Tanya Pluth: The Tunes

• MP3 short clip, hi-fi play (broadband)
• MP3 short clip, lo-fi play (modem)

I wrote the chorus of this song originally as an attempt to comfort someone I knew who'd been through a big experience of disillusionment. I felt so sad to witness his disillusionment, and wanted to cheer him towards some kind of place of empowerment.

But then of course it made me think about my own ways of lingering and leaving situations with more, um, how do they say, "baggage" than is maybe best.

It's not "I will survive," but I think it's about as close as I come to a treatise on how to head forward from hard times and unfortunate places with grace and hope.

Don’t leave here so broken, so afraid
though all the plans have been token
and all the words are gone away
don’t forget all the choices
that carried you here
they’re the same source of wisdom
to make your road clear

Are you open and willing
to share with me all that you know
don’t take me for nothing
don’t see me for more than I am
I’m just a person, here by your side
waiting and wondering
will you take a step with me or just go on by

Don’t leave here so broken, so afraid
though all the plans have been token
and all the words are gone away
don’t forget all the choices
that carried you here
they’re the same source of wisdom
to make your road clear