Don’t you love the irony of songs with silence in the title? Simon and Garfunkle’s “The Sounds of Silence” is a classic. The recent remake by Disturbed is (perhaps surprisingly) also pretty amazing. My favorite, “Enjoy the Silence,” came out in 1990.
1990, the year The Simpson’s debuted with their own TV program. Gas was around $1.34 a gallon. East and west Germany reunited. And I was pregnant with a baby boy.
I didn’t have an ultrasound tell me, I just knew. When “Enjoy the Silence” came out, I rubbed my belly and imagined the day I would sing to him, “All I ever wanted, all I ever needed is here, in my arms.”
The song was more prophetic than I had known. On June 20th:
“Words like violence,
break the silence,
come crashing in,
into my little world.”
But none of those words, any label, or any threat could change the truth:
“All I ever wanted,
all I ever needed,
is here in my arms.”
I sang it to him in the NICU. I sang it to him at home. When he was two weeks old, we travelled to Colorado, where I would go see Depeche Mode in concert and Marcus would stay a few hours with one of my lovely High School BFF’s who has worn the badge of “First Babysitter” with much pride over all of these years.
Interestingly, Depeche Mode will come up again, with another momma in a later A to Z post. For now, however, kick back and travel back to 1990 with me…
I love love that Garfunkel song – Sound of Silence. Motherhood must be such an experience.
Best ever.
This took me back. Such great songs and part of the soundtrack of my life in the 90s.
90’s is my soundtrack. 🙂
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing, and thanks for your comment on my dyslexia piece. Good luck with your efforts on behalf of Down syndrome people. I’ve been blessed to meet a few over the years and delighted in their company.
I love that you sang it to him as you held him in the NICU. <3