12-25-18
I came across this song when British Sea Power used a version of it. I honestly didn’t know it was a cover for years. Even after hearing the original from Mum, I believed Mum had covered British Sea Power; I was woefully mistaken. Now that I know the truth, and since having discovered the original I have never heard it any other way.
There’s a vast openness built into the beginning of this song. It helps create an idyllic scene, something serene and tranquil. For me, it’s quite fitting for the day…Christmas. It’s something that is lauded as being peaceful but is actually often surrounded by chaos and forced obligations.
This year has been a beautiful practice in unorthodox traditions. Creating space with both intentional families, and traditional family alike. The passing of time has helped show me how the traditions we were most excited of as children only stay alive if we put in the effort to keep them alive. Understanding my own importance in this cycle has brought with it peaceful insight—as we age, we are afforded the opportunity to create our own traditions. That realization felt like a truly expanding moment.
The lack of expectations and obligations this year have helped in creating a serene atmosphere. The increase in people, dogs, and even scheduled events, would normally send my anxiety through the roof, but the reframing of these obligations into something that we do not because we “have to” but because “we want to,” seems like the life-hack I have been missing during past holiday seasons.
Lyrics:
Down from my ceiling
Drips great noise.
It drips on my head through a hole in the roof.
Behind these two hills here
There’s a pool.
And when I’m swimming in
through a tunnel
I shut my eyes.
Inside their cabin I make sounds
In through the tubes I send this noise.
Behind these two hills here
fall asleep.
And when I flood in green grass of tunnel…
It floods back.
Down from my ceiling
drips great noise.
It drips on my head through a hole in the roof.
Behind these two hills here
there’s a pool.
And when I’m swimming in
through a tunnel
I shut my eyes.