Everyone has something to say and to contribute to the global conversation about life and its many colorful phases, about war and peace, about freedom of choice, about liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and about any number of topics. I made a commitment to myself years ago that I would not leave this world without saying and doing what I incarnated to say and do. If I don’t say or do what is mine to contribute to the world, it gets all bottled up inside. Expression allowed it to be released. I blog for no other reason than to share my thoughts and insights with my world.
There’s a popular American hymn entitled “How Can I Keep from Singing?” first published in 1868 by Pauline T. with music composed by Robert Lowry. Singing has been an integral and important part of my life since school days when I sang in the school chorale — first as a soprano and alto, then later and more recently in the Master Works Chorale as a tenor and baritone as my voice changed. I credit our Irish mother for inspiring me, as she often sang while doing her chores. Our dad often sang while working. My younger brother (rest his soul) had a beautiful voice and sang in the school and church choirs. Our Irish and Italian heritage gifted all of us eight siblings with singing voices. Thank you mom and dad . . . and thank you Lord.
MUSIC IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE SOUL
There’s an abundance of music in the world: symphony music, choral music, popular music, piano concerts. We sing Happy Birthday songs to celebrate someone’s birthday, patriotic songs to pay homage to our nation and country, and Christmas carols to celebrate the birth of Jesus many decades ago. In the seminary I was part of a Gregorian chant choir and a conductor. We sang as part of the Easter Midnight Vigil at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. We had a conductor from Rome who introduced us to the beautiful heavenly choral music of Giovanni Luigi da Palestrina. We were in heaven singing Palestrina’s choral music.
Back in the 1960’s we all had guitars or sang along with those who had one. I learned to play the guitar and sang a few songs of my own at gatherings. As angels incarnate we all have the capacity to express our hearts through song and recorded music. Human beings are created with the capacity to sing. I encourage you to sing, even if you don’t think you have a singing voice. There was a saying back in the day, “If you can talk, you can sing.” So, go ahead. Take a deep breath and let it out through your voice in song. I don’t know how anyone can keep from singing. If I’m not singing out loud, there’s always a song in my heart playing in my head. Thanks for sharing my thoughts. I would love sharing yours. Have a happy musical day! Anthony
Healing Tones 
Comments on: "“How can I keep from singing?”" (1)
Hi Tony,
I share your love of singing and consider it a vital part of the spiritual work I do. I hope you can bring up this video of a song I would like to offer to you. I’ve memorized over 200 songs and almost every morning I send a video of one of them to a young woman friend of mine in Austin, TX. I still occasionally offer a song at birthdays and other gatherings here at Sunrise.
WIN_20260821_08_25_14_Pro.mp4 https://drive.google.com/file/d/15eKnrVxy2hGH-SrItliUTQ43qL5bkoD5/view?usp=drive_web
Love and blessings, Jerry🌷