The Song and the Sigh

The creek of life goes winding on
Wandering by
And bears forever its course upon
A song and the sigh

– Henry Lawson

I’ve always loved Henry Lawson’s poem.  Somehow it brings together song and spirit, art and ordinary life. That’s what I try to do as a musician, and it’s part of what I try to do in ministry.   These musings are my small attempt to bring these things together, honoring life, song, justice and the human experience.

Spirit, after all, is far more broad than religion. Listen to a 1929 blues recording of Henry Spaulding or a Fred Cockerham banjo solo, and you’ll know what I mean. Open a book of poetry, or the sacred writings of just about any religion, and you will find unique and precious revelations of humanity.

Who am I?  I am a folksinger, Unitarian Universalist minister, songwriter, organizer, multi-instrumentalist, activist, Grammy nominee, writer, producer, husband, father, and lover of life.  I live in Pennsylvania and serve as the Minister of the Unitarian Congregation of West Chester, due west of Philadelphia and east of Lancaster.  When I’m able, I perform at festivals, concerts and coffeehouses throughout the country, but especially on the Eastern seaboard.

If you’d like to hear more of my music, please check out my website, Facebook Page, or YouTube channel.  You can purchase CDs, including the book and CD that inspired this site, at CD Baby.  I can be reached directly at dan [AT] danschatz [DOT] com.

A word on comments – Amy Zucker-Morgenstern said it best on her blog, Sermons In Stones:  “Disagreement is welcome, disagreeableness is not.  My guidelines in deciding which comments to approve are good manners and common sense, and while I value tangents as a hallmark of creative conversation, persistently using the comments section as a grindstone for your particular axe will irritate your host.”

All posts are © by Dan Schatz unless otherwise noted.  I am usually happy to grant permission to reprint for non-profit purposes – I just ask that you check with me first.  And of course, the opinions represented in this blog are wholly my own, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other persons or organizations.