When a song truly touches you then you carry its words (and their meaning - implied or otherwise) and melody around with you forever. Although I only heard To Get Home by Megson (from their latest digital only EP) for the first time a couple of weeks ago, it has nonetheless already lodged itself deep into my psyche. Yes, I could put it down to my current physical and mental health (rundown and fragile respectively, since you ask), but it's probably just as much attributable to my eternal love of songs about longing: a longing often for something or somebody or even a way of life that has gone and will never come back. Throw in homesickness and a crushing sense of loss and I think you've got the full set! When I say implied meaning of song lyrics, referencing Megson's song in particular, I know they're referring to a time and a place where and when they grew up in Teeside and that travelling back years later on familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time, roads and seemingly all your landmarks, all your footholds have disappeared. But that mirrors how I feel health wise at the moment. I may be home, as in out of hospital, but it's not the same. I'm looking to get home, to a place where I can truly be at peace. And until my physical and mental strength fully returns (my mental health in particular) I currently feel disconnected from all my natural trig points.
Meson - To Get Home (2025)
Also, the cover of Megson's EP is very striking. If I'm not mistaken it's a depiction of the cooling towers not far from me at Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station. I've mentioned these iconic towers often round here; I'd like to think that when Debs and Stu travel from Cambridge (where they now live) to Teeside, the cooling towers - clearly visible from the motorway - will be like a marker post for them indicating how far along the journey they are*. I'd have asked them personally last Friday at Nottingham's Metronome but alas as I'd only just come out of hospital that day I ended up bequeathing my pair of tix to someone who could go.
*On a more philosophical note I guess we all know roughly how far along our journey we are, nut none of us want to know precise timings.
*
Well that was cheerful, wasn't it? I promise the next episode of Are We There Yet will be a tad more upbeat!
Much to ponder here John.
ReplyDeleteI believe those cooling towers are the ones that inspired the name and sleeve for Sabres of Paradise Smokebelch.
- Yes, much to ponder indeed.
Delete- I can neither confirm nor deny your claim.
J
I like that; they have a very North Eastern sound, very timeless too.
ReplyDeleteReally hope you get 'home' soon. I know you will - just a step at a time, the slow game. In the meantime just be extra kind to yourself and remember: you're a superhero.
Thank you, C. As I was writing this I thought I may be channelling my inner Sam Tyler! (Note - overriding sense of humour still in tact.)
DeleteThis too shall pass John
ReplyDeleteStay strong
Cheers, CC.
Delete