John Richards

"This is a place where I don't feel alone... This is a place where I feel at home...": genius.com -- The vocals and piano are performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson.

DeVotchKa performed this gorgeous song with the Colorado Symphony. It was a KEXP song of the Day: www.kexp.org Watch the group performing it Live on KEXP in 2009 here: www.youtube.com

This tale of anxiety and self-harm was very real to Sia. The very night she wrote it, she attempted suicide by taking 22 Valium and downing a bottle of vodka, something she didn't reveal until a series of interviews in 2018. After, a phone call from an old friend convinced her to get sober.

Bragg explained, “To me, ‘I Will Be Your Shield’ is the heart and soul of the album. I’ve come to the conclusion that empathy is the currency of music – that our job as songwriters is to help people come to terms with their feelings by offering them examples of how others may have dealt with a situation similar to that in which the listener finds themselves. After what we’ve all been through, the idea of being a shield – physically, emotionally, psychologically – resonates beyond the pandemic.” - bit.ly

“And we’re all so sick and tired of seeing things as they are,” he aches, “The horses are just horses and their manes aren’t full of fire, and the fields are just fields and there ain’t no Lord.” "Ghosteen" was Nick Cave's first album written entirely after the death of his son Arthur in 2015. At the album's end, Cave reprises the Buddhist tale of Kisa Gotami, a heartbroken mother combing each house in a village for a mustard seed with which to save her child, the Buddha’s proviso being that the seeds had to come from houses where there had not been a death. She can’t find a single one. No one is untouched by loss. And this album finds Cave comforted by the universality of suffering, and the succour of those who gathered around him. “For we are not alone it seems, so many riders in the sky,” Cave observes.

" I spent seven hours with my beautiful little girl after she was born, before we had to say an eternal goodbye to her. Would you please play Eric Bachmann's "Little Bird" for my daughter Freya and all the children who only get a chance to live on in their parent's thoughts and dreams? Thanks, Danny in Portland" #musicheals #youarenotalone

"Hi John and Amy, I’m so grateful for the Mom Show and the Death and Music show and the opportunity to collectively grieve and heal through music. Charles and I got to be married for six years and this December will mark six years since his passing. It’s surreal to me that the amount of time he’s been gone will eclipse the number of years we were married. In the beginning I never thought I’d survive that long without my person, I remember when seven months felt like an eternity. But, here I am. I’ve learned that the intense grief lessens over time, but it does remain in a little pocket of my heart. The difference is now I can choose if I want to open up that pocket or not. Charles was a huge Beatles fan. I remember after one of his surgeries while he was on a medley of medications he kept me up all night explaining the social impact of the Beatles on America as I dutifully listened and nodded along. On our wedding day we had two acoustic guitarists play “In My Life” as we walked down the aisle. I’d love to hear “In My Life” in honor of Charles and the six married years we had together. Music really does heal. Thank you, Leslie "

Julien Baker joined beloved and missed Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison for vocals on this song. Here's Frightened Rabbit performing live in the KEXP studio in 2016: www.youtube.com

#musicheals #youarenotalone

"Bookends" appears twice on the track listing, as the first (shortened version) and last (known as the Reprise) songs on side one of the original vinyl LP. The “Bookends Theme (Reprise)” contains vocal accompaniment from the duo. "The text refers to the passage of time, and to memories of a loved one, and thus fittingly concludes the series of intervening songs, which address interpersonal relationships at times of life that progress from song to song," wrote James Bennighof, author of The Words and Music of Paul Simon. The piece closes the entire suite with the "resigned admonition" to "Preserve your memories / They're all that's left you."

This song was used on the soundtracks for the films The Nines, Deadgirl, 50/50 and Pop Skull and here on the Morning Show it's often found as part of the Mom Show (that's today!), dedicated to ones loved and lost. You can read more about the evolution of our yearly Morning Show broadcast here: kexp.org

Lead singer Mike Scott composed about 20 different verse lyrics before choosing the best five for the final product. The Waterboys came to KEXP and played an inspiring set in 2013 which can be found here: bit.ly

"Dear John & KEXP Staff, Your Mom Show and Death & Music concert are a beacon of light at a time when Seattle skies are their darkest and greyest. She died on January 18, 2019 doing what she loved most in one of the places she loved most: swimming in the ocean in Mexico. A freak wave took her life. She was a larger-than-life person, filled with wonder, intelligence, love and humor. She loved to sing and dance and played piano and even went to auto-harp camp one summer when she was in her early 60s. As a kid I remember waking up in the night to her playing the piano, belting out Joni Mitchell’s “For Free” at the top of her lungs. I’m not sure if she knew how thin the floors of our 1880s farmhouse were, or maybe she didn’t care. The music was joyful and carefree and the memories of Joni and my mom stay close. I’d like to request “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell in memory of my mom Lucy. Thank you. -Kore "

"The mom show comes at a hard time for our family. Friday will be the second year anniversary of the death of our 13 year old son. Thank you for telling us we are not alone at a time where we feel so alone. If Puff the magic dragon makes it on in celebration and remembrance of Brody we would appreciate it. It was the song his mom sang him to sleep, and the song sung as he was laid to rest. I appreciate you KEXP Billy, Corinna, Carter, and Brody"

The Beatles just released their last song, ‘Now and Then,’ featuring A.I.-extracted vocals from John Lennon. Based on a demo recorded by Lennon in the 1970s, the song is the “closest we’ll ever come to having him back in the room”. - www.smithsonianmag.com

From the Death and Music performance last night #youarenotalone #musicheals

In 1987 Bono explained that everybody in the group knows what the line "And you give yourself away" means: "It's about how I feel in U2 at times - exposed. I'm not going to do many interviews this year. Because there's a cost to my personal life, and a cost to the group as well."

Since you're gone... RIP to Ric Ocasek: www.kexp.org

"Hey, Y'all, Given today's theme, I feel somewhat obligated to let you know what happened minutes after John let everyone know about Dr. Amy's coincidental request for GLJ on Friday morning. Right after freaking out about her requesting the same obscure band that we (and maybe 2 dozen other people) saw the night before, my dad called to let me know that my beloved Uncle Ural had passed just a few moments earlier. He was like a Cajun Desi Arnaz, boisterously full of life and joy, and he will be deeply missed by many. Given that I did not get to hear it when you played it Friday morning (I was on the phone with my dad), could you please play "When Someone Great is Gone" by LCD Soundsystem? Just love from Baton Rouge, Jeremy White" "In 'Someone Great,' Murphy takes you on a journey through the entire grieving process, starting at the very beginning — the moment you get that phone call. Even if you were expecting it, even if you feared it was going to happen soon or were thankful it didn’t happen earlier, you’re never ready to hear those words." This essay says that "Someone Great" is the best song about loss ever written: medium.com

"Hi - Quinn would be 14 now. He died over 10 years ago and a day doesn't go by when he isn't in our thoughts. During his illness and treatments Kathleen listened to a lot of music and it helped keep her strong - I think - one song - Just Breath by Pearl Jam has been the one steady reminder and the line - "see you on the other side" - is etched in his gravestone...along with Dylan's - "you'll not see nothing like the mnighty Quinn" He is buried in a graveyard where no pesticides or real landscaping is done. We planted a pear tree (he loved pears) where he is buried and it bears fruit and there's a view of Mt Rainier. I believe Quinn lives in the oxygen exhaled by that tree and he can live forever in that way. Please play Just Breath for us - Quinn, Kathleen, Dan and (older sister) Maggie Thank you for doing the show all these years."

"Good morning Jon & Amy - couple of things. 1) my girl, Celine attended for the first time and I can’t wait to hear about it from her (we plan to go together next year); and 2) lost my Dad in ‘97 (he was 52 and far too young to go - fuck cancer) - being 53 going on 54 this month, it hits me even harder this year being almost 2 years older than he was. Still missing him every day and mortality & the gift of this human experience resonating even more bring almost 2 years older than him at his passing and knowing how much more I have to give and experience. Would you please play My Morning Jacket “I Will Be There When You Die” for me/him/us? With much gratitude and ❤️ , Stephanie from beautiful Bend, OR Kindness for the win..."

Ben Gibbard spoke to NME about the meaning of this song: “Death is an ever-present fear. If not a fear, then an impending reality in our lives. We like to think that when people leave this life, we will see them again some day. Writing a love song that deals specifically with the inevitable death of one’s partner and that you will follow that person into whatever the afterlife is or is not, that’s something that people can relate to.” www.nme.com

"Thanks for all these stories, this show and for everything you do each and every day. My wife lost her brother to a freak car accident when he was in his 20s. At his memorial they played Iz Kamakawiwoʻole's version of over the rainbow / what a wonderful world and that was the song my wife always associated with him. My wife and I met in 2014 so I never got to meet her brother but his presence was always in our home. Iz's song would come on super randomly on playlists it had no business being on. We always just felt it was him checking on us and it would give me tingles every time. Last year I lost my wife to a sudden and aggressive brain cancer. She was 39 and left me and our then 1 and 3 year old children. A few days after she passed I finally went out for an errand, didn't have the radio on in the car for a bit but then turned it on for some reason and the Judy Garland version of over the rainbow was on kexp and it just floored me. I've been listening for years and have never ever heard that one played! I interpret it as her communicating with me via a familiar song but in a way that was all her own. Classic Laura - She always did things her way in life and in death. We are definitely not alone! Thanks again for sharing these stories and making space for our lost loved ones ❤️❤️ if you can, would love to hear the Judy Garland version of over the rainbow one more time. Wes in West Seattle"

"Hi John, Thanks for having this space for us to remember our loved ones. My mom died of endometrial cancer in '08. She loved music. She taught at an underserved elementary school and incorporated music lessons into her classes because the school didn't provide music class for the kids. She believed everyone should have music in their lives. She had a soft spot for ABBA -- yes she was one of those people dancing in the aisles at Mamma Mia the musical. Could you please play an ABBA song in her honor? Thanks for all you do, Aliza"

#musicheals #youarenotalone

"Hi John. I've listened to your show for years and the mom show always meant something to me, but when I lost my mom close to five years ago, I think I finally understood it. Her death changed the fiber of my being - grief shaped me into someone new. This show, this community, connected me back to music and brought me back to life. I am so grateful for you, for all of you at KEXP and all of the listeners that I know are in it with me for the long haul. The last song I played for my mom before she passed was "She's a rainbow" by the Rolling Stones. Rainbows have become a connection point to my mom, whether it's a refraction of light from a window or a marvel in the sky, they remind me that she's here, with me, through it all. If it fits into the show today to play "She's like a rainbow," would love to hear it and send a rainbow out into this amazing community. Thank you for having this day, for acknowledging that grief is ever present but also for giving hope for what is possible because we can all share in it and move forward. With so much respect and admiration, Jennifer"

And that was the Mom show. Thanks for tuning in, friends. Stay tuned for Evie on this #MusicHeals day.