Without doubt, my favourite part of the week is Wednesday evening and every other Thursday morning. I sing in a choir – The Rock Choir. Rock Choir is the largest contemporary choir in the country, with officially 25,000 members. Although I think it has probably exceeded 30,000, as those figure go back several years.
Singing with the Choir is the only thing that keeps me going. Most people have heard of the therapeutic benefits of singing and how it releases Endorphins, which literally make you feel better. But it is so much more than, the choir I belong to on a Wedesday evening, regularly has approaching 100 singers. They really look out for and after me. In fact that is not quite true, because we all look out and after each other. It is a real community.
Of all the songs we sing (and by the way, we are good!), my favourite by far, is from the show the The Greatest Showman. I find it really poignant and it can bring me to tears and very often does. I’m going to close today by putting the lyrics on here. I’ll let the lyrics speak for them selves..
(from “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack)
Hide away, they say
‘Cause we don’t want your broken parts
I’ve learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one will love you as you are
But I won’t let them break me down to dust
I know that there’s a place for us
For we are glorious
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Another round of bullets hits my skin
Well, fire away ’cause today, I won’t let the shame sink in
We are bursting through the barricades
And reaching for the sun (we are warriors)
Yeah, that’s what we’ve become
Won’t let them break me down to dust
I know that there’s a place for us
For we are glorious
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
Gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
This is me