Day Four
Belfast can be a dreary city. The road works at the Westlink can destroy your soul if you let them; the interminable queues, irrelevant 30mph signs and hulking lorries perilously close. Today I found the perfect antidote to road rage in Belfast- ‘Bluetree’s Album- Greater Things.’
‘Bluetree’ are a local band who have released an amazing album, one that has stirred me to the core in the past weeks. Sick parents, kids, living with in-laws have all been tiresome, yet everytime I escape in my car with this album, my soul soars.
Track Five choked me today. I’m a sentimental fool at the best of times, I just need to hear my Uncle Andy sing “Belfast, you call to me” and I reach for the tissues. I pride myself in not being in the least patriotic, but I have a loyalty and love for Belfast that can make me weep.
Track Five- the title track “Greater Things,” has the refrain
‘Greater Things are yet to come,
Greater Things have still to be done in this CITY!”
The energy and passion of the vocal on the word ‘city’ makes me shiver every time. It seared through every ounce of lethargy and disdain I was feeling trapped in traffic. I looked at the people around me, the dramatic changes to our infrastructure and loved them all.
I felt grace.
In turn, the driver in the black Audi was prayed for by a sentimental stranger and was forgiven for his idiotic driving insensibilities.
