Over the last couple of days my regular morning walk from St Pancras to Methodist Church House has offered time and space to reflect on the day ahead and the various meetings, conversations and tasks that I have to work through. I have found enjoyment in the crisp winter morning walk too from seeing the sun come up against a blue sky being greeted by the ‘Good Morning London’ message on the top of the BT Tower.
As I walk I sometimes listen to music and over the recent days, I have found myself listening to Emeli Sande. I haven’t listened to her for a while and in coming back to her music I have been struck again by the way she is able to tap into emotions and feelings through her lyrics and how her songs often offer a sense of inspiration and hope.
Her song ‘You Are Not Alone’ from her ‘Real Life’ album has been one of the songs that I have found buzzing around in my head this last week. As I reflect on the number of people who feel isolated, marginalised, unheard, voiceless, lonely and scared, I hear something in these lyrics that reminds me of the importance of enabling people to know that they are not alone, that there are others to help, to listen. That there are others who hope for a better, brighter more just and peaceful future.
Now that we are in the first stages of Brexit, the challenges in the song for me are around how we find ways to ensure that people’s voices are heard, that people do not have a sense of isolation or loneliness, that together we strive for our nation, our world to be one that is more just, more inclusive, more loving, more kind and more caring.
You are not alone – Emeli Sande
Are you sick and tired of bein’ lied to?
Getting kinda bored of being ignored?
Can’t find the tribe that you belong to?
Oh, my friend, you are not alone
Are you tired beggin’ for some answers?
Are you scared you won’t make it out alive?
Does it make you sick when truth is censored?
Oh, my friend, you are not alone
Oh, you are not alone here, don’t fear
You are not alone here, no way
There’s plenty more others here, yeah, yeah
My friend, oh, you are not alone
Are you tired of workin’ for the minimum?
Has your heart adjusted to the dark?
Well, does it make you sick they kill the innocent?
Oh, my friend, you are not alone
Are you dreaming of a brighter future?
Or somewhere the children can be free?
Will you risk it all to tell the truth? Yeah
My friend, oh, you are not alone
Oh, you are not alone here, don’t fear
You are not alone here, no way
There’s plenty more others here, yeah, yeah
My friend, oh, you are not alone
Are you tired of feelin’ so invisible?
Are you sick of silencing your voice?
Do you still have hope that peace is possible?
Oh, my friend, oh, you are not alone
Oh, you are not alone here, don’t fear
You are not alone here, no way
There’s plenty more others here, yeah, yeah
My friend, oh, you are not alone
You are not alone here
(Don’t fear)
You are not alone, no way, no way
There’s plenty more others here, yeah, yeah
My friend
(You are not alone)
You are not alone
(You are not alone)
You are not alone here
Don’t fear, you’re not alone here)
(No way)
(There’s plenty more others here)
No way, no way
Yeah, yeah
My friend, oh, you are not alone
You can find out more about Emeli Sande by visiting https://www.emelisande.com/