Hope (Be Still, Isaac Slade)

Rose: It's a fine line between denial and faith. It's much better on my side.
Charlie: Help me.
Rose: Baby, I'm not the one that can help you...
- Whatever the Case May Be

Once I finally started writing LOST songs again, Dad started sending me song suggestions, and this is one of those.  I was especially touched when I read the story behind this gentle song of encouragement; the songwriter's brother called him in the middle of the night, unable to sleep, and after their conversation, this song came to him organically as a response.

It made me think of Rose's efforts to motivate and comfort Charlie in Whatever the Case May Be, some of my favorite scenes in the series.  While she is there for him, she points him in the direction of a higher help he seems to have given up on...

Hope

I still have hope, and you can, too.

I still have hope Bernard is near.

I still have hope, and you can, too.

Things aren’t that bad, you know.

A monster came upon you.

Though Claire is gone, you’re not to blame.

I still have hope, and you can, too.

Just call upon God’s name.

You almost wish that you were dead.

You’ve never felt this low.

But don’t give in to gloom and dread.

Things aren’t that bad, you know.

This isn’t the finale.

Though the story may get darker still,

The Lord of Light will help you see.

He will, He will, He will.

Reach out for help, and faith will grow.

Before your life began,

The Lord was preparing to guide you.

He always has a plan.

I still have hope, and you can, too.

He always has a plan.

Bad Month (Bad Day, Daniel Powter)

"You're havin' a bad month." - John to Walt, Pilot, Part 2

"Vincent - I tethered him to a tree just over there. I know that Walt lost his mom. I thought that you should be the one to bring his dog back to him."- John to Michael, Tabula Rasa

For some reason, Michael and Walt are two characters I've neglected somewhat, but I love John's interaction with Walt in the pilot and his facilitation of his reunion with Vincent in Tabula Rasa.  I would imagine that, given how poorly he was parented, he is especially hopeful that Michael will give Walt the kind of love and guidance he himself so sorely needed.

Bad Month

Michael, I know what he’s missing the most,

And would you believe that I found what he lost?

I tethered his Lab up to that tree,

But credit for that won’t go to me.

It should be you who brings his dog.

You feel like your boy’s just a kid you don’t know;

As long as you try, you will learn as you go.

He needs a good dad, and you’ll do fine.

You’ll manage to make up for lost time.

It should be you who brings his dog

‘Cause he’s had a bad month.  He’s gotta feel down,

But he can stay strong since he has you around.

As long as he knows his dad’s on his side,

Your wandering child’s gonna take it in stride.

He’s had a bad month.  He watched his mom die.

Los Angeles bound, he was thrown from the sky.

He’s had a bad month.  He’s had a bad month.

Before he wakes up, just slip away.

Get Vincent and brighten up his day.

It should be you who brings his dog.

He’s had a bad month.  He’s gotta feel down,

But he can stay strong since he has you around.

As long as he knows his dad’s on his side,

Your wandering child’s gonna take it in stride.

He’s had a bad month.  He watched his mom die.

Los Angeles bound, he was thrown from the sky.

He’s had a bad month.  Oh, what a lousy month!

Sadly, a son can struggle and sink

If a parent he trusts is gone.

Before you make it back to L.A.,

He ought to know that you’re the one

He can count on.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

So hurry and go, and I swear I won’t boast.

Just you and I

Will know how you found what was hopelessly lost.

‘Cause he’s had a bad month.  He’s gotta feel down,

But he can stay strong since he has you around.

As long as he knows his dad’s on his side,

Your wandering child’s gonna take it in stride.

He’s had a bad month.  He watched his mom die.

He met you and thought, “Who’s this guy?”

He’s had a bad month.  He had a bad month.

Had a bad month.  Had a bad month.  Had a bad month…

Runaway Annie (Mail Order Annie, Harry Chapin)

"My wife died 8 months ago Wednesday. She left me with too many chores and a hell of a mortgage. If you help me with the first one, I'll give you a fair wage and a place to stay." - Ray, Tabula Rasa

We just rewatched Tabula Rasa, and I realized I don't have a single filksong associated with that episode.  That definitely needs amending, and when I decided to start with Kate's backstory, Harry Chapin's gently wistful song popped into my head...

Runaway Annie

My first thought was to turn my gun on you,

A winsome vagabond asleep in my pen.

But seems to me you’re on the run from somethin’, yeah, yeah.

I could use a farmhand; you could use a friend.

Runaway Annie, aren’t you tired of walkin’?

The chores are a strain since I lost my wife.

Runaway Annie, maybe fate is knockin’.

I think we'll help each other here.

We are entitled to start again in life.

You know, it is a pity you’ve evaded me

And kept your weekly wage in that tin can.

Don’t tell me you can’t wait until the mornin’, no, no.

I’ll drive you to the station like a decent, honest man.

Runaway Annie, aren’t you tired of walkin’?

I understand pain since I lost my wife.

Runaway Annie, maybe fate is knockin’.

I think that I could help you here.

You are entitled to start again in life.

I know it’s not my business what you’re runnin’ from;

You store your stash of secrets like the money in that wad.

But Annie, after three long months of labor,

Not saying a goodbye would be odd.

You know about my dirty plan; we’re not headed for the train.

My mortgage isn’t pretty; I can’t manage it alone.

And I hope you know how much I hate betrayin’ you,

But you run away, Annie, and I will lose my home.

Runaway Annie, aren’t you tired of walkin’?

The bills are insane since I lost my wife.

Runaway Annie, maybe fate is knockin’.

I think that you could help me here.

I am entitled to start again in life.

Counting to Five (Stayin' Alive, Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)

Jack: Well, fear's sort of an odd thing. When I was in residency, my first solo procedure was a spinal surgery on a 16-year-old kid, a girl. And at the end, after 13 hours, I was closing her up and I, I accidentally ripped her dural sac. Shredded the base of the spine where all the nerves come together, membrane as thin as tissue. And so it ripped open. And the nerves just spilled out of her like angel hair pasta, spinal fluid flowing out of her and I … And the terror was just so … crazy. So real. And I knew I had to deal with it. So I just made a choice. I'd let the fear in, let it take over, let it do its thing, but only for five seconds, that's all I was going to give it. So I started to count: One, two, three, four, five. Then it was gone. I went back to work, sewed her up and she was fine.
Kate: If that had been me, I think I would have run for the door.
Jack: No, I don't think that's true. You're not running now.
- Pilot, Part 1

I was rewatching the first episode of LOST with will, and I was struck by the fact that as iconic as this scene is, I never devoted a song to it.  I decided I needed to do something about that, and this, my first LOST song in four and a half years, is the result.  Hopefully it will be the first in a new filking srreak!

Counting to Five

Jack: Well, I can tell by the way you stand and gawk

That you’re traumatized and still in shock.

Though you see my skin is torn,

You are treating my request with scorn.

Despite the drapes that you once made,

To stitch me up makes you afraid.

But don’t say “can’t;” I know you can.

I hope you’ll help a wounded man.

What can help prepare you when situations scare you?

Try counting to five.  Counting to five.

Let the panic fill you but never let it kill you.

Just try counting to five.  Counting to five.

One, two, three, four, counting to five.  Counting to five.

One, two, three, four.  Counting to five…

Well, now, fear is odd.  I’ll tell you why

I come across as such a fearless guy.

As a spinal surgeon, I refuse

To let small mistakes mean patients lose.

I nicked a poor girl’s dural sac;

I didn’t beat the terror back.

Once I used this trick of mine,

I sewed her up and she was fine.

What can help prepare you when situations scare you?

Try counting to five.  Counting to five.

Let the panic fill you but never let it kill you.

Just try counting to five.  Counting to five.

One, two, three, four, counting to five.  Counting to five.

One, two, three, four.  Counting to five…

Kate: If I had been there,

I would have bolted, just bolted for the door.

Jack: No, I don’t think so.  Your kindness moves you more.

Counting to five…

Jack: Well, I could tell by the way you stood and gawked

You were traumatized and still in shock.

Though you saw my skin was torn,

You were treating my request with scorn.

Despite the drapes that you once made,

To stitch me up made you afraid.

But no more “can’t;” you proved you can.

You bravely helped a wounded man.

What can help prepare you when situations scare you?

Try counting to five.  Counting to five.

Let the panic fill you but never let it kill you.

Just try counting to five.  Counting to five.

One, two, three, four, counting to five.  Counting to five.

One, two, three, four.  Counting to five…

Kate: If I had been there,

I would have bolted, just bolted for the door.

Jack: No, I don’t think so.  Your kindness moves you more.

Kate: I’m counting to five.

Kate: If I had been there,

I would have bolted, just bolted for the door.

Jack: No, I don’t think so.  Your kindness moves you more.

Kate: I’m counting to five…

Jack: Fear can’t defeat you.  Your kindness moves you more.