On Becoming Gold

Marc Cohn once again – “She’s Becoming Gold”. Please - go listen to it.

I have listened to that song for nearly 20 years. At times, very intently; with headphones on and trying to hear every nuance of the music. Given that the background singers include David Crosby, it’s no wonder that I wanted to hear every note played or sang by anyone.

I’ve concluded that maybe I missed the message in the lyrics. I’ve been under that conclusion ever since I got a very short and simple email from my lovely wife earlier today.

I had asked her, regarding another matter, how she’d managed to get so smart before she even turned 50. Her two word response: “becoming gold”.

The song is about… well, it’s about a lot of things, but mainly I’ve concluded that it’s about acquiring wisdom. Which really only happens as one ages. Wisdom is something one either inherits or acquires. In TLMK’s case, I think it’s a combination. Mac & Theany were/are wise, - from lessons hard learned and a toughness earned from a hard life. The same can be said of ML and Edna.

Through their struggles, they became “gold”. Quiet, unassuming, and filled with wisdom.

And joy. Everyone reading this can remember laughing with their parents. Good times.

So go become gold.