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Dust Outside The Sun

from Singles by Bill Milford

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about

This song is part of my "Mother of a Set" - that is, four songs about my mother. Along with "Life Full of Time", "Warrior" and "Dust Outside the Sun" - the songs reflect different parts of her journey after my dad died. "Life Full of Time" recalls the full shock to her of my father's sudden death. "Mend These Bones" focused on her unexpected strength and resilience in rebounding from falls (which included broken bones, etc.). "Warrior" reflects the quiet strength she displayed in aging. And "Dust Outside the Sun" is my homage to my sister and her after their deaths.

I wrote this shortly before my sister, Pam, passed away - and think it is one of my best compositions musically and lyrically. I wanted to write something both spiritual yet grounded in the reality of my beliefs. I think the crux of the song ends up emphasizing the importance of "being here now" - as this is our moment of connection in this lifetime. However, ultimately we are all elements of the universe.

The 2nd verse is a nice summary of what some scholars have stated was the original message of Jesus. That life can be heaven when we are connected to one another and hell when we feel alienated. And that when we live with the mindset that things would be perfect "if only...." then we "overlook what's near (the present moment) for what is far....".

That last verse has a brief homage to my mother in it as my original lyric was to be a"speck in the universe" - but then I changed it to "dot in the universe" as my mother's name is Dorothy and she was often called "Dot". I also like the final line describing our mortality on this earth as "tethered to this world by our beating heart."

There is also a lovely version of this song in one of the Winni concerts with Chris Peters.

lyrics

Dust Outside The Sun

Dust to dust, From shine to rust,
Seems we’re here today and gone tomorrow,
And the miracle we hold… fades until we’re told,
That all the time we have, Is time that’s borrowed,

Chorus:
And oh, the pain…
To lose all that we gain,
From all we’ve loved and all we’ve done,
But there is no defeat,
For again, someday, we’ll meet,
As particles in dust outside the sun.

Some say that heaven’s here,
Though clouded by our fear,
That things should be all different than the way they are,
It’s hard to accept, This life without regret,
As we overlook what’s near, For what is far.

Sometimes it feels a curse,
To be this dot in the universe,
A spot of blue in a vista of light and dark.
Once awake enough to know, Then it’s time for us to go.
Tethered to this world by our beating heart.

5/10/2015

credits

from Singles, released February 1, 2019
Home recording - all instruments and vocal - Bill Milford

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Bill Milford Tallahassee, Florida

Bill Milford lives in Tallahassee, FL. He performed professionally during his 20's and still plays out occasionally. He has performed with Barb Siftar, Lindy Hearne, Lynn
Adler, Chris Peters, Gail Nickse, Fred Griffeth, Richie Summa, and many other fine artists. He made dozens of dollars during his folk career so he offers his recordings without charge. ... more

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