So a real phenomenon passed yesterday and just/almost like Madiba, the world stood still with tributes and love.
Maya Angelou,1928-2014 (86 years)
I don’t even feel worthy to pen any tribute to write. Her LIFE is just my perfect excuse to finally share this song with the FAB community…
First time I ever heard ‘I hope you dance’ was in Tyler Perry’s ‘The Family that preys’
I thought that song was toooooo deep but I also thought it was a sound track made just for the movie so I couldn’t exactly DL until I saw Lizzie one day playing it on BBM (God bless whoever thought up ‘Show what I’m listening to’ on BBM abeg) and I quickly requested for it and got it.
That song plays almost daily from my phone.
Interestingly though Lee Ann Womack wrote the song, in my head, Maya Angelou wrote that song. The song is just her. Fits like a glove esp when you recall the Great grandma absolutely amazing character she played in TP’s Madea’s Family Reunion…
This song belongs to Maya abeg. Lee Ann Womack forgive us.
Imagine my delight when I saw this quote.
That song was the first thing that dropped in my head after news of her death went viral. That woman didn’t just die, SHE LIVED… And she danced through life abeg.
I’ll post lyrics of the song and a download link. That song is just LIFE.
Talks about courage, resilience, patience, forgiveness, drive, love, faith, life and living in the most subtle of ways. The song is soooo deep. If you don’t get it, then maybe you need to get err, deeper…
But before then, two of my most amazing Maya Quotes
See Lizzie’s tribute to her here. I loved it
Phenomenon after my heart.
Now the song
“I Hope You Dance”
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’,
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’,
Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)
Download link http://mp3skull.com/mp3/i_hope_you_dance.html
*if the link doesn’t work, holler at me personally*
Here’s to many more women who DANCE through life PHENOMENALLY
E’
Love Maya! Love this Song….the two, have a special place in my heart. E thank you for this post.
The song? Really special place in my heart. My heart believes she sang it
Maya Angelou………… You know how u have never met a person but in ur head she is like ur friend….. Thats what Maya was to me….. my biggest lesson from her had to be when you are having a bad day don’t let it rub off on others around U. And the one she talked about how u can tell the kind of person sm1 is by the way they handle: .a rainy day and lost luggage..This one always keeps me in check…
When i eventually bow out of life’s stage at ripe age..I pray I would have taught so many pple by being!!!!! Here are some more quotes : I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.” I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
May we all be remembered as phenomenal women!!!
Amen. touching our world for our Father
I love the parent line ooo. Tz true. Very.
And that second chance? Too true. Very true.
That Catchers mitt? Deeeeep
And that WARM HUG? THE TRUTH.
This woman’s life sha. Looks like every lasting thing she said was a quote. Phew.
Amen to the prayer abeg
She lived a life that lived
I love this song. but right now I love this lines d most.
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re
worth takin’,
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’,
Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing
glance,
I have so many fave lines …
But I guess I will pick ‘…and when you get a choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance…’
Also that hell bent heart leave you bitter
Uh…this post is…….uh….
Okay, I just wanted to say that this RICH tribute almost got me all teared up(I did laugh at Obama’s supposed famzing caption though).
Maya, like Madiba sure did live! A friend thinks they died empty because they gave all.
Rest their large souls.
I believe they did die empty indeed
Comments disappeared..
Aww, how can I reproduce.. will just say God rest Her soul.
That’s real annoying ehn
I usually copy my comments before I publish ooo. Just incase. Pele dear
A beautiful woman indeed.. Too many great lessons from her.. My favourite quote of hers has to be “I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”
Thanks for introducing that song as well, I am off to listen xx
I trust you enjoyed it. $i love that quote too. Didn’t even know she was the force behind it
Hmmmmm. Ez, I heard that song and I was practically ready to write a book. The next day I bought a jotter and made my outline. It had that much power.
Much like Maya herself, I ended up Googling her after watching that movie. Her Wikipedia page made for an interesting and very inspiring read. I sought and located many of her poems then….she truly lived! May peace find her soul.
I absolutely agree with you ooooooooooo. Powerful song. And powerful woman.
Amen