The Magic Bottle

I was in the kitchen one day, debating eating something I knew I’d regret, thinking how sometimes it just feels so easy and natural to say no, but other times, omg…And it popped into my head -- if only I could bottle that feeling!

And then I thought, what exactly is that feeling?

Where does it come from?

Often a song starts for me with a great line, sometimes one I read somewhere, although in this case, a verbal burst of frustration with myself.

I no longer ever start a song with an abstract idea or didactic purpose, although when I was younger and writing a lot of political satire, I often did. But now I’m being led differently.

Led? By what?

I can only call it The Unbullshitable Witness.

It lives deep in the inner sanctum of my consciousness, but not so deep that it doesn’t notice everything. Unlike my default consciousness, which is a master at self-rationalizing, The Unbullshitable Witness cannot be bullshitted. This is a higher power for me.

Friends, did you know that Substack sends us writers weekly statistics on how people are interacting with our material? One statistic reveals to me that many of you are opening the email, reading something, maybe the intro, maybe the lyrics, maybe even both, but not listening to the recording. This is like reading a menu but not ordering anything! You might be imagining flavors, but a) you’ll be wrong, and b) you are not nourished!

Cabaret is not a reading experience.

Song -- the dance of words and music, of meaning with feeling -- is the sweetest form for truth, as well as one of most ancient.

I can only encourage you -– plug in good headphones and let yourself really listen, not to me but to the song.

If you are a new subscriber, first of all, WELCOME! WELCOME! Second of all, go back and listen to the songs I posted earlier, because unlike political Substacks (and three hopeful little political songs I posted last October) my songs don’t go out of date. Maybe start with “Galileo’s Logic” and “At the Podium”. Leave comments! Seriously, leave comments!

Since this week’s song started out in the kitchen, here’s one more food image: the lyrics for me are like gooey dough before baking; probably full of potential, but you can’t tell what it’s supposed to be, and it’s not good to eat. Music is what bakes shapeless dough at the right temperature for the right amount of time, in the right shape, to transform it into warm bread, or even a delicious cake.

The Magic Bottle

©2024 Nancy Ellen Abrams

I wanna bottle that feeling when a wild grace has begun

I wanna bottle that feeling when loving words just come

I wanna bottle that feeling when I’ve done what’s hard but right

I wanna bottle that feeling when my powder keg ignites

So when temptation knocks again

Resolution’s shot again

Faith in myself mocked again

I can pop the cork

And pour it over me

Soak in that sweet truth

And reclaim my dignity

I have done this, so I can do it

Now, now -- there’s only now

I wanna bottle that feeling when a wild grace has begun

I wanna bottle that feeling when loving words just come

I wanna bottle that feeling in a song, and sing it day or night

The sweetest form for truth – song is life’s delight!

I wanna bottle that feeling when a wild grace has begun

I wanna bottle that feeling when loving words just come

I wanna bottle that feeling in a song, and sing it day or night

Anyone can do it – song is life’s delight

I wanna bottle that feeling