LEAVE IT BE

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WHEN I FIND MYSELF IN TIMES OF TROUBLE... This post is installment #2 of a new series. In my last post I over-shared about my current state-of-mind regarding the current state-of-affairs. I said I'm searching for ways to find footing, forward-thinking, with a bit of escaping.

Maybe, I thought, that by revisiting the greatest hits of my First Coming-of-Age, in the late 60s, when we had a president of questionable integrity and motives, and were stuck in a needless and seemingly unending war, I could find in these songs familiar footing--remembering the zest and lust for life of an idealistic, long-haired whatever.

Let's think about The Beatles "Let It Be". The first recording of the song with the entire band happened on January 8, 1969, my 18th birthday. The song was written by Paul McCartney. Paul told a story about a dream he had had of his mother, Mary, who died of cancer when Paul was fourteen. He said he dreamed of his mother coming to him and saying, "It will be all right, just let it be."

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be

The title I chose for this post, "Leave it be", might look like a typo or the typical malaprop of an old man. It's actually a tip o' the hat to a wonderful piece of dialog from a movie called "Yesterday" about a weird occurence that leaves the world without any memory of The Beatles or their music except for just a few, including a young struggling musician who chooses to pass The Beatles amazing songs off as his own. In one scene from the movie he is playing one of the songs for his parents who thought he had given up on his singer/songwriter career. You can CLICK HERE to watch the clip on YouTube.

What if Paul had called his song "Leave It Be" or "Leave Him Be"? Does it change the perspective, if not the meaning? For me the song's three word lesson has always been a spirit of: "it is what it is". It could even be seen as benediction--sort of an "Amen" which means "so be it". I think that's a healthier way to look at status quo. A friend once wrote a book she titled using a fragment of a phrase from The Lord's Prayer. She called it: "On Earth As It Is".

To say "this too shall pass" doesn't mean we acquiesce--throwing in the proverbial towel. For example, at first glance it may seem utterly futile to write letters to our elected congresspersons from Oklahoma. As far as impacting their positions and loyalties, my letters mean nothing. But it gives me a bit of satifaction from that good old 60s transgressiveness to let them know I'm still here. I take consolation from verse two of Paul's song:

And when the broken-hearted people
Living in the world agree
There will be an answer
Let it be

For though they may be parted
There is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer
Let it be

For those with a cranky old guy in your life, that third take on the title of the song might be good advice:

  • If he wants to take a nap every afternoon--leave him be.

  • If he wants to have Mexican food two days in a row--leave him be.

  • If he wants to watch multiple basketball games in a single day--leave him be.

  • If he wants to share his words of wisdon...

Please take a few minutes to watch the remastered recording session of The Beatles recording "Let It Be"! CLICK HERE.