Listen

I have always identified with this song, since I first heard it watching Dreamgirls.  I mentioned it back in this post, and was reminded how much I love it when Melanie sang it for the finale of X Factor! 

Beyonce's version is also awesome:

It makes sense to me that people who are fortunate enough to have no idea what it feels like to be unheard, to feel alone, to struggle to know where they belong -- would find this song cheesy and stupid.  I am not among that group!

Tonight, I read through several of my Aunt Nancy's past family Christmas letters. She has saved them all in a book, and she put it out with the other albums for the first time this Christmas. It was so interesting to me to look back through the timeline of all the family milestones and memories!  Then another aunt saw me reading it and laughingly commented, "Wow, you must be really bored!"  For whatever reason, that got to me a bit... the assumption that the life history of one of the more interesting families I know would be a super-boring time filler.  Made me wonder if that's how people feel about reading this blog.  Then I realized that yes, it probably is, and I don't really care.  I've written 226 posts so far this year, and received only 11 comments.  But obviously (3 posts on Christmas day) I haven't stopped writing, because I enjoy it, and I want to remember these little things, even if it would bore the rest of the world!  It's part of "finding my own voice" for me, so I'm sticking with it.

Anyway, I'm glad there are a few of you who still find me at least mildly interesting! ;)  While thinking about the times when I have felt misunderstood or unheard, I decided that this will be my "theme song" for 2012... a call to be more confident and bold, and to "find my own voice," whatever that might mean! :)

Listen to the song here in my heart,

A melody I start, but can't complete.

Listen to the sound from deep within...

It's only beginning to find release.

Oh, the time has come for my dreams to be heard.

They will not be pushed aside and turned

Into your own, all 'cause you won't listen.

Listen!

I am alone at a crossroads,

I'm not at home in my own home.

And I've tried and tried

To say what's on my mind,

You should have known!

Oh, now I'm done believing you.

You don't know what I'm feeling.

I'm more than what you've made of me.

I followed the voice you gave to me,

But now I've gotta find my own.

You should have listened...

There was someone here inside,

Someone I thought had died

So long ago.

Oh, I'm screaming out,

And my dreams will be heard.

They will not be pushed aside or worked

Into your own,

All 'cause you won't

Listen...

(repeat chorus)

I don't know where I belong,

But I'll be moving on...

If you don't, if you won't...

Listen to the song here in my heart,

A melody I start, and I will complete!

Oh, now I'm done believing you!

You don't know what I'm feeling!

I'm more than what you've made of me.

I followed the voice you think you gave to me,

But now I've got to find my own,

My own!