February 17, 2K9
 |
The Best of Mary:
|
|---|
May 27, 2K1
Stairway To Heaven
by The Church Lady
There’s an old rock group called Led Zepplin who was popular when I was in my twenties. I never really liked their looks---their shaggy, unkempt hair, leisure suits, and drug-induced faces but they sang a song that I often listened to. It was called “Stairway To Heaven” and I moved and grooved along to it as I rocked my babies to sleep, never really listening to the lyrics but still always stopping whenever I heard it. It sort of became a classic. It was a post-Vietnam song so I just figured it had something to do with the war.
It is almost thirty years later. I haven’t heard the song lately but the other day I was at my “baby’s” house and there in her music room sitting along side her piano was the sheet music to the song. I had some time to kill so I picked it up. No one was home so I decided to sit down and retrain my rusty fingers on the ivory keys. I plinked out a one handed tune that sounded faintly like what I used to hear on the radio. But, as I was playing the notes, I started looking at the lyrics which were written below it. It made me wonder.
I instantly thought of Bud.
(Lyrics follow--words and music by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant and recorded by Led Zeppelin on Atlantic Records)
“There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold and she’s buying a stairway to heaven.”-------Of course, this MUST be the Blessed Mother. You know, the one Bud questioned as the May Queen?
“When she gets there she knows if the stores are all closed with a word she can get what she came for.”-------She must be in Bradford because all of the stores are closed on Main Street there.
“Ooh, and she’s buying a stairway to heaven.”
“There’s a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure ’cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.”------She IS in Bradford because that is the language they speak. And, was it one of Tom Reil’s signs?
“In a tree by the brook there’s a songbird who sings, sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.”------Could this be Tuna Creek? And, who is the songbird?
“Ooh, it makes me wonder.”
“There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving. In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees, and the voices of those who stand looking.”------Again, Bud knows that this is the voice of Cornplanter and the plight of the Native Americans who were pushed West against their will as he wrote in his book Cornplanter Chronicles. We all know L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz and former Bradford Error reporter, thought so, too. And, you wonder why the Senecas don’t want a nuclear train?
“Ooh, it makes me wonder.” “Ooh, it really makes me wonder.”
“And it’s whispered that soon if we all call the tune then the piper will lead us to reason, and a new day will dawn for those who stand long and the forests will echo with laughter.”-----Who is the piper calling, Bud?
“If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now, it’s just a spring clean for the May Queen.”-------See, Bud. I told you. She lives!!!! Even Led Zeppelin believes.
“Yes, there are two paths you can go by but in the long run there’s still time to change the road you’re on.”-------It is never too late, Bud.
“And it makes me wonder.”
“Your head is humming and it won’t go in case you don’t know, the piper’s calling You to join him.”-------Yes, it MUST be a Higher Power.
“Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know your stairway lies on the whispering wind?” -------Listen with your heart and you will hear.
“And as we wind on down the road our shadows taller than our soul, there walks a lady we all know who shines white light and wants to show how everything still turns to gold.”------There might be hope for Bradford if we follow, Bud.
“And if you listen very hard the tune will come to you at last. When all are one and one is all, to be a Rock and not to roll.”------Come together, Bradford, and be a rock.
“And she’s buying a stairway to heaven......”
Boy, do these guys really know how to pray.
And, speaking of the May Queen, do you remember the C.P.S. May Queen and poet laureate of the MLR, little Mary Sia? Well, last Tuesday little Mary graduated from eighth grade parochial school and will start St. Joseph’s Academy in September. I wonder what good things she will bring with her? They are lucky to get her. She certainly is buying Her stairway to heaven and I plan to climb with her. Congratulations, Mary!
So, Bud, how is your stairway coming? If Led Zeppelin can believe, so can you. I wonder if your county commissioners, Larry and Al and Jim, will be on that stairway with you when the nuclear express comes through?
Ooh, it makes me wonder.
Send your comments to Mommyerma@comcast.net . Have a nice day.