Simple songs

Once upon a time I thought I wanted to learn to play the dulcimer,

Part of it was the song, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. I love that tune. I don't even know the words. I don't even want to know the words.

I have my own words that run through my head when I hear it, or perhaps they are more feelings, thoughts, primal memories, of something indiscernible that speaks to me in those simple notes.

There are a few simple songs that do this for me, take me to a place where I positively ache to be, and they are all old, old, religious songs, that strike me as more spiritual than religious, but none more than this song.

I like them on folk instruments, or cellos, or pianos, or even played by full orchestras. It is the tune, not the instrumentation that touches me.

So much of the music in my life makes me sad. It is too full of memories, more than my heart can bear to feel, but not the old simple songs, the ones people played and sang without paper and written words.

I love the freedom of these tunes. They connect me only to spirit.