This is the song (Spotify link).

All of life, at every level of abstraction can be expressed in terms of movement. Think of the great metaphors for life such as the circle of life or the archetypal storytelling arc, even how we describe relationships as ‘growing together or apart’; They all imply movement from one place to another. The absence of movement signals an absence of life. Take the english language as an example – we talk of ourselves as ‘going nowhere’ or being ‘dead still’. When there is movement from one place to another, there is life, there is journey. Journey by Kamasi Washington is a beautiful ode to the spiritual journey we have the opportunity to take ourselves on every day.

Like life, a song takes you from one impression to another. And the space they navigate is a mix of our audial senses, our memories and our imagination, weaving paths that are worth coming back to again and again. Journey crystallises the concept so well – the shape of the words, of the sound, of the composition produce beautiful fractals. There is a rising and a falling, a climbing of one hill after another (aren’t hills and mountains nature’s most overused metaphors for life? I guess life never runs out hills for us to climb – whey!). Then there’s the way Patricia Quinn (on vocals) sings ‘Halleluiah, joy springs’, she shapes her voice as if it is a stream of joy that has reached the top and is on its way down.

I think all the lyrics are worth writing out;

“Life and love and peace in my heart

Halleluiah, joy springs

And everyday a brand-new start

Halleluiah, joy springs.

With this Prayer I live

Let my life be the one you give

With this song of praise I sing

Halleluiah, love is everything”

I’m no expert on the human condition, but don’t we all want these things? Life, love, peace and joy? A brand-new start? Genuinely. Who really desires cynicism as their portion? And how do we get there? Prayer, praise and gratitude. This song probably came from that very place.

I don’t think the journey ever ends guys. In fact, some say that when we die, we’ve only just begun the ‘true’ journey. Whatever that means.