Last August I wrote about this guy who sings awfully sad ballads in the Brooklyn YMCA men’s locker room. His big baritone voice loomed large as he belted out songs in a different language. I said in the August post that the songs he sung affected everyone within hearing range. I desperately wanted to know more of his story and resolved to find out more. But then he disappeared. I never saw him again.
And then today, between basketball games, one of the guys said, “Hey, has anyone ever heard the old man singing in the showers upstairs?” Everyone started chiming in, “Yeah, we’ve heard him.” Turns out, he’s back and his voice can now be heard again in the locker room.
I went to find him and ran into him in the hall outside the basketball court.
Hey, I’ve heard you sing before in the locker room. I’m curious, what language are you singing in?
He smiles. Italian.
Oh, okay. I wasn’t sure. You have an incredible voice. I’m curious about what you’re singing. The songs, they sound sad.
Again with a grin, The songs I sing tell a story. It’s a story about life. And it just so happens that sadness is a theme explored again and again in these songs. The people I grew up with and the singers that influenced me believed that it’s within sadness that a person really discovers who they are and what they are made of.
Welcome to the blog of Joe Hays, minister for Christ's Church for Brooklyn. We are a loving community of believers who seek to be the hands and feet of Christ, in service to our neighbors in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn and beyond.
Wow. I often wondered about this man. I remember you writing about him. That must have been a powerful experience for you. Good for you for reaching out. I bet you made his day.
Wow, Joe. I knew there was something behind those songs and he is speaking truth. I love it! I think that I would like this man.
Sorry…that was me, not my daughter.
I couldn’t agree with him more.
Good message, Joe. I was reading from an artist’s blog recently and he was describing a similar point ( http://makotofujimura.blogspot.com/ ). It takes an artist (visual, musical, etc…) to help us remember important truths like this one.
why did my parenthesis turn into that goofy smile face?
Russ - Try putting a space before the parenthesis.
Joe - Yes, there is much we learn within the walls of great sadness. But, you knew that.
That is so interesting. I guess in sadness we are more vulnerable. Great post!