A Gentle Landing

Parachute

Last week I got a text from a musician-friend in Woodstock who I don’t hear from often. I always get a jolt of excitement when I see a text from a musician I used to know. Maybe they need a singer. Or maybe they heard a song of mine on the radio and want to let me know. (We have not forgotten you!) But his opening sentence was:

I was looking through the used CDs at Salvation Army yesterday and found Parachute.

Salvation Army? Parachute? Has it come to that?

I stopped reading for a beat (or two, or three) not sure I wanted to read more.

Parachute, for readers who don’t know, is an album I wrote in the aftermath of my son Forrest’s death. It’s been twenty years since we recorded it, but at the time, (and still) it was a really big deal for me, both emotionally and professionally. Investors had put up a lot of money, ($65k to be exact), so I could make the record I wanted to make. Their financial support came with love and a desire to put some joy back in my life, but also because I’d convinced them that the title track might be a hit. A long shot, I knew, but I wanted to go for it. My hope was that “Parachute” would speak to anyone who had lost someone, and wouldn’t that be everyone?

The song was not a hit, but I still feel the same way about it.

I did read the rest of my friend’s text and it made me smile. When he opened up the packaging around the album, the lyric booklet was still there, but the CD was missing. Someone had either snagged it, or they’d kept it before giving the packaging away. The mystery won’t be solved, but it warms my heart to imagine that whoever they are, they have that CD because it means something to them.

Parachute

Here’s where I’m gonna be
There’s where you’re gonna be
Parachute

If you were here with me
I wouldn’t need to go Home

Up above the air is filled with perfect sky
Clouds of pink and blue and some as pure as white

There’s where I’m gonna be
Will you be there for me?
Parachute

Here, in the center of the great unknown
Here where the seeds of life have always grown
It’s hard to be alone

Here’s where I’m gonna be
Here’s where I’d rather be
Here with you

If it could only be
I’d like for you to come home

Up above the air is filled with perfect sky
Clouds of pink and blue and some as pure as white

Here, in the center of the great unknown
Here where the seed of life in me has grown
I like to be alone

Hey, Hey, Come on now Parachute hold on tight and pull the shoot come on now just parachute hold on tight and pull the shoot come on now don’t be afraid to parachute back to me

Here, in the center of the great unknown
Here I am
I am

Troy Messinger: Oboe
Sera Smolen: Cello
Jerry Marotta: Drums
Bar: Vocals, Piano
Dave Cook: Recording engineer
Toby Mountain: Mastering engineer

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Before I sign off today, I want to add that every so often “Parachute” will play in my earbuds when I’m not expecting it. I usually skip my songs when they pop up — there are just too many things I’d like to do over. But I always listen to “Parachute” and every time, it stuns me. Not because it makes me sad, but because it’s hard to believe it’s me that went through all that.

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