Sudden sadness

My dad published an arrangement of "He's Gone Away" many many years ago.

I have sung it half a dozen times in my adult life and I was priveledged to conduct a small select group of long time members to honor him at his final concert.

So, when our director decided to honor the deceased members of the Chorale at this next concert, it didn't really register that we would be singing this song.

So it was handed out on Sunday. We started singing it and I found myself crying. All the way through till the end.

I was really surprised because my dad's been gone nearly 4 years.

Now, I don't know how many people really caught on that I wass crying as I held the music up to hide my face from view.... not that I was embarassed, mind you. Frankly I think folks expected it to be honest.

But it was the 27th Anniversary of my dad and my step mom's engagement and it was only at that moment that I realized it and I couldn't show her my tears as I sit facing her. That wouldn't be fair to her. She has a tough enough time with it.

The song is short - it's a folk song really. The lyrics go like this:

He's gone away for to stay a little while.
But he's coming back, for he's gone 10 thousand miles.
And who will tie your shoes?
And who will brush your hair?
And who will kiss your ruby lips?
When he is gone, gone away?
Over yondro.

I can hear Bernie now saying "What is a Yondro???" Bernie - I don't know. Let me know if you do or we can add it to the dictionary near nogoodnick.

It's a beautiful song and a lush arrangement.

It kept me weepy for a few days. I couldn't really get the song out of my mind and at the same time when I noticed it was on my mind, the tears would come. What I fail to understand is why this happens almost 4 years later. seriously, I still expect him to call and ask me how my boys ( cats) are. ask me how work is, tell me his latest joke. It's weird.

When he retired from directing the chorale, we got him a plaque.

It says "He's Gone Away"