Judy Collins|Voice of an Angel

My memories of Judy Collins are of her lovely voice filling the rooms of my house in Santa Barbara. Voice of an angel touching the walls and flowers on tables, it was a beautiful time in my life. As I get older I recognize more and more that the best time in our lives is RIGHT NOW though.. and experiencing life as it happens. There is a fantastic quote that I found today about this:

"To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them." ~Emerson

Sigh.. isn't that the truth!?

Judy Collin's did not always do the right thing at the right time, just like everyone else, but she did rise to the occasion of life and overcame many things and dealt with them. The most difficult was the death of her son.

I have made of lens about Judy Collins because I have decided to fill my world with the beauty of her songs again. I am an artist, my muse is music and of amazing singers like Leonard Cohen, a brilliant songwriter, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt and Joan Baez. Their voices lend to an elegant journey of the heart, one that is brought to a space of creativity that only music can do sometimes.

More info about her throughout this lens.

Be sure to turn on the UTube.. listen to her lovely voice, fill your walls with beauty and elegance as you learn more about Judy Collins.

~~*~~

Do what you love, and you will find the way to get it out to the world.

~~

For many centuries, suicides were treated like criminals by the society. That is part of the terrible legacy that has come down into society's method of handling suicide recovery. Now we have to fight off the demons that have been hanging around suicide for centuries.

~~

I always sang when I was little and my father, who was a great influence on me, also had a wonderful voice. He and my mother really encouraged me to sing and play the piano. They were always very supportive.

~~

I am glad so many women singers are being heard in music today. It is healthy for music... healthy because it means a lot of men are listening!

~~

I am just glad that I can take the music to the people who want to hear it. I love my audiences. I am deeply indebted to them for giving me the chance to sing my concerts, make records, and do what I love. Whatever people call it, it is great to have a voice!

~~

I am thrilled to have been able to put together this new album. I listened to everything I had recorded in the 24 years with Elektra, and then just took all the ones I am mad about.

~~

I don't dream songs. I'm more apt to write dreams down and then to be able to interpret them into a song. I also tend to get up and write prose in the morning from which will come songs.

~~

I don't know where my songs come from... If I knew, I'd know too much, more than we are allowed on this ~~

I don't think you get to good writing unless you expose yourself and your feelings. Deep songs don't come from the surface; they come from the deep down. The poetry and the songs that you are suppose to write, I believe are in your heart.

~~

I don't tolerate negativity in my life. I don't tolerate whiners. I can't be around people that are dumping. The issues of boundaries are so important, so that you don't let invasive or negative people into your life.

Judy Collins

~~*~~

TURN ON SOME MUSIC

as you enjoy my lens about Judy Collins.

The lyrics to the song:

Original lyrics by Judy Collins

"My Father"

My father always promised me

That we would live in France

We'd go boating on the Seine

And I would learn to dance

We lived in Ohio then

He worked in the mines

On his dreams like boats

We knew we would sail in time

All my sisters soon were gone

To Denver and Cheyenne

Marrying their grownup dreams

The lilacs and the man

I stayed behind the youngest still

Only danced alone

The colors of my father's dreams

Faded without a sound

And I live in Paris now

My children dance and dream

Hearing the ways of a miner's life

In words they've never seen

I sail my memories of home

Like boats across the Seine

And watch the Paris sun

As it sets in my father's eyes again

My father always promised us

That we would live in France

We'd go boating on the Seine

And I would learn to dance

I sail my memories of home

Like boats across the Seine

And watch the Paris sun

As it sets in my father's eyes again

~~*~~

A lovely scarf to remind you about dreams of Paris.

~~*~~

Singing with Leonard Cohen... so BEAUTIFUL!

(from the album 'SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN')

SUZANNE Lyrics

by Leonard Cohen

Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river

You can hear the boats go by

You can spend the night beside her

And you know that she's half crazy

But that's why you want to be there

And she feeds you tea and oranges

That come all the way from China

And just when you mean to tell her

That you have no love to give her

Then she gets you on her wavelength

And she lets the river answer

That you've always been her lover

And you want to travel with her

And you want to travel blind

And you know that she will trust you

For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.

And Jesus was a sailor

When he walked upon the water

And he spent a long time watching

From his lonely wooden tower

And when he knew for certain

Only drowning men could see him

He said "All men will be sailors then

Until the sea shall free them"

But he himself was broken

Long before the sky would open

Forsaken, almost human

He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone

And you want to travel with him

And you want to travel blind

And you think maybe you'll trust him

For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.

Now Suzanne takes your hand

And she leads you to the river

She is wearing rags and feathers

From Salvation Army counters

And the sun pours down like honey

On our lady of the harbour

And she shows you where to look

Among the garbage and the flowers

There are heroes in the seaweed

There are children in the morning

They are leaning out for love

And they will lean that way forever

While Suzanne holds the mirror

And you want to travel with her

And you want to travel blind

And you know that you can trust her

For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.

~~*~~

poem by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

Annie Lenox is a cause fighter and I hope.. I guess know, that she would support the people of Africa. With that in mind I post this poem of mine:

Africa I Hear Your Sounds and I Am Humbled by My Own Fragile State of Being

Africa

I sing for you.

I am fierce

and you can't stop me.

I am the lions roar

I am the ghost in the desert

unknown

yet foretold.

I feel the day

the heat on my skin

and I breathe

in

the equality of being.

Sunset

delivers a magnitude of unlimited heartbeats

sunshines

that do not pass

beyond this heartbeat of mine.

Dark on light

evenings that upon a miracles call

do

somehow

mysteriously

last

sublime.

I hear the roar

I see the beast

I understand it's prey

and the very need of it.

I am the ghost

of all.

Majestic

colors that meet the clouds

calling

out

loud

above the landscape

where the whole entire world's

singing

can indeed

sadly

helplessly

fall.

I am humbled

I give in

and although my own life if not lasting

I do

somehow

beneath the dawning

accept my own end

because of its sheer magnificence

I accept

how fragile

we are.

Ahh the puma

calling out loud

I embrace the dawns coming

overlooking the land

I am high on its magnitude

and I am ohh

so

touched

by it solace

when I choose to stand still.

Give me life

will you?

Give me one more second

to take it all in

let me embrace the freedom

of its very sovereign -hood

Trees on the landscape

Africa abounds

if we understand just how fragile

it is.

Seeing our own being

our very own lives

ohh so tempestuous

within its fragile

yet powerful

sounds.

So dear fragile Africa

continue to call out

despite your unheard rounds.

I want to tell you how sorry

I think of you

a lot

within your struggle

and time

lost.

ABOUT Kathy Ostman-Magnusen: I am an artist, represented by Monkdogz Urban Art, New York. ORIGINAL ART may be purchased through Monkdogz: http://www.monkdogz.com/chelseagallery/artistart/M...

My newest website: http://www.kathyostman-magnusen.com

THE IMAGE is of my sculpture "Bleeding Wings 5"

~~*~~

by Carol Colleran

In his latest book, Boom, Voices of the Sixties, Tom Brokaw focuses his famous reporting lens on the Sixties decade. Future business and political leaders came of age, and youth energetically began to carve out new rules and new civil rights. The Vietnam War was defining and divisive, rocking the nation and Baby Boomers in particular. Millions protested the war and the draft. A counter culture, and rebellion against societal mores and "the establishment" was reflected in "acid" music and psychedelic art. Woodstock featured great names in music but became a drug fest. LSD was drug blatantly promoted by Sixties guru, Timothy Leary, who convinced young followers to "turn on, tune in, drop out."

Tom Brokaw interviewed Sixties top singer, Judy Collins, now in successful recovery from alcoholism and drug abuse. She recounted that there was a lot of chaos as well as lots of drug addicts and alcoholics in those days. Those who recovered and those who died. Judy herself finally got the treatment she needed in 1978, and has helped many others by telling her story of hope. Brokwaalso profiles a San Francisco doctor, Dr. David Smith, who started and ran the Free Clinic for Haight Ashbury youth who had nowhere to turn for needed medical care. Dr. David Smith took LSD himself.

What happened to Janis Joplin and Jimmy Hendricks was a tragic commentary on the times. Others are in recovery, like singer Grace Slick of the Jefferson Airplanes. Singer-guitarist James Taylor overcame his heroin habit but his marriage to Carly Simon didn't survive. The drug culture was vividly described by Tom Wolff's famous The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test as it follows the trail of Ken Kesey and his "Merry Band of Pranksters, and the Grateful Dead's early "Acid Test" music.

At the same time, most kids who tried pot and grew their hair long later shed both. Baby Boomers went on to become the wealthiest generation ever. Energetic optimistic, individual, entrepreneurial, Boomers nevertheless experienced divorce at a rate off one out of two marriages. It was a youth culture. They felt they would naturally stay young, and remain healthier longer than the precious generation. Looking young has cost Baby Boomers a bundle in plastic surgery and cosmetics, yet what is the illusive definition of attractiveness as we age? To age seems somehow reversible to many in this generation.

We know the incidence of late onset and long-term addiction among those over age 50 is on the rise. Many Baby Boomers are self-medicating for chronic pain, slipping into addiction to pain pills, which they obtain from "doctor shopping" or the Internet. And many suffer late onset addiction to their earlier drugs of choice. Some never quit heavy drinking and/or drug use.

Baby Boomers understand the value of therapy and self-help. They want choice, and to be engaged in decisions. These factors can help Boomers in successful treatment for those who struggle with alcohol and chemical dependency. Being engaged in one's treatment is key, and an individualized care plan begins with the assessment of the person physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, Therapies within a the holistic program are based on the 12-Step philosophy, and may include Motivational Interviewing, and expressive, experiential therapies such as movement, art therapy, writing and music, as well as wellness, nutrition and spirituality. Menopausal and post-menopausal women find Hormonal shift assessment helpful as well. Both men and women renew connection to self and others.

Baby Boomers in recovery are like so many in their generation who are finding renewed purpose in life. They are asking, "What do I want my relationships to be, my work to be? What can I do to make a difference to others and society? What does vitality mean to me?" Exploring healthy aging, even if we use the dreaded word "aging," really is a step towards vitality for those who are on a recovery journey or who want to make meaningful choices in the "second half of life."

Hanley Center's Center for Older Adult Recovery, http://www.hanleycenter.org addresses the Young Older Adult in a new model of treatment for the disease of addiction, because older Baby Boomers have different profiles in values, worldview and patterns of drug and alcohol use than those mid-sixties and up. The incidence of dual diagnosis is also more prevalent in Young Older Adults, such as anxiety and depression. Traditional older adults who suffer from addictions are primarily dependent on alcohol or medications, and view illegal drug use as immoral.

Carol Colleran is a pioneer in older adult addition, co-author of "Aging and Addiction" and executive vice president national policy and public affairs, Hanley Center, 933 45th Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33407. Hanley Center, http://www.hanleycenter.org was established in 1986 and offers innovative gender-specific and older adult treatment, as well as education and prevention services for alcoholism and substance abuse. Call 1-800-444-7008.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joan_Knight

Judy Collins sang of her father always promising that they would live in France. Traveling to Paris is one of my goals. Here are some apparel reminders... save $$ for that trip!

Judy Collins sings this song... beautifully but it does not seem to be on UTube. Here is another version of the song.

The Lyrics:

"Polly"

"Polly, Pretty Polly, come go long with me-

Polly, Pretty Polly, come go long with me-

Before we get married, some pleasure to see"

She jumped up behind him and away they did ride-

She jumped up behind him, away they did go-

Over the mountains, and valleys so low.

"Oh Willie, oh Willie, I'm a feared for my life-

Oh Willie, oh Willie, I'm a feared for my life-

I'm afraid you mean to murder me, and leave me behind.."

"Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you guessed about right-

Polly, Pretty Polly, you guessed about right-

I've been diggin' your grave, for the best part of last night."

She knelt down before him, pleading for her life-

She knelt down before him, pleading for her life,

"Let me be a single girl, if I can't be your wife.."

He stabbed her to the heart, and her heart blood did flow-

He stabbed her to the heart, and her heart blood did flow-

And into the grave, Pretty Polly did go.

He through a little dirt on her and started for home-

He through a little dirt over her and started for home-

Leaving nobody there, but the wild birds to moan..

A debt to the devil, Willie must pay-

A debt to the devil, Willie must pay-

For killing Pretty Polly, and running, and running, and running, and running away.

Share your stories, sightings, thoughts, rants, raves...