SECRET SANTA SONG

at cranes in hollywood tonight, i had the honor and privilege to join in the first annual 'secret santa song swap' with a bunch of amazing friends.....

a couple weeks ago, everyone drew names (about thirty of us), just like a 'normal' secret santa.... except, whoever we picked, we had to learn and sing that person's song...

so part of the 'gift' was getting to hear someone re-invent your song, but also not knowing WHO would be singing it... it was a surprise up to the moment they were about to start singing..

i think it turned into something bigger and more beautiful than anyone expected... and everyone knew we were all participating in something so special, while we were doing it....

it's like getting to read someone's diary, and then share the personal, fragile beauty you discovered with all your friends...

or maybe it's like being at the after-party of your own funeral, where all your friends sit around and tell stories about you... and laugh and cry about and love what you left inside of them.... but you get to hear it....

part of the joy in all of this, was getting to see the face of each person as his or her song was sung.... like getting to watch them open their best christmas present ever...

there is a quiet sweetness that comes out when someone sings your song.... like seeing a poem you wrote in another person's handwriting... you hear things that you might never have heard before in your own words... it somehow makes it more beautiful, more sad, more true...