Saint Honesty by Sara Bareilles

Just a couple of days until Sara Bareilles' new album is released. I'm not excited. You're excited.

I'M SO EXCITED!

There are musicians that fill your soul, that speak to your experiences on a certain level, whose lyrics move you so deeply.

That is Sara Bareilles for me. She is also formative to my own songwriting and my style. There is such an honesty to her writing. I watched a NY Times interview with her this week. When she wrote a few specific songs such as Gravity or Love Song, she mentioned that she thought they were so incredibly personal. But when they were released, so many people shared how the song totally resonated with their experiences (I mean, Gravity, for real).

There are a few songs of mine, 'Flying' or 'For Now' that I wrote at a time I needed absolute catharsis, where I had to dig deep to heal. I felt like I was being so true to my experiences. And people have come to me telling me how much those songs mean to them. Shared experience is so powerful. 

T Bone Burnett produced Sara Bareilles' newest album, Amidst the Chaos. He has produced some beautiful songs with other musicians. Apparently, this album has songs about Obama, activism, and love. She wrote one song in particular about the kids detained at the U.S./Mexico border. I so appreciate when musicians are able to bring their activism into their lyrics. It's something I'm still trying to figure out - how do you do so without sounding too preachy?

Saint Honesty.

What is it about this song that feels so raw and open to me? I think it's the combination of the lyrics and her vocals.

Rain on us, Saint Honesty
Salvation is coming in the morning, 
but now what we need
is a little rain on our face from you, 
sweet Saint Honesty

I can imagine standing out in the rain to get clarity about this life. Just a little bit of honesty can help us to get closer to ourselves. Sure, it might be hard as hell to hear in the moment, but I'm so grateful for the times the rain made me see; whether the rain came through people or experiences. There is a way of living life where we get too comfortable and dry and never have to be honest with ourselves. But there is a way of living, a way I seek to live where I am vulnerable and open to the realities, where it hurts, but I grow. Seems like one of the tenets of why we are here on this earth; to evolve. 

The universe is probably laughing at me so much right now. 'Sheeba, you want vulnerability? You want to grow more? Get ready, because you're about to be the most vulnerable you ever have been as you give birth and you two raise a baby."

You got me universe, you got me;)

There is a sweet salvation I seek - although - if we are truly being honest, I'm terrified of this next step! Saint Honesty...I think you're about to reveal a lot to me about self doubt, motherhood, sacrifice,  spit up, and deep love. Yep. I'm excited. I'm worried. I'm anxious. I'm full of love. I'm curious. I'm open...

I realize that the people I admire so much in this world are the ones who are authentic, who are compassionate, who are real. 

I saw the best quote recently

"I have some issues with my past self, but she was young and I forgive her."

Such a simple quote, but so deeply reflective about missteps we make throughout our lives. I can be hard on myself for the mistakes I have made. I know I'll be hard on myself for not getting certain things right with motherhood. But I think we just "get soaked to the bone and baptized by truth", and ultimately forgive ourselves. That's when the light shines through our cracked human selves, right?!

Oh, we won't let go, we'll be soaked to the bone
Baptized by truth, we will reap what we sow
Build our own higher ground when the rain's coming down
This is worth it to me, Saint Honesty

This song. So so beautiful.

Can't wait for the rest of this album.


Saint Honesty