"Even When the Light Is Low"

Still processing my time at Kerrville Folk Festival this year.

I was so grateful to curate “En Memoriam” night once again this year, which is Kerrville’s remembrance of our own who have died in the past year. And soon, I’lll post our final song from that night.
(Yes, the event was a tad long, and I’ve got ideas on how to make it better next time….)

During that show, I performed our friend Tom Prasada-Rao's song “Even When The Light Is Low.” Tom is still so dearly missed by us all.

I was worried about doing this because, well, it’s a heavy song. But it’s also a poignant one for those in grief and those walking with loved ones toward the end. I was grateful that when I checked in with Patty afterwards, she said, “it was perfect.”

This is a video I of the song I actually shot almost a year ago…right after Tom died.

But, somehow, it never felt like the right time to post it.

Now seems like that time.

Why? Not only because of last week’s Memoria,l but also, just this morning, on Coffee on the Porch I played it there too.

We had two folks watching who have recently suffered the loss of a loved one. One of them was asking me where they could find the song…so, yeah, now’s the time to post.

I’m singing the printed lyrics from Tom’s original post. These lyrics make a subtle change. And I happen to believe they’re on purpose, and a message to us all…

The first times through, it’s:

“The hidden hand tugs on my shoulder.
Calls my name, but I won’t go.”

As if Tom is still fighting…still with us.

Why won’t he go?

“Cuz the world speaks in poetry
Just the way it’s supposed to be
There is still a way back home
Even when the light is low.”

But then, there’s the last time through.

And now…Tom changes it:

“The hidden hand tugs on my shoulder
Calls my name, but don’t you know
That the world speaks in poetry
Even when it’s not supposed to be
You will find your way back home
And you will never be alone
Even when the light is low.”

If I am not mistaken, this the last solo song Tom ever wrote.

(I might be mistaken)

And this powerful, subtle, change at the end feels to me like Tom speaking to us about himself…and about anyone, anywhere, facing the inevitable. That’s what makes it such a great song.

For those who know church music, it’s like Natalie Sleeth’s “Hymn of Promise,” written while her own husband was dying of cancer.

That lyric change is subtle, to be sure…but a powerful message I’d bet Tom needed for himself, and somehow knew we’d need too.

“I won’t go…”

morphs to

“Don’t you know…”

Acceptance of the journey.

Acceptances of where it is leading.

BUT!

Tom’s final words not to miss…

“The world speaks in poetry
Even when it’s not supposed to be
You will find your way back home
You will never be alone
Even when the light is low.”

Thank you, dear friend, for this message to us all…and for a deep truth you always sang, even in these last lyrics, when the light was low.