Finding hope in a song

✒ AS a chorister in a church in Bristol, I have a common instinct in relation to other choristers of churches, abbeys and cathedral choirs when coming across a song with words that have a distinct meaning – perhaps not intended by those who composed it for that film.

The song I am thinking of comes from the film Mary Poppins Returns and the title of it is The Place Where The Lost Things Go.

It has a rather appropriate meaning beyond anticipation or expectations of the film-makers and musical composers. But instinctively choristers of churches, abbeys and cathedrals can pick up on that. Apparently I am no exception to that, and I do believe that those words – under the current times – do have exceptional meaning.

‘Do you always lie, awake at night!

Just between the dark and the morning light! Searching for the things that you used to know.

Going to the place where the lost things go!’

Given the tragic losses to Covid 19 – and some very sad youngsters who have lost either parents, grandparents or other members of their families, this particular song carries much of the necessary sympathy – and also a much-needed sense of hope along with the realisation that things that are missed are never, ever out of place. That sort of belief of hope motivates me as a church chorister.

I very much believe in the meaning and defining point of the Chorister Prayer and that what I believe in my heart may show forth in what I sing and believe honestly.

I have followed that up in life as well. And to that end, I am far from being done! And so shall it be! Stephen Farthing

Hengrove