Someone Singing Along

Recently my talented grandson, Noah Zak[1], played a gig in Winona.  He performed a song that I had never heard before, “Someone Singing Along” by James Blunt.

Somebody's gonna wave a flag
Somebody's going to attack
Someone will tell you to take a side
Tell you their version of wrong or right
Somebody's gonna let you in
Judged on the color of your skin
Slam a door in the face of your friend
Simply because you don't look like him

After identifying the problem, Blunt suggests his solution

So I built the words into a song
I'm hopin' someone's singing along
And even if some notes are wrong
I'm hopin' someone's singing along

We are all supposed to sing our song.  Sing out danger.  Sing out warning.  Sing about the love between our brothers and our sisters, all over this land.[2]

And find a like-minded choir to sing with you:

'Cause just one voice is not enough
I need to hear from everyone
And even when I'm dead and gone
I'm hopin' someone's singing along

One voice is not enough.  But, let’s not wait for the choir to start before we sing the song. 

The second verse sets out more challenges

Somebody's gonna build a wall
Then smash it with a cannon ball
Someone who somehow has got a gun
Will tell you who you can't and you can love
Some people keeping all the cash
They're gonna get away with that
Just 'cause some people don't think like me
Does that really make them the enemy?

My enemy?  I hope not.  My conscience?  Perhaps.  We need to search out people who don’t always agree with us to challenge our assumptions and test our beliefs.

Guided, always, by one of my favorite scripture verses:  He has told you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you but to do Justice, to love Kindness and to walk humbly with your God?

Singing your song with that attitude will certainly encourage others to sing along.

Because, “one voice is not enough.”  And we “need to hear from everyone.”

I hope that you’re singing along.

__________

The lyrics for the song can be found at https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jamesblunt/someonesingingalong.html

I wish you could hear Noah sing this, but if you want to hear it, you’ll enjoy James Blunt’s version at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JfGdDtBstQ

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[1] For a sample of Noah’s work, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwT28w_XdyE

[2] If I Had a Hammer.  Hear Peter Paul and Mary sing this at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD-pyWALro4