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My Gen X Playlist: The Returner – Allison Russell

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I’m on Episode 6 of my second time around with Ripple. Here is another quote and song.

Faith is bigger than salvation and damnation. It’s about the love and joy that we find in each other. Faith is community. Lifting each other up, that’s what it’s all about. It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t believe about a higher power. Just keep your faith in your fellow man.

I’ve had this on again off again relationship with faith. I believe in a higher power, sometimes I pray or talk to God. When I went to church, I definitely enjoyed the worship music, especially when accompanied by an electric guitar. But recently, I’m a little discouraged by religion. Not so much with God, he hasn’t really let me down. Instead, I can’t reconcile the church’s embrace of Donald Trump. It feels like hypocrisy to me and I can’t stomach the blind eye they afford him. It’s totally turned me off to attending church.

In Episode 6, a disillusioned man was sharing with a pastor and the quote above was the pastor’s response. His words resonated with me and may have cracked opened a door. Maybe this sliver of light is a first step. I know it’s not much, but I think it may be all I am able to give for now. At the very least, it’s food for thought as I begin this new year.

In Episode 6, Allison Russell’s The Returner caught my ear. I’ve never heard of her or her music before until this episode. The first lines drew me in.

Now I let go everything that I’ve known
Let it go on, let it roll out with the tide.

It starts out slow, then picks up to a nice groove. I was listening to it at a coffee house gently bobbing to the beat, but in my head my arms were swaying in the air. And just to let you know, I’m not a swaying arms in the air kind of guy. But it is such a good tune.

“. . . The Returner is about reclaiming the present despite one’s troubles. “It’s about being re-embodied,” Russell says. “It’s about embracing this human experience that we are all living right now, in the here and now, and understanding that our joy and celebration is also a powerful force . . . “

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I liked the feel of this song, just like I liked the feel of the pastor’s quote. Sometimes it’s all about the feel. I’ll happily take that from this episode and also give thanks for discovering a new artist.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Now I let go everything that I've known
Let it go on, let it roll out with the tide
I can't think of a thing that hasn't been shot through with pain
Like a nightingale's song in the dead of the night

Goodbye, so long, farewell all I've been, ooo, oblivion
Throw me in the ocean, ooo, see if I can swim
I'm wild again, I'm a starchild again
I come ten million miles, ooo, I'm burning

I'm a summer dream, I'm a real light beam, I'm worthy
Of all the goodness and the love that the world's gonna give to me
I'ma give it back ten times, people, are you ready?
If you think you're alone, hold on, I'm coming

Now I unfold every lie I was told
Watch 'em wither, watch 'em scatter with with wind
I can't think of a thing that hasn't been born of a dream
Like a Love Supreme, like a Circle Unbroken

Goodbye, so long, farewell all I've been, ooo, oblivion
Throw me in the ocean, ooo, Mama, watch me swim
I'm wild again, I'm a starchild again
I come ten million miles, ooo, I'm burning

I'm a summer dream, I'm a real light beam, I'm worthy
Of all the goodness and the love that the world's gonna give to me
I'ma give it back ten times, people, are you ready?
If you think you're alone, hold on, I'm coming

Don't you know, don't you know, don't you know
You are never alone

21 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: The Returner – Allison Russell”

  1. Historically, it seems like Republicans have been taught to vote for the Republican – no matter how bad they are and no matter how good a democrat candidate is.

    I say “historically” because I know a lot of lifelong Republicans who have decided that they could not, and good conscience, vote for Trump. That alone gives me hope.

    But the only rationale I can give to organize religions backing conservative candidates is their stance on abortion. And even that is a slippery slope, at best.

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  2. I’m glad you found comfort in that quote from Ripple. Let me assure you that not all Christians and not all churches support Trump. I used to be a faithful Republican, but I’ve shifted over the years towards the middle, maybe even favoring the Left. I know this is a trite saying, but when evaluating politicians, I think What would Jesus do? The only truth I can trust is God’s Word.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comments. I always appreciate them. Yes, I shouldn’t put everyone in the same bucket. Whenever I get triggered, I think about the elections when he had people lined up behind him. And I understand we shouldn’t expect people to be perfect, that’s an impossible guideline. Maybe I’m wrong, but it just feels like he does more than cross the line. It literally pains me to hear about him in the news.

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  3. I freaking LOVE this song!
    The verse that ends with:
    “…if you think you’re alone, hold on I’m coming…” whew 🥹that whole verse!
    ‘Faith’ is a word to tackle, and you did it. Yikes.
    This songs says it perfectly. Its hard when everyone seems to want to debate pretty much everything. At the core I think it makes me sad to lose faith in humanity, or God. But man, we’re living in a weird time

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  4. So many clergy here in New England are leading activists against Trump. Obviously UU from churches, but also many fully Christian churches (like Congregationalist and Episcopalian) are fighting hard against MAGA. Maybe some church shopping is in order? Thanks for the new song!

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    1. Thanks, Mary. I appreciate the comments. I’m the first to admit I haven’t done any research. I just get angry at the TV. It’s good to know my sweeping assumptions are not entirely true. For once, I don’t mind being wrong here.

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  5. I left mainstream church in the early 90s; but understand the nostalgia for the music and camaraderie, structuring. Once I stepped away I could little by little see more and more what had been there all my life. I could never have imagined all this, though.

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      1. It’s hard to find things that bring a laugh, even the most outlandish things. I’m watching Canada’s PM giving a speech at the Economic Forum and to consider the US on the outskirts of once solid partnerships… ugh, it’s surreal.

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  6. It’s a similar question here that I constantly ask, why the educated here cannot see what goes on underneath with the present government. Their loyalty is rooted in religion and that is disheartening.

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  7. Allison Russell is great. Nightflyer is another favorite song of hers for me. If you want to see her perform live, she did a rockin’ duet with Norah Jones at Willie’s 90th birthday party, singing Seven Spanish Angels.

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  8. I can really relate to this. I used to be very involved in church, but over time I realized that the institution and I just didn’t align. After doing my own soul homework, I’ve found a love for spirituality separate from religion—more about connection, presence, and joy than rules or politics. Reading this made me nod along, like yes, this is what it’s really about.

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