Many years ago

[moniss]

my best friend had been institutionalized as paranoid/schiz and went through the whole electro-shock deal. Several times. He got out after a couple of years and I went to visit him as he was in college and putting his life back together. I spent a week with him before I had to return to my own life I had been building. When I went to leave he told me he had something he wanted to tell me. He pulled out the album "Late For The Sky" and told me that when he was in the institution he got into Jackson Browne and that this particular album made him think about me. He ended up a little later returning to institutions for the rest of his life. I saw him once more there and the pain of the circumstance was too much as he was so far gone.

So that was a lesson in life to me that beautiful things, like a loving friend, can be followed by pain but despite that pain you have to hold onto the beauty and make those things the biggest parts of your soul. I knew about having friends but also learned that having one you love never leaves you. Song from that album.

[JohnnyRingo]

1. Wow! Such a hauntingly beautiful melody.

I wasn't sure that was really Browne until he started to sing. I'm sure I have that album but I don't remember the song. After listening in it's entirety I had to look up the poetry behind the melody and really fell for it . I have to listen again now and dig up the CD for the car.

While the sand slipped through the opening
And their hands reached for the golden ring
With their hearts they turned to each other's hearts for refuge
In the troubled years that came before the deluge

Jackson Browne is a gift, and I wish he'd make something new. I wonder who that was playing with him?
Thanx for posting. I think we all know someone like your friend.

On edit:
Further research reveals that is Val McCallum. He's a touring guitarist having worked with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams, The Wallflowers, Bonnie Raitt, and Loretta Lynn, among others. His parents are actor and musician David McCallum and actress Jill Ireland. WOW!

[rhiannon55]

2. My favorite Jackson Browne song

Thank you for posting it. So sad about your friend.