When their adult children leave home for the first time, parents are challenged to let go into a new kind of caring with less contact and control. ‘Blessings’ is a parents prayer for their child’s safe transition into adult life. The simple melody and arrangement and heart-felt lyrics give it a hymn-like quality which speaks to all experiences of love and parting.
You can listen and download opposite - or scroll down to listen on Spotify, iTunes and other platforms. Downloads are free if you set the price to £0, but you can also choose to make a contribution, half of which I will pass on to Oxfam.
The song was inspired by my own experience of letting go as my adult children flew the nest. Find out more about the story of the song as well as the lyrics and liner notes below.
The Story Behind the song
I had the melody for this song long before I had the words. It came to me whilst I was eating my breakfast on morning. I went to the piano to find the chords and see if a lyric would come - it didn’t. But the melody stayed with me. I was humming it whilst preparing a meal with a friend. “Is that another Eagles song?” he said - we are both big Eagles fans and had been having a bit of a sing along. “If he thinks its good enough for the Eagles then I’m on to something” I thought.
Later that same week I was very touched by the phrase ‘nourishment of earth’ which poet John O’Donahue uses in one of his blessings. That was the starting point from which my own desire to bless and protect flowed. My son had just left home. As a mother I wanted to keep him safe in the orbit of the home. And yet I also wanted him to venture forth, find his place in the world and grow into the person he was meant to be. The lyrics of this song were born out of that contradiction, my love for him and my desire for him to find peace and happiness amidst the turbulence of young adult life.
It was a relatively easy song to arrange. I wrote it on the piano and chose to keep that as the anchor instrument. Strings and harmonies suggested themselves to add interest and warmth to the song. There was a question as to whether to add some light percussion to create momentum and interest as the song progresses. I chose not to go that route - I’m still wondering if that was the right decision…. Producers always ask for reference tracks and I’m not very good at that, but for this song Heidi Berry’s beautiful cover of ‘Heart like a Wheel’ provided some inspiration and orientation for the sound and quality of tenderness that I was looking for.
Lyrics and liner notes
Verse 1
As you step out into the world my heart goes with you
I know the force of life compels you to break free
And it hurts to know that now I can’t protect you
So I’ll wrap you up in blessings as you leave
Chorus 1
May the nourishment of earth be there to ground you
May you flow with the movement of the waves
May the gentle winds of hope carry you forward
May the light of kindness warm and guide your way
Verse 2
When doubt and judgement lead you into darkness
And the spinning thinking hides you from yourself
May you know I see your goodness, truth and beauty
May you shine that light of kindness on yourself
Chorus 2
May you seek comfort in the stillness of the forest
May your heart remember that you are enough
May the good times fill your stores with precious laughter
May the hard times weave a tender cloak of love
Chorus 3
May the nourishment of earth be there to ground you
May you flow with the movement of the waves
May the gentle winds of hope carry you forward
May the light of kindness warm and guide your way
May the light of kindness warm and guide your way
Lyrics and melody by Joy Jefford
Copyright: Joy MacKeith
Producer, sound recording, mixing and mastering: Jake Skinner (Echopine Music)
Lead vocals: Joy Jefford
Acoustic guitar, bass guitar, violin, viola, cello, backing vocals: Andrew Stuart-Buttle
Joy Sings Blessings at EP launch
“Absolutely beautiful.... absolutely stunning”
— Pete Jones, Reverb Radio