"I just want you to know who I am."
I wonder how many times I've heard - but not listened closely to - Iris, a song that includes the simple but profound lyric above. Apparently, it's one of the most well-known tunes by the Goo Goo Dolls and was featured in City of Angels, a Nicholas Cage film from 1998.
I'm not sure what made me pay close attention to Iris the last time it played on my car radio several weeks ago. But whatever the reason, I'm glad I was focused for that moment. As lead singer/composer John Rzeznik plaintively repeated that lyric several times during the song's coda, I was overcome enough that I pulled off the road. When did this last happen to you? Was it a song you know well? What lyric from that tune that you'd heard many times before knocked you down that time? Or was the lyric that floored you from a song you'd paid only passing attention to, as I had with Iris? Or was it words from a tune you've never heard before that stopped you cold?
Don't most of us have a deep need to be known by others in a meaningful and intimate way? Some people are satisfied if one person knows them well in this fashion. Others need more. Listen to Iris - especially the coda - and try to remain unmoved by Rzeznik's delivery of this universal human cry.
I can't think of a lyric that I have heard many times that suddenly knocked me down. I read a book last summer by Sloane Crosley called GRIEF IS FOR PEOPLE about her grief over the suicide of her old boss. It's a lovely book and I wrote down two quotes as I was reading. "Human beings are solid things made out of delicate materials." And, "He understood that real literature, like love, comes from a desire to be known" It's interesting to think about that line in contrast to the movie "A Complete Unknown." Dylan seems to have spent his whole life trying to maintain a certain mystery and/or distance about himself to insure that he is never really known. Letting someone REALLY know you is a huge risk because you can't hide from that person. Then again, the rewards are enormous, like discovering real love or real literature.
ReplyDeleteJim; I love those two quotes from the Crosley book. And your insight about Dylan is intriguing and, I believe, has an element of truth. Thanks for the time and thought you put into your frequent comments here.
DeleteHey Pat. I have to admit that it's been years since I've seen that film and can't recall the song - although I will be going to iTunes after this to listen to it. And I can't say that I remember ever pulling off the road because of a song, but I can definitely recall times when I heard a song I was not familiar with and really liked, and when stopped at a traffic light or stop sign, etc, I would grab my phone and take picture of the song title so I would remember to look more into it when I got home. And I've been able to collect some of the best songs that way. As someone has said a few times ... 'This song is definitely worth $1.29' ... and most of these songs have moved me.
ReplyDeleteBe well,
Bob
Bob; Thanks for the comment, especially the part about that person who has directed you to some good tunes; he/she sounds like a gem. Ha!
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