King of the world

[cosmolinguist]

It's usually Andrew who cries out, in person or on Twitter or something, when some musician or writer or actor I may or may not vaguely have heard of shuffles off this mortal coil. His eclectic tastes, encyclopedic knowledge, and appreciation for lots of little guys -- and gals -- mean he is a good person to notice and appreciate what often doesn't get noticed or appreciated.

But this time it's me who's a little sad. (Andrew actually knew about this yesterday, but didn't tell me because he knew this would make my bad day worse, bless him.)

Do I have to say his name?

Clarence Clemons is part of the reason I learned to play the saxophone. He and the rest of the E Street Band shaped my childhood, provided a soundtrack to one of the relationships that have made me the happiest, and in general filled in a lot of the nooks and crannies with light and joy and life.

To live in a world without The Big Man is to be missing out, but also to be grateful for what he's left us with. I know somewhere on Twitter or Facebook I once said something about the impossibility of feeling sad while listening to "Rosalita," and as much as it's the exuberence in Springsteen's delivery, most of it's down to The Big Man's soaring, powerful, joyous saxophone playing. These, or any, words are a pale echo of it; just go listen.

And similarly I am without words to tell you how much he means to me. I'm sad he's gone, but I am glad he was here.

Comments

[plumsbitch.livejournal.com]

YES THIS

thanks, as often, for putting brilliant words to something that I have been all wafty and inarticulate about today.

[cosmolinguist]

Thank you! It really does seem like words are inevitably lacking, so I'm even more grateful and happy that I usually would be (and that's a lot!) to hear that you found them useful or interesting :)