The straightforward simplicity and soulful nature of Creedence Clearwater Revival has always been appealing to me. In this song, the lyrics of "have you ever seen the rain / coming down on a sunny day" mixed with the chord progression evokes memories and thoughts of bummer days that one just has to grin to get through.
This is a song I sang as a kid in primary at church and still enjoy to this day. A few years ago, I practiced playing it on guitar for my mom for Mothers Day and, for the first time, thought for a minute about the lyrics. While not all of the words apply verbatim to myself or my mother, there is a line that always stands out to me:
"For if I love blossoms and meadows and walking,
I learn how to love them, dear mother, from you."
My mom has shared her love for so many things with me and my siblings: a love of the gospel, music, family, crafts, gardening, pictures, etc.... While I can't say I love each of the things to the degree she does, I strive to emulate her example of fully appreciating them and steeping herself in the full measure of enjoyment and pure pleasure they can offer.
When I hear this song and its lyrics, I obviously can't help but think of my own home growing up. Being the third of seven children, I definitely remember times of craziness and disagreement, but mostly I remember the good times and experiences we had together. One of the benefits of having so many siblings is that there's always someone around to do something with, which was definitely fun and enjoyable. I've tried to capture some of that fun and craziness in my arrangement here.
It seems that the song itself is a type of promise. It outlines what will happen "when [if] there's love at home." The greatest blessing of which, I believe, is that the entire world and our perspective of it improves, as demonstrated in the following lyrics sampled from each verse:
"There is beauty all around
When there's love at home;
There is joy in ev'ry sound
When there's love at home."
"Roses bloom beneath our feet;
All the earth's a garden sweet,
Making life a bliss complete
When there's love at home."
"All the world is filled with love
When there's love at home."
In my own experience, I've found its promises to be true as I look back on my growing-up years and try to build such a home in my own family now. Truly, everything's okay and everything will be okay as long as we have love in our homes.
I particularly enjoy this song because the lyrics are so vague yet descriptive of a relationship that must've been tough. The sentiments expressed seem rather unique to me compared to other songs of love and loss. It speaks a bit of regret and unfulfilled wishes in the relationship as well a repeated sense of futility at any attempts at reparation. Though all those feelings of disappointment are founded on something we as listeners don't fully know, we are told with each refrain that "it's all right." I love how the chords echo some of that dissapointment and longing while still resolving in a calm way.
This is one of the first hymns I ever tinkered with. A few college friends and I decided to perform it at a church talent show and met with some laughs and applause as we hammed it up. This is a much shorter version, but you'll get the gist.
I love how the music has a happy lilt to it and how the lyrics make you picture so vividly a friendlier, happier place and time. A good pick-me-up for a rough day.
Here's a link to the actual music and lyrics. Below is some guy doing a fun version on mandolin.
I don't claim to really know much about the cultural movements of the 1960s or about folk music in general, but I am definitely attracted to the musical quality of guitar and harmonica together as well as the message (insofar as I can derive it) of the lyrics.
To me, this song is a reminder to be a bit more sensitive to those around me, to not put off trying to be a better person, to pay more attention to the needs of those around me and try to lend a hand. The answers to the questions he asks certainly may be "blowing in the wind," but that doesn't mean I can't do what I can now to try to improve myself and lend a hand to others.
This hymn's lyrics are all about the songs our hearts will be singing when we're reunited with our loved ones in the next life. That message resonates with me partly because I enjoy making music with my family and partly because I can't imagine how great it will be to be together again never to be parted.
It's always difficult to arrange times for my family to meet because we are literally spread from coast to coast. Whenever we do get together, we all have a great time, but there comes that time of parting when you are right on the line of crying - and sometimes I do - because feelings of happiness and sadness become so confusingly intermixed.
For me, this song is about celebrating our time together both now and in the next life. I hope you enjoy my arrangement above as well as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's version below.
