Your Song

My Week #5 Submission

This is the first prompt, where I didn't know what I would write before I began. I actually had to listen to Elton John’s, Your Song, before I took the pen in hand. And at first, he took me down a familiar path. It’s so easy to see myself and my Sweetheart in those lyrics — I mean, it is a love song after all.

But the more I listened to it, maybe the second or third time, I started to hear something else...

Notice how it starts out with an ode to the artist? His plight is obvious — he’s a starving artist, and all he has to give to his Love is his song.

“I know it's not much, but it’s the best I can do. My gift is my song, and this one’s for you.”

Isn’t that what we’re all doing here? Sharing our song? I’ve seen so many of my friends here mention how this community has helped them in one way or another. And I too can say that the people I’ve met and have the pleasure of interacting with daily, albeit digitally, have made a huge difference in my life.

A year ago I was so alone in much of my thinking. I mean don’t get me wrong, I have a very supportive partner. My Sweetheart is always there for me, she is a great listener too. But at the same time, she’s only interested in writing and philosophy because I am. We also live in a very rural area, so it’s not like I can just run down to a social event and end up deep in conversation or contemplation. All of my mentors live in books, or maybe on Youtube — either way there’s not a whole lot of interaction there.

But when Elton sings, “I sat on the roof, And kicked off the moss. Well, a few of the verses — Well, they've got me quite cross. But the sun's been quite kind. While I wrote this song. It's for people like you that keep it turned on

You, my friends and mentors here on Substack, have become the ones that often inspire me to keep writing! I’ve said it a few times here, “Substack is like being at a perpetual artist’s retreat.”

Me and my fellow artist friends of South Porch Artist’s Residency

I was fortunate enough to attend my first Artist’s Residency last November, it was so amazing! And it wasn’t the uninterrupted writing time, or the picturesque location that made the time spent there so special. Although I’ll admit all those things were great — what made it so magical was no doubt the other artists that I shared my time with there.

Well, Substack is no different in that respect. I am pleasantly surprised daily by the support and encouragement shared within this community. Every time I turn around, someone is either standing there with open arms, or sharing something that they’ve struggled with in order to help others who may be in a similar situation.

Each time we read and comment — each time we hit “Publish”, we give the gift of our song. And we’re hoping each time, it’ll become Your Song.

“So, I hope you don’t mind — I hope you don’t mind, that I put down in words. How wonderful life is, while you’re in the world.”

Thanks for reading! If you’re a writer, I hope this’ll inspire you to make your own submission!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it and clicking that ❤ button, and I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Oh and if you’re an email reader, just hit reply—I want to hear from you too! Have you spent time at an Artist’s Residency? If not, tell me of a similar experience.

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