Along with the beautiful rhythm this song delivers and the ‘easy-to-pick-up’ lyrics at the chorus part sound, “la la la… to dance with my father again~” I sing. (When I don’t know the lyrics, I’d just ‘la la la…’ all the way.)
“Dance with my father” – by Luther Vandross
To me, it is a sweet song about having a dance with one’s father. A song that is best fit for wedding dinner where the bride dances with her father on the dance floor. I thought, it was supposed to be a happy and cheerful song… Until that day, when I got the chance to pick this song from YouTube’s music videos; where its lyrics were displayed along the music video.
I love this song; so I clicked on it without second thought. The soothing music starts and the singer’s voice echoing my surroundings. Its lyrics, word by word, I followed through when the song started till it ended.
(Oh my God… It was so sad. Such a sad song. ‘Heart-broken’ level of sad song!!)
My tears drop, non-stop. I replay the same song, again and again. Watching and reading the lyrics while the song is played; I imagine the scene in my mind. It was so saddening. I just, can’t stop crying.
For the love between a child and their parents or between a loving couple… The pain of losing their loved one(s) is indescribable with words. Onlookers, will never ever be able to comprehend the pain one felt.
How much he or she wishes that they could have one more chance to see them (their loved ones) again. How many times had they said their prayers to God, asking for a chance, just one, that one chance, to grant them this wishes, let them see their loved ones. Even though, deep down inside, they knew the possibility of their wish to be realized is zero…
Still, they say their wishes, numerous nights…
Some said, the one that ‘go’ (i.e. passed away) first, is the lucky one between the couple. Why? Well, for the other one – that is being left behind and still spending their days and nights, living in this mundane world – might suffer emotionally, for a period of time. For some, maybe only for a short period of time; for others, it might be years.
Keep portraying his or her loved one (that has already gone to afterlife world) in their minds; those sweet memories they had in the past, the laughter they shared, those quarrels that they regretted… while living their everyday life. How many times had they clicked on that ‘REPLAY’ button and viewed the memory scene repeating, again and again, in their mind?
How much tears have they shredded? How many times had they unconsciously call out that person’s name, in the morning, at the dining table while having breakfast all by themselves; in the night, when watching Netflix on the couch and in that ‘suddenly became so large’ bed… even in their dreams. Calling out for them… Just wishing to see them again. Some people might show this side of their emotions to others; while some only do so when they are alone, not wanting anyone to know, to see this weak side of theirs.
I don’t think crying portrays one as weak. Humans, be it man or woman, young or old; if your emotion is overwhelmed, then just let it all out. Crying is just a way of releasing emotion. I respect those men that dare to cry. We, are simply, humans. One with emotions. As simple as that.
In Asian Chinese community, many believe that, when one member or partner of a loving couple passed away, the other one might follow not long after. Not that he or she commits suicide but they just happened to pass away, the natural way. As if the late partner can’t afford to ‘see’ their other half to live their days like a lifeless puppet, covered in tears and sadness, day and night. It would be better to ‘bring’ them along. Or maybe it was due to the one that being left behind in mundane world, can’t help missing their late partner. His or her sadness has caused their body health to deteriorate and ended up following the ‘foot-step’ of their loved ones, i.e. go to heaven, together. Well, this was just locals’ saying that has been heard by many, generation by generation.
Through many movies, dramas, animations and even novels, we read about the sadness of someone losing their loved ones. There were a bunch of movie storylines that elaborate a character that happened to exhale their last breath and never ever get to catch any fresh air. The main character then begged to the Death God for another chance for them to live or experience life once again; even for just a day or an hour…
Those story lines are not new to us; but how many of us really get the messages sent through from the movie? How many of us will digest the message after watching the movie? I think we might hear some viewers expressing their feelings towards this movie, for instance, he or she finds the movie a good and soul-touching movie; the storyline was fantastic; worth watching… And then what? They will forget about it like nobody’s business. Simply because, to those viewers, that movie was just served as an entertainment for that evening.
How many will start to appreciate our loved ones or start to live our daily life and make the most of it?
No one knows when our ‘time’ will come and what will happen in the next minute. Yet, many still choose to ignore the need to appreciate every minute we have when we are still alive; still able to have our loved ones be by our side.
It is never too late to realize this. Take a look around, is your loved one(s) still reachable and near you? Are your parents still picking up your phone call? Although nothing much to talk about most of the times; I guess that’s fine, isn’t it?
I feel like calling my dad, now. Excuse me, then.
Offline.
Here’s the YouTube link to that beautiful song; for your listening.