Singing In The Dark By Carrie Newcomer (Written by Carrie Newcomer & John McCutcheon)

[@ramonathebrave]

I hope it’s okay that I share this here. Carrie Newcomer is one of my favorite artists. She lives in Indiana and she attends silent Quaker meetings, for those who may not know. I recently saw her in concert (and actually also attended a writing workshop earlier that same day with her and a bunch of other truly amazing souls!!) and in both the writing workshop and in the concert she spoke about this song… A bit of background on this song - she had gotten to visit a monastery and the monks would gather often to sing the Liturgy of the Hours… many of your clergy in Catholic and some of the “High” Protestant churches will sing/pray some of the hours. At different monasteries and abbeys, especially the contemplative and cloistered ones, they gather more often for the hours. I spent a week at a cloistered, silent Benedictine Monastery in northern VT a number of years ago. The Nuns were cloistered. The bells would ring and call all to gather and pray… My favorite was the early morning prayer… getting up while it was still dark… I’d quickly take a shower and get ready to go to the morning prayer… I’d follow along, as best as I could, listening to the Nuns on the other side of the room, hidden, but able to be heard. The young woman next to me, very willingly showing me the way, as I fumbled and bumbled along… I mostly read along, since Latin is not a language I was familiar with… But, it was beautiful… hearing those Nuns “singing in the dark”… … Carrie’s experience with this - when she was at the monastery, the monks would gather to pray at three am… Carrie asked one of the brothers how he felt about rising so early… The brother responded saying that he had a good friend who worked overnights at a crisis line… and that most of the time the phones were quiet, but then every night between two and four am, the calls would come in… It’s one of the most vulnerable times for people, those dark hours before the dawn… And so, the brother said to Carrie, that he thinks of all those people, every morning, who may be calling those crisis lines… and he sings for them… and for all of the world…

[@MMBaumgarten]

As one of those who rises before dawn as a way to secure some quiet time for contemplation, planning, reading, etc., before the demands of the day set in, this really touches me. Although I am a non-religious person, I find my spiritual connection to my fellow humans through music and poetry. Carrie has a mastery of both art forms - so often simultaneously. I also find my spiritual renewal in all aspects of nature and in the sweet companionship of my dog. That said, if I ever literally ‘pray’, my request to the universe is perpetually that all beings in our world come to know the blessings of peace. I feel I am joined by many who sing in those quiet hours of the morning for the same ardent wish… then, I get along to my day and try to be a kind human to all I encounter in order to do my part to influence peace in my little part of our world.

[@allenrhys844]

Wonderful. You know, I'm not a member of any organized religion - that 'higher power' always worked fine for me - but this music taps into 'something'. A spirit that was with all creatures from the dawn of time. I found Ms. Newcomer when I ran a little radio station in the mountains of North Carolina and Betsy's Diner played as a musical in my head. Her latest few albums evoke what must have been present when people first met to worship.

[@bronzegonnagy]

"I'm here to meet whatever is listening for me here." Yep.

[@BarefootBran]

This song evokes memories of a short stay I had earlier this year at a Buddhist monastery, chanting with the monks and nuns early in the morning...one of my favorite memories. Such a beautiful song.

[@MaryRiecke]

such a perfect for what is happening in our country right now! Carrie, your music is so healing for me and soothes my soul as I wait to meet the day and move too a tune of resistance.

[@sandyartman7520]

This song grabs me at a soul level…both as a singer in the choir & one who is prayerful. I know I must share this song with others-raising up my voice & opening the way. Thank you, Carrie!

[@theresabowles3635]

Beautiful Song ❤️

[@thomasdef634]

Wowzers, Ms. Newcomer! This touches my monastic/Cistercian heart. (I was never a monk, but always felt that "tug" to their irenic spirituality.) You and Mr McCutcheon have captured the essence of their way so beautifully here. Peace and light, in abundance, to you.

[@katewilson9518]

Do you know Community of the Gospel? Lay monastics.

[@wbworkout]

I know your music adn havr some of your collections. I sang song of your music in thye local parliament this summer. Thanks for hope and love.

[@suzanner2454]

Just. Beautiful.

[@michaelcraven2445]

Thanks for a beautiful beginning to my day!

[@dianenations]

Lovely song by lovely lady. Her podcast with Parker Palmer is wonderful!

[@lesliep.1717]

Oh my. I love this one😌❤️

[@RonPudlo]

Lovely. I see John McC’s fingerprint on this. I love this song. Thx.

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

Thank you

[@paulettemeiermusic5064]

Thanks so much for writing and sharing this, Carrie! And how wonderful that John joined with you on it. I'm wondering if you wrote it while you were at Gethsemane? :)

[@paulettemeiermusic5064]

Oh, I just read your commentary about writing the song and see that the song was a reflection on your experience there. Beautiful!