Have You Ever

Listen while you read: (but you might cry)

Have you ever wandered lonely through the woods?
And everything there feels just as it should
You're part of the life there
You're part of something good
If you've ever wandered lonely through the woods

Have you ever stared into a starry sky?
Lying on your back, you're asking why
What's the purpose? 
I wonder who I am
If you've ever stared into a starry sky

Have you ever been out walking in the snow?
Tried to get back where you were before
You always end up
Not knowing where to go
If you've ever been out walking in the snow

If you'd ever been out walking, you would know

~  Phil Hanseroth (for Brandi Carlile), performed by The Avett Brothers

Looks like I'm following up on yesterday's post regarding the search for the meaning of life. Seems to be a journey that many of us are analyzing these days. But I'm pretty excited about the subject of this post, and if I do it right, we all might feel a bit better about covfefe life.

Brandi Carlile released The Story in 2007 to much critical acclaim. I was immediately moved by that collection of songs and purchased the CD. It still moves me, and I return to it often. Paste, an online music magazine, sums it up: "The Story is deeply personal, an album filled with lyrical paintings of desolation and longing while including equally triumphant moments of strength and self-awareness." I return over and over again to that duality of opposites that informs this existence. Brandi Carlile gets it.

In celebration of the tenth anniversary of The Story, Carlile engaged several artists to cover the songs, and Cover Stories was released on May 5. I had a hard time selecting which song to feature on this post, but the Avetts' rendition of "Have You Ever," with its slow and soothing banjo, just blew me away. Plus, I love the simplicity of the lyrics. This one was written by one of "the twins" who serve as Carlile's longtime backup band.

Other artists contributing to Cover Stories include Kris Kristofferson, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), Indigo Girls, Pearl Jam, and Adele. Carlile, who is close to Pete Souza (previous White House photographer), even got President Obama to write a forward: "Brandi Carlile tells stories that encourage us to see ourselves in one another."

And here's the best part! All proceeds from the sale of the album will go to War Child UK, supporting children affected by conflict. President Obama continues: "As an artist, Brandi Carlile is using her talent on behalf of the most vulnerable among us, children living in areas of conflict. She reminds us that, together, we can build for our children a more just, peaceful world." I will be ordering my copy as soon as I finish writing this post. I hope you will consider doing so, too.

And it matters not which side of the aisle you occupy. According to Carlile, "This is not about politics. What we do with these kids is the greatest test of our generation and our humanity. We need a lot of new voices to come to the table on this issue." I will spare you a repeat of the photo of the little Syrian toddler washed up on the Turkish shore. But now that I've put that image in your head, you know what you need to do.

Be part of something good.