Muddy Jukebox - March 2020
A Thousand Suns
By Hey Rosetta
Melodies and music are both a form of poetry and comfort to me. They each tell a story, with or without lyrics. Music has and continues to aid my healing process in a significant way. When my life has completely and utterly imploded due to my chronic illnesses and I am unable to communicate effectively how I am feeling, my anxieties and fears, music steadies my soul and conveys to me messages that I need to hear in order for me to make sense of the yet additional curve ball that has graced my life.
When I first heard this song I was intrigued by the lyrics. Through my research I found one possible explanation which really touched me and I think is very apt in these extraordinary times that we, the UK and the whole world currently find ourselves in.
There are references to the saying ‘a thousand suns’ that it refers to the detonation of the atomic bomb and that this brightness represents the human capacity to destroy the world. It is a metaphor for a cataclysmic event. This may or may not be true to the origin of the title for this song but the lyrics have actually reversed the possible meaning of this saying, to transpose the saying in a positive way. A thousand suns in these lyrics represents immense warmth and gratitude for the kindness and care that was displayed.
A possible explanation to the lyrics of this song was when all the planes had to land in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada due to the 9/11 disaster. The band Hey Rosetta are from Newfoundland and Labrador. During that time Newfoundlanders treated 6579 complete strangers as if they were family, providing them with food and shelter, in their homes in some cases.
This is a song about thanking one another, about the power of kindness, about the strength of the human spirit in extraordinary times. And regardless of whether this is the true reason behind these lyrics or not, Newfoundlanders displayed extraordinary acts of care and kindness in extraordinary times during the 9/11 disaster.
I would like to dedicate this song to all the medical staff out there and everybody and anybody who is showing strength of spirit and kindness in these extraordinary times…the emergency services, the army, vets, workers in shops, delivery drivers of food and supplies to shops, on call dentists, neighbours, teachers. The list goes on and on. Every little bit helps. And a lot of little bits build into a lot of bigger bits.
Many sacrifices will have to be made over the coming weeks and perhaps months by many of us. This includes the reality that some medical staff will have to be separated from their families to deliver their duty of care for some time. I truly believe there is a brilliance and a kindness in most people and if ever there were a time to display this kindness and brilliance, now is that time. And this is also the right time to demonstrate gratitude and appreciation of all our super heroes; medical, health and a number of other services who are going above and beyond at this time.
From Muddy Care and many more people, we want to thank you all.
A Thousand Suns
By Hey Rosetta
