Grace

"This is a song about another dream, but... It's about not feeling so bad about your own mortality when you have true love."

The narration Jeff Buckley gave before performing his song, "Grace" Live at Sin-é in New York in 1993. Narration that is more than poetic, if anything, other worldly. I'd like to say my introduction to Jeff Buckley came late, but considering his passing occurred before I was even born, I should rephrase and say my introduction to Jeff Buckley is lucky to have happened at all. (Again, as referenced in other blog posts, what a wonderful gift of accessibility we have as music consumers).

My first listen of Grace was almost a year ago now -- and to foreshadow its impact, I type this with writings from Jeff etched into my arm in black ink. I think anyone who has crossed paths with this record is aware of its prominence, but few people get the experience of listening to this record and then discovering all it really was.

For me, first it was Grace.

Then it was the stories, BBC specials, interviews.

Then it was Sketches.

Now it's whatever is left until the pool of recordings runs out.

Weird dynamic huh? It isn't often in the twenty-first century you think about how many recordings you have left before you can never watch something for the first time again. But alas, there are only so many recordings of Jeff Buckley to go around. The exciting part of this however, is the amount he offered in each interaction and performance. Each riff, accompaniment and word is from a different part of the heart -- feeling whatever is to be felt in that moment, and sharing it through a familiar narration, to an audience that is still hanging onto every detail.

The story of Jeff Buckley articulates the weight of otherworldly talent as equal parts gift and burden and it's an absolutely soul-wrenching.

If you have the time, or intrigue, or both I highly recommend you give Grace a listen. What do you think and where did you stop?

[PHOTO CREDITS] Originally by Guido Harari for Rock Planet 1994

Click here to listen to the record “Grace” by Jeff Buckley.