Week #35
Train Songs/Hard Time Songs
This is week 35 of the year and we will be celebrating Train Songs/Hard Time Songs, by delving into the songs and applying concepts to create more joy and connection during caregiving routines with music.
The songs are:
Casey Jones
Freight Train
House of the Rising Sun
Lovesick Blues
Midnight Special
On Top of Old Smokey
She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain
This Train is Bound for Glory
Featured Song
HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN, THE
Although the musical roots of “House of the Rising Sun” may go back to the ballads of the 16th and 17th centuries, the earliest folk versions of this song were performed in the early 1900s. The lyrics describe a person’s unfortunate life circumstances growing up in New Orleans, urging others to avoid a similar destiny. Many people debate historical locations in New Orleans that may have inspired the song, with suggestions ranging from a brothel, a jail, a dance hall, or even Masonic temples or churches.
Is this melody familiar to you?
Are the words familiar?
Did you find yourself humming along?
How did it affect you? Did your awareness change? Your breath? Your focus? Your mood?
Would you feel comfortable playing this in the background and allow yourself to hum or sing along? By yourself and/or with the one(s) you care for?
House of the Rising Sun, The Here is a video by The Animals. I hope you enjoy it!
Creative Ideas
HOW TO USE THE MUSIC
Try humming or singing along with the provided recording, or one of your choosing for increased feeling of ______.
Listen to a recording to create a shared experience.
Listen while engaged in daily routines, to add a feeling of familiarity and comfort (if the song is known and loved)
Try reminiscing with the song history, or singers of the song. Look at pictures famous singers who performed the song.
SELF-CARE TIPS
Explore Ways To Express Your Feelings
Have you ever tried writing your feelings down? In addition to journaling, songwriting can be an effective way to acknowledge your feelings on this journey.
A cherished memory of something the one you care for did
Name something the one you care for forgets
How do you feel, when you miss the one you care for
What do you still do together, or for the one you care for, that you enjoy
How do you feel, as you realize the person you care for is changing
What can you still hold onto, despite the loss
Name something in nature that drifts
Name the quality of their eyes, when you feel disconnected
Name a quality that is enduring
What would you want the person you care for to know
Share if you have any self-care tips or stories from this week at [email protected]
Here is an easy fill-in-the-blank sample song that might reflect some of the things that you are experiencing on your caregiving journey. You can personalize it by filling in the blanks with your chosen words selected in the left column. Match your words with the numbers in the song
Verse 1
I remember when you used to _(1)__________
Now sometimes you forget to __(2)_________
The days feel __(3)_________ without your smile
But I sit with you and __(4)_________ Chorus
It’s hard to watch you change
My heart feels __(5)_________ today
I hold on to ___(6)________
Even as you slip away
Verse 2
I see you drifting, like __(7)_________ Sometimes your eyes look __(8)_________
But I know that deep inside, __(9)_________
You’re still the one I’ve always known
Bridge
If I could reach the part of you I would whisper __(10)_________
And even though you can’t recall
I’ll remember for us both, it’s true
CAREGIVING TIPS
Songwriting Activity
Writing songs is a great shared activity you can do with the one you care for. Here is a familiar song that you can rewrite the lyrics for. Follow the directions in the left column to create your 7 new lyrics for the song. Fill in the song lyrics in the blanks in the right column with your new lyrics. Guide the one you care for to create the new lyrics or you can create lyrics about them and sing your new song to them to the tune of You Are My Sunshine! Let us know how it goes!
Create Your Lyrics
One or two words to describe your relationship (i.e. sweetheart, dear friend, beloved, wonderful mother, best friend, etc)
Same as your answer for number 1
A good feeling you get from the one you care for
Name a condition of the sky when it is not happy, in one word (i.e. stormy, bleak, dark, etc)
Positive nickname (or real name) for the one you care for
Positive feeling that you have for the one you care for
Same as answer no. 1
You Are My Sunshine
You are my __(1)_____________
My Only __(2)_______________
You make me __(3)___________
When skies are __(4)__________
You’ll never know __(5)__________
How much I ___(6)__________ you
Please don’t take my
__(7)____________away
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