Lest We Forget: Mark Kozelek Has A Point

The world changes you like the leaves in the bitter fall, and we are these leaves; all part of a grand tree ever-growing. Memories of our childhood float slowly through our minds and are gone again like a summer shadow. Pain. Joy. Hate. Love. Frowning. Smiling. Music. Silence… These elements of life mold us, shape us, color us and break us. And we forget…

“Have You Forgotten” by Red House Painters is my inspiration this morning. It is a soothing acoustic ballad of life’s memories; a mental montage song for your life, if you will. Sung by the magical voice of Mark Kozelek, he paints a picture of things like the memory of the smell of the grass in the spring, the cold air of October and good thoughts of an old friend.

Remember getting so mad at how high your sister could swing on the swing set? Or remember when your good puppy dog had her litter under the porch that summer? Your first kiss? How easy things used to be? This song brings all of these kinds of near-forgotten memories to mind. The line “Have you forgotten how to love yourself” repeats over and over as a mellow steel guitar recalls holidays, family, friends and the lovely times in life. You can’t help but remember.

Fall is here. It is a very intimate and somber time. The death of nature is a sorrowful yet beautiful and colorful thing, and it takes our minds to a place that can only come from the falling leaves. Seeing the steam of our breath on cold nights reminds us that we are still alive and reminds us that we can still remember.

Take the time today to remember where you have come from and where you are. The changing leaves are beautiful and lovely… Remember how to love yourself.

MP3: Red House Painters - Have You Forgotten

-Cory Coleman [c]