Songs For All Seasons

Today's Song of the Day was actually written for the theme of "Becoming an Adult" but it works just as well for a summer occasion. Entitled "When I Was Twenty", it tells the story of a man looking back at his youth (when he was twenty, strangely enough!) at one June day in particular, reminiscing about the carefree moments of his youth as he fell in love with the enchanting, "melting, wayward, wistful, shy" Madeline, before the demands of the "hurrying world" pulled him away. This poem is a wistful story of regret and missed opportunities, but it also caused me to learn the meaning of the Latin phrase Festina lente - make haste slowly. It was written by William Bliss Carman FRSC (1861 – 1929) and first published in 1896 in the collection "More Songs From Vagabondia". Carman was a gifted Canadian poet who spent much of his life in the United States, where his talent blossomed into international acclaim. In his later years, he was cel...

Today's Song of the Day beautifully captures the bittersweet theme of growing up, of embracing the journey into adulthood. Growing up is an unpredictable and often tumultuous time, whether it’s a phase you anticipated with excitement throughout your childhood or one you feared upon grasping the weight of adult responsibilities. This poignant poem by William Bliss Carman, who wrote under the name of Bliss Carman, is called "When I Was Twenty." It reflects the heartfelt nostalgia of a man reminiscing about the carefree moments of his youth as he fell in love with the enchanting, "melting, wayward, wistful, shy" Madeline, before the demands of the "hurrying world" pulled him away. First published in 1896 in the collection "More Songs From Vagabondia," it resonates deeply with anyone who has navigated the complexities of growing up. William Bliss Carman FRSC (1861 – 1929) was a gifted Canadian poet who spent much of his life in the United States,...

Todays' Song of the Day is in honour of all the girls out there who are turning 18. Becoming an adult is a tough, scary time. Yes, you're legally an adult and can do all sorts of things you couldn't do yesterday, but does it really feel that way? Don't you still need a more adultier adult to help and support at times? It's important to understand that it's OK to feel that way. No one expects you to suddenly have all the answers and be able to do everything. You'll probably find that that feeling will stay with you for a long time, and may never actually go away.  One of the most important things to learn about being an adult in this world is that we all still need each other. It's OK to ask for help, support and advice from people who you trust. And it always will be! Happy birthday! Today's Song of the Day is a setting of Lennox Amott's poem "Stanzas Addressed to a Lady Coming of A...

Today's Song of the Day beautifully captures the bittersweet theme of growing up, of embracing the journey into adulthood. Growing up is an unpredictable and often tumultuous time, whether it’s a phase you anticipated with excitement throughout your childhood or one you feared upon grasping the weight of adult responsibilities. This poignant poem by William Bliss Carman, who wrote under the name of Bliss Carman, is called "When I Was Twenty." It reflects the heartfelt nostalgia of a man reminiscing about the carefree moments of his youth as he fell in love with the enchanting, "melting, wayward, wistful, shy" Madeline, before the demands of the "hurrying world" pulled him away. First published in 1896 in the collection "More Songs From Vagabondia," it resonates deeply with anyone who has navigated the complexities of growing up. William Bliss Carman FRSC (1861 – 1929) was a gifted Canadian poet who spent much of his life in the United States,...

Todays' Song of the Day is in honour of all the girls out there who are turning 18. Becoming an adult is a tough, scary time. Yes, you're legally an adult and can do all sorts of things you couldn't do yesterday, but does it really feel that way? Don't you still need a more adultier adult to help and support at times? It's important to understand that it's OK to feel that way. No one expects you to suddenly have all the answers and be able to do everything. You'll probably find that that feeling will stay with you for a long time, and may never actually go away.  One of the most important things to learn about being an adult in this world is that we all still need each other. It's OK to ask for help, support and advice from people who you trust. And it always will be! Happy birthday! Today's Song of the Day is a setting of Lennox Amott's poem "Stanzas Addressed to a Lady Coming of Age." Lennox Amott was a musician as well as a poet. He ...