When Given the Chance, “I Hope You Dance” – Lee Ann Womack

There’s certainly a sense of wonder we experience when we’ve bucked the odds successfully in a life situation and surprised people, including ourselves. It’s the serendipity that does it. There’s the hope of good result yet our expectations are tinged with the realism of all the other possibilities. And this is what makes it all the more special; it’s a victory-over-self to achieve something meaningful in spite of the odds.

The words and music to Lee Ann Womack’s classic song, I hope you dance, take us and our imaginations beyond our present into the unknown possibilities of the future and provide us with encouragement and confidence to take life on. It’s a love song from a parent to a child or a mentor to mentee.

Possibility and risk. This song is all about resilience risking for opportunities regarding love and life. It’s about having courage to follow-through with our instincts, going with our gut impulse. It’s too easy to sit out the dance. It’s too easy to get bitter or give up in life. It takes character, resolve, courage to risk, and ultimately, effort, to live the sort of life this song talks about. It’s every parent’s loving wish.

Lest we ever take one breath for granted... we should instil this into our children and those we mentor, and not the least, ourselves--the modelling of gratitude. Feeling small beside the ocean when at the beach is merely the appropriation for what is real. It’s frightening at times how small we are. It is also healthy to know how fragile life really is. It merely reinforces the attitude of gratitude.

Ultimately we could say though, this song is one of transferring the learning of life experience--with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. That’s why I think this song is the parent’s heart for one’s child. Our kids will always be our kids at the end of the day; we’ll hopefully never let go of the concept of the little girl or boy inside each one of our children.

Here below are the words of this utterly beautiful ballad:

“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 by the ocean

Whenever one door closes

I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

s

“And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

s

“I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they're worth taking

Lovin' might be a mistake

But it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart

Leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out

Reconsider

Give the heavens above

More than just a passing glance.”

s

Copyright © 2008, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.