O! Timeless

[Brina]

Such a beautiful, spiritual song at the end of Barry's solo CD "As Is." Someone else posted the lyrics, some of them, on their blog--sorry I can't remember who--and I copied them onto mine. Now I listen to the entire song, I think all together it is such a profound statement.

I wish we could put that song up for everyone to hear.

Love, Brina

[Brina]

I took the lyrics I found online and added what else I hear on the CD. I'm only unsure about the one line with a * on it. Anybody know what he's singing there? I'm pretty sure I have that line wrong...

O! Timeless -- by Barry Cowsill

played with just voice and pump organ...so beautiful...

Move on down the road
Ease me through the door
Take me to your dreams, O! Timeless
I want to go

Move me down the road
I don't mind the pain
'cause the gates I'm passing through
have no set boundaries.

As I cast my blessings to the seventh wind tonight
I keep in mind the promises I've made
*For the land I find to hold me for the others*
Gonna move on down the road
Ease along the way
Take me to your dreams, O! Timeless
I gotta know

Put me on the path
There's nothing more to say
'cept swing your mighty scales,
let's be onward

and I'll take the secret treasures of my heart and soul
and I'll keep 'em covered safe within my reach
'til the time when I can share them with the others

Move on down the road
Slip me through the door
Oh take me to your dreams, O! Timeless
I want for more

Send me on the way
to them other times
There's a lot of work ahead for me
tomorrow.

[dshaw]

Don't mean to be contrary. It's such a beautiful song and I'm glad you have included it here. However, on my copy of As Is it looks to me like the title is actually Ol Timeless

[Brina]

This makes much better sense, I was so wondering why it was O! Timeless.

I can see that I copied the original post from a blog and that's what got me onto the O! line...as opposed to Ol. I think Ol makes more sense, although listening, you really can't tell....anyway, yes, I think you're right!!!

[cynthia]

I'm in the O! Timeless camp. Just my opinion.

[Suzanne]

The correct title is Ol' Timeless.

That is the song that I chose to choreograph and dance to and then gave a tape of the entire performance to Barry. It's a beautiful, haunting song and an example of the genius of his songwriting and lyrics. I got to sit next to him and watch the tape, too (he had already seen most of it). Now THAT was the best!! After I told him that I was nervous to know he would watch it and that I wanted to do justice to his work and he stopped me and put his arm on my shoulder and said "No, it's OUR work, from now on it's OURS." I was speechless (a rare occurrence but there are witnesses)! I thanked him.

I will never forget this moment for as long as I live. There I was, trying to give him a tribute in my own small way and there he was giving me one right back. Barry told me he had wondered what I did during the long organ part at the end when I told him the song I chose at TORI 2000 (I spoke and thanked people including him who had been there for me during the rough times being a single parent of 4). When I told him that he said "GOOD! It was kind of boring!" He enjoyed what I said and really liked watching me dance. The blend of dance and music was something new to him he said. He didn't really understand it until he watched it. He loved it and thanked me for choosing his music. I thought to myself "Well, duh, yeah, I've only waited YEARS to do this!"

It was a thrill to put the program together and see Music: Barry Cowsill in the credits and Choreographer: my name under it. I am SO glad I did this and that I gave him the tape and grateful that he thought a lot about me to watch it (heck, I was impressed he remembered the tape when he left Newport for NOLA at TORI 2000). A choreographer rarely gets to talk to the artist who created the music they use but even more special, this artist was also my friend.

When he moved back to Newport a few years ago I asked him about the tape and he said it was locked up in storage in NOLA, that he didn't bring much with him, wasn't sure how long he'd be staying in the area. I teased him about it and he teased me right back and said it was most definitely a keeper! I would like to gift a DVD copy of it to the Cowsills and Barry's kids if they would like it.

Just one more way of "seeing" Barry's music and how he touched so many.

[Brina]

Wow, Suzanne, I had no idea that was the song! I've heard (read) you talk about this before and didn't put the two together. It's amazing.

I would so love to see that tape. Is is a solo dance? I'm thrilled to hear that Barry sat right with you to view it...again, that's a Wow.

Thank you for telling us this story. Love, Brina

[Suzanne]

Yes, it was a solo - just me dancing to Barry singing. Another dream come true for me!

[barb]

I can testify to that! I was there when Suzanne and Barry enjoyed the video. Barry was glued to the set...and Suzanne danced beautifully. It brought tears to my eyes because her interpretation was flawless.

Suzanne, he loved that you danced to his music. He was very proud and happy watching it with us that night. Barry and the Dancer Chick. :-)

[GaleKennedy]

You know Suzanne, maybe Vicky could put your video up here on Cowsill.com as a "rarity"! Sure, it's not the Cowsills per se, but it sure is a RARITY! I'd love to see it, too. I've heard you mention it so many times. I don't think I realized that you were dancing solo. I thought it was your troupe, or your kids - a group anyway.

[Suzanne]

barb said:

I can testify to that! I was there when Suzanne and Barry enjoyed the video. Barry was glued to the set...and Suzanne danced beautifully. It brought tears to my eyes because her interpretation was flawless.

Suzanne, he loved that you danced to his music. He was very proud and happy watching it with us that night. Barry and the Dancer Chick. :-)

That was so nice of you, Barb. Flawless.....I'm not so sure of that but I do agree he was glued to the TV and absolutely loved that I did that.

Barry asked to see it and said he wanted to watch it with me. Talk about being nervous! He started looking for the VHS tape and then asked me to look becauase he said I'd recognize my writing easier than him. So there I was looking through the unbelievable number of VHS tapes that he had there feeling like someone who visits, goes to the bathroom and then checks the medicine cabinet of the host!! I found it easy, actually. He had it in a good place, not buried.

All I wanted to do was honor him and his music fit perfectly with what I wanted to say, too. It's a memory permanently etched in my heart.

[Suzanne]

GaleKennedy said:

You know Suzanne, maybe Vicky could put your video up here on Cowsill.com as a "rarity"! Sure, it's not the Cowsills per se, but it sure is a RARITY! I'd love to see it, too. I've heard you mention it so many times. I don't think I realized that you were dancing solo. I thought it was your troupe, or your kids - a group anyway.

I'd be very willing to send her a DVD copy of it and will be making other copies for the Cowsills themselves. If they want to put it as a rarity I would be honored...

Yes, it was just me dancing and Barry's music.

[cynthia]

I'm sure a lot of us would love to see it, Suzanne.

[kimc]

Yes Suzanne, we would.

[Margie]

I would love to see it Suzanne. I heard through the grapevine (Staples that is ) a while back that you were absolutley a phenominal dancer!