred technology.”

“Isn’t it amazing
Isn’t it amazing
We follow a winding path
Through towns of tears in laughter
Moved by the one spirit
And the spirit’s moving faster
Closer as the great eagle soars
And we follow… steady
Steady as she goes

And every cry is a song
And every song is a prayer
And our prayer must be heard
Fill the air
And every cry is a song
And every song is a prayer
And our prayer must be heard
Fill the air

Got to find the right note
How to make the right tone
How to keep it true to ourselves
Where we are coming from
What matters most is us
What matters most is now
What matters is this
How it comes and where and how… passion

Every cry is a song
Every song is a prayer
And our prayers must be heard
To fill the air

Help us make peace
Amazing grace
Morning has broken
Imagine
Trumpets
Knocking on heaven’s door
In the garden
Forever young
No woman no cry
Ag criost an siol
Open up, open up the doors to your heart
You might need somebody, you might need somebody
Thank you for letting me be myself again”

“Isn’t It Amazing,” by Fiachna O’Braonain, Jerry Fehily, Liam O’Maonlai, Leo Barnes and Peter O’Toole.
Lyrics retrieved from AZLyrics.com.

The song was a perfect way to warm up with the positive feelings of working together in community (real and virtual) for fellowship and the greater good, setting the pace for a really good day. “Isn’t It Amazing” feels like a prayer, a meditation, an intention, a cry, a wish to be heard, a collective… whatever way of expressing to a power greater than ourselves in celebration of this hardy yet fragile world we live in. And incorporating phrases from famous contemporary pop songs into the final verse seems like a gesture for global unification.

Formed in 1985 in Dublin, Ireland, by street performers Fiachna O’Braonain (b. 1965) and Liam O’Maonlai (b. 1964), Hothouse Flowers plays alternative, folk, and Celtic rock with gospel and soul music influences. In 1986, Irish rock band U2’s frontperson Bono (aka Paul David Hewson, b. 1960) saw the band performing on television; his offer of support led to their first single being released on U2’s label, Mother Records. Hothouse Flowers disbanded in 1994, reunited in 1998, and is still active.

“Isn’t It Amazing” comes from the band’s third studio album, Songs from the Rain (1993), an album which features some co-writing with former Eurythmics member Dave Stewart (b. 1952).

Now you know a little about why this is my Song of the Day for Today. Thanks for joining me here in the blogging community. Please enjoy the official audio from the London Records YouTube channel:

With earthy wishes,

Steve