I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me
to see the beauty in the world through my own eyes.
— Ysaye Barnwell, Wanting Memories
These haunting lyrics were written by Ysaye Barnwell and originally recorded by the African-American all-women a capella group, Sweet Honey in the Rock. Since then, many groups have recorded the song, including the a capella group, Cantus. on my last blog post.
The lyrics are a beautiful reminder of those that have passed on and how they have influenced our lives. Grief touches all of us at some point. It is a fact of life that leaves us “wanting memories.” Songs like these carry us through the process to the beauty of this precious thing we call life. You can find the full lyrics online.