Exploding Doughnut: I am a rock.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

I am a rock.

I heard this classic Simon & Garfunkel song on the radio before work today.
It seemed appropriate for my current mood.

"A winter's dayIn a deep and dark December;I am alone,Gazing from my window to the streets belowOn a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.I am a rock,I am an island.
I've built walls, A fortress deep and mighty,That none may penetrate.I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain. It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.I am a rock,I am an island.
Don't talk of love,But I've heard the words before;It's sleeping in my memory.I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.If I never loved I never would have cried.I am a rock,I am an island.
I have my booksAnd my poetry to protect me;I am shielded in my armor,Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.I touch no one and no one touches me.I am a rock,I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain;And an island never cries."

16 comments:

BB said...: God, I love this song. Always have. So true too.; January 25, 2011 at 8:15 PM
Randuwa said...: Dean, I love this song. It's been there when I've needed it, too. Red House Painters has a great version of it worth discovering.; January 25, 2011 at 8:54 PM
naturgesetz said...: Of course I have cried, and you have cried, so I guess neither of us has quite achieved the status of rock or island. But there are times when it feels as if the song is one we could sing.; January 25, 2011 at 9:16 PM
Mike said...: Great song!; January 25, 2011 at 11:19 PM
JuJu said...: I remember when I was very young that we sang this song in church! (Catholic Newman Center) I always found that to be odd.

I'm sorry you feel alone and island-ish. I hope some sunshine comes into your life very soon.

Like, say, a postcard with kitty cats on it!; January 26, 2011 at 7:02 PM
Melancholy State said...: I awarded you with a "stylish blogger" award. To accept, please go to my post http://amelancholystate.blogspot.com/2011/01/ooooooooh-pertiful-award.html
to get the award photo and follow the rules for posting. It was kind of fun, but NO PRESSURE!!; January 26, 2011 at 8:31 PM
Dean Grey said...: Bouncin' Barb!

Simon & Garfunkel rule!

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Randy!

I'll have to check out the other version of this song!

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naturgesetz!

Ah, but I thought the whole point of the song is that a person is becoming hardened like a rock and no longer cries or lets pain get to them.

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Mike!

Agreed!

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JuJu!

They played this song in your Church?!

And I did get a postcard with cat illustrations on it!

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C. Alvarez!

Thank you for that!

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I appreciate all of your opinions on this post!

-Dean; January 27, 2011 at 12:29 AM
naturgesetz said...: My take is that becoming a rock or an island is not a good thing, that being unable to cry or feel pain is tragic — that being so hardened also destroys the possibility of love: "I touch no one and no one touches me."

At times, withdrawal may be a good defense mechanism, but withdrawal to that extent is a mistake. And I don't think Simon and Garfunkel are recommending it, just describing it very powerfully.; January 27, 2011 at 2:06 AM
Anonymous said...: Hang in there, my friend! Haven't we all felt like this at times?; January 27, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Valorie said...: Dean, even though the following quote was written years before Simon and Garfunkel('s)song, it's an appropriate and true response. I understand the song reflected your mood at the time, but there is no life in it. Life IS being open to love and being loved as the man God created and redeemed you to be, regardless of the risk (and oftentimes reality) of pain in the process.

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."
— C.S. Lewis (The Four Loves)

Dean, I long for your release to do what you most want to do: to enjoy God. At worst and best, your heart will break, and you will love and be loved. Praying for that reality in your life!; January 27, 2011 at 6:27 PM
Kelley Carey MacDonald said...: I remember we 'studied' this song in high school music class. The nun talked about the harmony, the beautiful lyrics,.... but then she looked us all in the eyes, one by one, and said, "But you are NOT an island. You each have people in your lives that love and need you. And don't you FORGET it."
Lesson absorbed.; January 29, 2011 at 3:10 PM
Dean Grey said...: naturgesetz!

I know they aren't recommending it but it's just how I felt at that time.

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Anna!

You are right!

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Valorie!

I appreciate the sweet words from you. I guess I'll have to become vulnerable, right?

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Kelley!

Thank you for sharing your lessoned learned with me! (Man, those nuns are strict!)

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Thanks to everyone for their feedback!

-Dean; February 1, 2011 at 11:53 PM
Anonymous said...: Such a great song. Sad, but great. Every so often this comes on the radio and I always find it a wonderful surprise. (I love when good songs come on the radio!); March 13, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Dean Grey said...: She Who Shall Not Be Named!

Yeah, it's an oldie but a goodie!

-Dean; March 15, 2011 at 9:17 PM
Unknown said...: This song resonates with me.; February 1, 2015 at 6:49 PM
Dean Grey said...: Dean!

A very solemn song for sure.

:/

-Dean; February 3, 2015 at 1:13 AM