Sunday, July 16, 2006

Heaven's here on earth



I came across Tracy Chapman in 1990, when a street urchin sold me his Crossroad album, though it was the least popular album she made. During those days of punk rock when everyone was listening to the Smiths, U2 and the Housemartins, over NU 107, Tracy went unnoticed in the Philippines, not until her popular song Fast Car. I like Tracy Chapman a lot because she makes you think about life, the agony and joy of living and the reason why you are here. I remember listening to her tape over and over during those devastating times when I broke up with my girlfriend in 1990, and it helps! my favorite lines during those times goes something like,

I'm gonna love myself
More than anyone else
I'm gonna treat me right
I'm gonna make you say
That you love me first
And you'll be the one with the most to lose tonight
This time

This time
I won't let my emotions rule my life
This time
I'm gonna keep my heart looked safe inside
This time
I'm gonna be my own best friend
This time
I'm gonna be the one


After two years, I met my wife, Weng.

Though I have a fair collection of her songs, one song really stands out because it speaks true of what I believe. I think all the happiness we are looking for can be found here on earth and in our lifetime, if we will just try to find it.


Heaven's Here on Earth
by Tracy Chapman

You can look to the stars in search of the answers
Look for God and life on distant planets
Have your faith in the ever after
While each of us holds inside the map to the labyrinth
And heaven's here on earth

We are the spirit the collective conscience
We create the pain and the suffering and the beauty in this world

Heaven's here on earth
In our faith in humankind
In our respect for what is earthly
In our unfaltering belief in peace and love and understanding

I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise
Of ordinary people leading ordinary lives
Filled with love, compassion, forgiveness and sacrifice

Heaven's in our hearts
In our faith in humankind
In our respect for what is earthly
In our unfaltering belief in peace and love and understanding

Look around
Believe in what you see
The kingdom is at hand
The promised land is at your feet
We can and will become what we aspire to be

If Heaven's here on earth
If we have faith in humankind
And respect for what is earthly
And an unfaltering belief that truth is divinity
And heaven's here on earth

I've seen spirits
I've met angels
Touched creations beautiful and wondrous
I've been places where I question all I think I know
But I believe, I believe, I believe this could be heaven
We are born inside the gates with the power to create life
And to take it away
The world is our temple
The world is our church
Heaven's here on earth

If we have faith in human kind
And respect for what is earthly
And an unfaltering belief
In peace and love and understanding
This could be heaven here on earth


explore Tracy Chapman at: http://www.about-tracy-chapman.net

1 comment:

Joseph Santos-Lyons said...

tracy is a woman