Standing on the Edge

My first solo album, Hope and Glory, is all about standing on the edge. Each one of these songs was written at a time when the abyss yawned and it seemed certain that we were about to tumble tragically into it. Whether we did or didn't fall is unknown, because at present we are immersed in a world too violent and commercial to tell. Is Bob Dylan's hard rain gonna fall? Or are we already standing waist deep? "How high's the water mama?"

In John Lennon's "Isolation," every man, woman and child is an island moated by fear and rage. When he wrote this song, he was struggling to throw a bridge across his own troubled water. This song to me is one of the most hopeful on the album because it cuts deeply and honestly. It wastes no time being safe. It stands on the edge.

I wonder how we are to truly feel ourselves as we hurtle through this world, planning for "the future," grabbing scraps to cover ourselves along the way, laughing when we can, extending the golden carrot a little further each day. My teen-age daughter feels that I live in a protected bubble, that I'm "done" because I now own a house and have children. How can I tell her that, knowing what I know, I will always live on the edge?

Comments

[nyboomer]

We are on the edge because we let incompetent oafs get into positions where they are in charge. Bush got in because of his father. Having been incompetent all his life he finds competence scary and offputting. We permitted this because we bought into main stream media liars who kept up a barrage of hate speech against Democrats.

The media used to spend some time protecting the public interest. They now spend time trying make more money. The public interest be damned.

I hope that the Wilson sisters keep on making music and write songs that explain why we are on edge, not just telling us where the nearest precipice is.

[Wolf29]

Yes, I wonder what happened to the idea of politicians working for the people. I just thank my lucky stars that there are musicians who prove that they are more powerful(through their lyrics) than any politician could ever fathom themselves to be.
Ann, I love it when you journal. In fact, I cannot emphasize it enough how significantly you and Nancy's lyrics have changed my life. There is nothing more powerful than the written word.

[gennifer6]

what a pleasant surprise finding you here!

Your daughter is too young yet to understand that you don't just stop learning and growing and changing once you've achieved what she perceives as the typical American success story. She still expects there to be a happily-ever-after to follow up the house-and-kids part. Having the ability to stand on the edge and face the hard truths about both our world and ourselves is part of that ongoing process; as she ages, she'll figure it out.

Welcome to Huffington Post BTW.

[ShawnMichel]

Excellent post, Ann. And don't listen to the naysayers and the vanillas, who have traded their soul for security. You know better. It shows in your music.

[gfk]

Hi Ann, Love your voice. Grew up on Heart. As far as your daughter goes, I wouldn't want you to teach her that. She needs to think you are "done" which in teenage land equals stable, so she can go feel free to live on the edge. She'll know how not "done" you are when she is a Mom and owns a home. Until then, I think it's good to let her think her old, goofy Mom, is done. Rock on Ann.

[Guitarsandmore]

Hope and Glory is more of a Duets of classic rock tunes than a solo ablum. I'm not sure why it is being marketed as a solo album.

Some of it sounds kind of stripped down and naked, which I like a lot. I mean it goes from slick to raw real fast.

Ann's voice is at that grown up stage where the rasp and growl must come all too natural for her.

Even so she is sweet when she wants to be. I just don't think she wants to be sweet anymore. These are rough times for lots of folks.

Thanks Ann and friends, for twelve tracks of Rock/Bluegrass ballad heaven! A return to some real music is very much appreaciated!

Best Regards,

G&M

[Guitarsandmore]

As far as your daughter goes; I think she is trying to tell you to compose some music of your own instead of doing remakes of rock and roll classics. Good remakes though they may be, to really live on the edge you must put your own creative talent to work and see who responds to it.

Myselft, I appreaciate the updated classics - kinda of a new protest for a new war. They sure are dark and depressing, but then again they are dark and depressing.

[BlueandGreen]

Personally, I refuse to go over the edge. I wouldn't give the bastards the satisfaction! Keep the faith, Ann.

[Aslanspal]

8 years of the cheney/rove/bush culture of trying to destroy everything FDR and have empire for crony's I would say we are waist deep.

[cktirumalai]

When I was in my early twenties ( I am now 70) I contemplated suicide more than passingly, for both personal and impersonal reasons. "Standing on the Edge" can open up new possibilities of thought and feeling but I am certainly glad I did not go over.

[pbarba1969]

I love Ann Wilson . One of the all time great voices in Rock n' Roll history and a big yeah one of the sexiest women ever....