Keep Your Heart Right by Terry Callier by Simon Owen

A couple of months ago I went with my boss Brian and some work colleges to see Terry Callier play at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Terry Callier is the American songwriter about whom I was inspired to write a while back, the concert was fantastic, myself and the audience were very moved by the skills of the band and Terry's sweet voice. Terry himself is so humble, one of the first things he said after appearing on stage was "when asked what was the highlight of his job? he would reply being up on stage listening to this talented bunch of musicians." Brian had pulled a few strings and so at the end of the night I went into the bar to meet Terry. It was a dream come true, when I asked how the songs and tunes evolved he said "they (the songs) are not mine but come through me". The image of a channel comes to mind and the task of removing the obstacles, which prevent the Flow of God, our yoga, our life's work.
As I made my way home I was walking on air, it is not every day that one's idle thoughts crystallise into reality perhaps not so idle after all! So I have decided to share a couple more of the tasty Soulfood offerings of TC with my friends at the Centre.

Keep Your Heart Right from TIMEPEACE

Here is the chorus...

In brightest day or darkest night
Don't give up the Faith
Keep your heart Right
Like the mountains stand for Eternity
Your light will shine for all to see

For me this is the heart of yoga, the act of Faith in the One, keeping our path true, allowing some of that Eternal energy to flow through us and realise our fullest potential on this Earth. So often the scriptures tell us to be the same in success or defeat, pleasure or pain and for many growing out of a western culture it is very difficult to understand. Often our diet of books, TV, papers and magazines tell another story, that brightest day must be acquired and that darkest night is to be ignored or suppressed at all costs. The subtle shift, realising Joy is above the opposites of emotional life, will result in the channel opening to allow the flow and the light will burn brightly.

The next song I want to talk about is ....

I don't want to see myself LIFETIME Terry's latest release
(without You)

I love this song as it starts with The Visual Ministry Choir soulfully reciting the title of the song and then Terry comes in with this first verse

Ev'ry time I pass in front of a looking glass
There's a smilin' face
All because of the Father's Grace
Mirror, mirror on the wall
It's the greatest love of all
It came like a complete surprise
(And) Changed my life before my eyes

The first time I listened truly to this song I was late for work stuck in traffic on the M11 trying to get to Harlow, as the tempo of the song suddenly accelerates and takes off, I wanted to whoop for joy, shout and cry all at once. It has certainly made looking in the mirror a different experience!

The last song I wanted to mention is titled

Fix the Blame LIFETIME

This song is about the controllers of the world's business and how they will go to any length to remain in control and avoid taking responsibility for their actions. This is how the leaders of the business world are described in the first verse.

Some folks come down to Washington- they did
not carry knives or guns
But they were lethal just the same 'cause they had come to
Fix the Blame........

the song continues with the list of the people they will try to blame for troubles in the world.

Blame the union and their lies-they've got wages set too high
Manufacture some event we can blame the innocent
Blame the children, blame the young we don't have to bite our tongue...
...........
Blame the homeless, blame the gays
or anyone with different ways
If opportunity presents, we can blame the President
Blame Islam and act afraid-we can start a new crusade
Blame the peace, blame the war- close the windows and bar the doors
................
Blame the liquor, blame the dope, blame it on the Horrorscope
Blame the worst, blame the best, the coloured and the colourless
Blame the city, blame the state, blame it all on racial hate
..............
Blame the rich and blame the poor, we can't take it anymore
Blame the first and blame the last
Blame each and every livin' ass

and for the chorus.......

But please don't blame our subsidies or money we send overseas
And if you want to keep our trust- blame anyone who is not like us

This rings such a chord with me, it is the reality of our world, money is what counts, profit the goal and expansion essential. However times are changing, we can rest assured of that, whether the system finally crumbles away amid a toxic world or the system evolves to include and respect the Earth and its people, the conclusion is the same, only God is permanent.
Of this we are reminded in some of the last lines

On Judgement Day it is all the same
I wonder who the Lord will blame.

I shall finish with a Big Thanks to Terry and his co writers for these wholesome words and allowing them to be reproduced in the journal.
They certainly have changed my life before my eyes!

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