Top 50/6 This is the Sea
The Waterboys arrived for a live concert in Jerusalem on some night in 1986 but hardly anybody knew who they were and the concert was called off. The Tel Aviv gig the night before was, of course, packed. A few of us fans hung around and got to meet them, sit on the steps outside the venue, feeling lucky important. (Hey Julie and Rachel, remember??) Their arguably best album ‘This is The Sea’ remains one of my top ten. (Bono’s too BTW) it has been called ‘shamanic.’
Tonight, Jews worldwide mark the end of Passover and the night on which according to tradition the sea parted and the last obstacle to freedom overcome by the runaway Hebrew slaves. It isn’t just that history repeats itself or mythology eternal – every time I get to the sea shore the story is echoed and this song plays in my head – what does it take to cross over, to breath deep, beyond fear, and leap in, on the path to becoming freer and our real selves?
“Once you were tethered
Well now you are free
That was the river
This is the sea.”
– Amichai
Amichai’s Top 50: Soundtrack of my life. 4/20-6-8 2019
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