I heard a couple of great songs this morning on my commute. The one I was able to track down was called "Transit" by Richard Shindell. It seems to appear on two albums: "Somewhere Near Paterson" & "Courier".
I've always been a sucker for songs about cars and driving. I really like this one. It starts off being about traffic and angry drivers and ends with a nun directing a choir at a prison.
My great aunt, Aunt Sister, was a nun. She taught school mostly in Wisconsin and was a kind loving soul. Her students from grade school would seek her out and visit her years after she retired. She was among the kindest people I have ever known. Although her vocation was teaching not leading choirs, I like to think the sentiments of the song would have appealed to her sense of both the common and the divine. I know it appeals to mine.
She entered the common room and their was her choir Altos and baritones, basses and tenors Car thieves and crack dealers, mobsters and murderers Husbands and sons, fathers and brothers And so it began in glorious harmony Softly and Tenderly – calling for you and me With the interstate whining way off in the distance And the sun going down through the bars of the prison They poured out their souls, they poured out their memories They poured out their hopes for what’s left of eternity To sister Maria – her soul like a prism For the light of forgiveness on all of their faces-- Ricard Shindell, Traffic
