Inspiration
7 Dec
I’m inspired.
My friend Gretchen Peters has inspired me. With her wonderful blog on Huffington Post, and her fantastic new CD Hello Cruel World, she’s got me thinking about art….in a good way. Really thinking.
In her blog, Gretchen writes, “As a songwriter, singer and musician, I explore the emotional terrain of everyday life on a regular basis. I am interested in shining a light into some dark corners, even compelled to do it, to take the secrets that we all keep and bring them into the light, give them a name, treat them with compassion and humility, but, above all, to tell the truth. Art has the power to transport us into other people’s lives, and thus, ultimately, into our own hearts. The act of empathizing with another, no matter how different, breaks down the walls built by secret-keeping and fear, and forever binds us together in our humanity. So many people prefer you to assume a role that makes them comfortable. But life is not about making other people comfortable. This idea seeped into the songs that were coming out of me — the old adage, “Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” I wanted to say what seemed unsayable. That life is tough, heartbreaking, unfair — and short. And that there is unspeakable beauty to be found.”
I couldn’t agree more.
I’m home now, in Nashville, sitting at my writing desk, contemplating these ideas while I try to write some songs. And I’m wondering, whats left for me to say? And I realize that writing and performing my most recent project The Foundling has changed me. There’s plenty for me to say, because I have changed. I am not the same person that I was three years ago when I decided to take on the most confusing and complex part of my own story by writing songs about it.
I love this quote by the great playwright, three time Pulitzer Prize winner, and fellow adoptee Edward Allbee . (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf)
“All serious art is being destroyed by commerce. Most people don’t want art to be disturbing. They want it to be escapist. I don’t think art should be escapist. thats a waste of time.”
Sometimes, the greatest thing an artist can do is be disturbing. To disturb the comfortable, and comfort the disturbed is to answer to a higher calling. It takes courage, self awareness, confidence and audacity to go against the grain, to shake things up, to stand alone and speak truth to power.
The writing of The Foundling was a key that opened a dark room inside my head, threw the lights on, and ran some of the monsters out. I feel lighter, less anxious, and more at peace now. Somehow, by revealing the hardest thing I’ve ever had to face, it’s lightened my load. The songs of The Foundling have made many people uncomfortable. They’ve made ME uncomfortable at times. They’re not for the faint hearted. They are heavy, and the story does not end well. But, is that REALLY true? Because here I sit, feeling a sense of peace and serenity thats flows like a river deep inside me. I’ve never felt better in my life. I feel connected to people, to myself and to a power greater than myself. There’s a great gift in being an artist, and for me that gift is being the recipient of what Gretchen was describing in her blog, being returned to my own heart through the sharing the truth of my humanity with others. Sometimes people tell me things like “That song you wrote was a life raft for me when I was going through x,y,z….” I always smile and nod and say sweetheart, we’re floating on the same little boat. It goes both ways; thats the nature of art. If it’s the kind of work that has a deep moving effect on a listener, you can be assured that is has had the same effect on the artist. The artist saves his/her own life by the work he/she does. Thats certainly been my experience. I write, I learn, I grow, and I move on. The work helps me to move on, to not stay stuck. I learn the lessons by writing about my experiences — making art from these experiences frees me to move on. My work gives me a powerful reason to get up in the morning. I am dedicated to it, and I love it. Ten years into being a professional songwriter, my passion for it continues. Writing helps me understand who and what I am, and it helps me understand the human condition and my place as a member of the human race, afflicted and gifted by the human condition just like everyone else. I’ve travelled the word now for a decade, and I am certain of one thing, we are all made of the same stuff. The human heart does not vary all that much, we humans are all much more alike than different, despite what the politicians and corporate media types try to tell us.
As a songwriter, I have no desire to do anything other than try to describe whats going on around me and inside me. I look out and see so much worth loving, so much worth singing about, writing about, worth trying to gently capture like a butterfly in my little song net. There is plenty left for me to say. Sometimes the greatest songs in the world are simple love songs, honest and true, without irony or cynicism. I think it’s high time I write a few songs like that.
I’m working on it now.
Mary, when are you coming to England? A long time GP fan, I am now on my first Mary Gauthier CD and would love to see/hear you live – the next CD sounds as though it could be interesting. Good luck.
Roger May
I love their music so much! Good luck in the future!
Mary
Reading what you wrote was certainly an inspiration as is your music. I have seen you a number of times now in the UK and every time you and your music have touched me in some way. I have all your albums and very much look forward to the next one and to hearing the songs that you are working on. It is good to read that you have never felt better about your life – because you have had to go through so much to reach that place of peace and serenity.
Wishing you peace and happiness for 2012
Ruth
Dear Mary, I discovered you through Mercy Now playing at a oneness blessing circle and within a very short time, I had 5 of your CD’s in my car player which stayed there cycling through continuously for over 2 years. Through the arduous process of breaking up a 19 year relationship, every song touched my heart deeply, inviting the tears, witnessing and containing the grief, the shame, the loss of time and youth and hopefulness, the relief, all of it. I have seen you 4 times – in Austin, San Francisco, Berkeley and Santa Monica. I could speak to so many things – of course, the music, your aliveness and truthtelling, your body of work which is deep and prolific and magnificent, such incredible songwriting that doesn’t falter or compromise, the stories, your generosity, openness and spark with your fellow musicians, it is not easy to pinpoint exactly what occurs, but just being in your presence, I feel elevated, hopeful, deeply touched by this human journey that we are all on and soulfully connected to something bigger than me, something so vulnerable and so precious. I experience you as radiant, courageous, willing, an inspiration, a trailblazer, willing to name all that you see along the murky path of life with such curiosity, clarity, depth and insight that somewhere in the midst of it, perfect and unique alchemy happens. Thank you for being you.
Mary, I first became aware of you and your music through KPFT radio here in Houston. From that time forward you have been my very favorite singer/song writer. Please continue with your work. You have so much to tell. Looking forward to seeing you in Houston. Do you have any idea when that may be?
Mary, I just wanted to let you know how much you and your songs have helped me through the years.You have a unique way of putting into words the emotions and feelings I could not explain or even think of a way of expressing.Your words have taught me about truth and letting go which has truely set me free. It is true that being honest and true to yourself and your beliefs releases an enourmous amount of pent up anxiety that a lot of us are holding inside. I think if more people would be honest with themselves and others the amount of drug and alcohol dependencies would decrease enormously. Being honest and telling the truth, exposing yourself to others, isn’t always easy, But I know you’ll sleep better at night. Thanks for everything and I hope to see you soon.
I’ve always thought that art (no matter the medium) is worthless unless it makes you think and that’s precisely how it stays with you and makes an impact on you. All else is the equivalent of junk food. I remember when we first saw you perform and were literally stunned by the honesty and rawness of your songs. We so admired your guts in putting yourself out there.
Life is life- sometimes painful, sometimes hard, sometimes pure ecstasy. It’s odd to me when people want to avoid dealing with the tough stuff because I’ve found that I’ll deal with it sooner or later. And later seems worse to me.
You are right, Mary and so is Edward Albee. We have the drug industry that has marketed itself so well that many think that they shouldn’t have to process anything troubling. The music industry rewards utter fluff.
Your passion and honesty makes you uniquely beautiful. (Not to mention all that talent, too….)
Mary, your work is always an inspiration. It captures the bittersweet note of everyday dreams, disapointments and hope. Thank you for sharing your talents and your art with us. Ginny
I am enjoying getting to know you through your songs and your writing. I was completely blown away when I heard “I Drink” for the first time last week. Your incredible voice and your emotion hit me first, and then the words sank in. As someone who had alcoholic parents, I recognize the pervasive feeling of hopelessness you were able to convey in that song. I escaped that cycle of self-destruction but the song has made me feel more compassionate about those who get trapped in the mess. Thank you for sharing your art with us. We need to hear what you have to say.
Mary – Having heard you perform “Foundling” live, I agree that it is disturbing – but as my favorite Jungian therapist and author pointed out, the point of being here in this world may not be happiness – but rather meaning. And sharing our stories and what they mean to us not only allows us to understand our own lives better (as you’ve said)but it can also be a life preserver thrown out to another soul who is going down for the third time purely out of a sense of complete aloneness. If our experiences, yours and mine, are different – what Pema Chodron calls “the genuine heart of human sadness” is not.
And as to simple songs – “Mercy,” for me, is one of the most authentically simple, beautiful and compassionate songs, I’ve ever heard. It’s become a talisman for me, guarding against the temptation to close my heart.
May you write well, always.