On Wednesday night, I went to the weekly After Work Mingle at Loafer’s Beach Club in Raleigh. It’s their night for “Beach, Boogie, and Blues” and the floor was packed. Most of the dancers were doing the Carolina Shag dance, that 6 count, 8 step partner swing dance to Beach music. In the Carolinas “shag” doesn’t mean the same thing as it means in the UK 🙂 The dance was developed in the 1940s in the Ocean Drive section of N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina–and is their State Dance. I took two intro classes to learn the Carolina Shag but when the footwork became more complicated, I decided to stick to the swing dances I knew. But still, I enjoy the music and find enough partners to have fun.

Sometimes the DJ and owner, Gary Gibson will play a song that’s unfamiliar and I’ll try to identify it on Shazam. When that doesn’t work, I make my way through the crowd to the DJ booth to ask about the song. Gary always takes the time to answer my questions and give me more info on the artist. He’s been doing this for years and has a wealth of knowledge. This time the song was, “Satisfy My Soul” by Paul Carrack. Gary mentioned the groups Paul had been with and other songs he’d performed.

When I got home, I pulled Carrack up on Youtube and listened to the live version of “Satisfy My Soul” that was recorded 5 years ago. How I loved this new discovery, this “man with the Golden Voice” from Sheffield, England. The lyrics of that song touched my heart, partly because of the reference to “Soul.” I’ve been focused on the meaning of soul over the past few years. I view it as our “true essence that is spirit” and over time see it as so different from our logical, daily selves. Several years ago when I moved to Apex, I found a book that was ‘waiting for me’ in the Little Free Library at Hunter St. Park:

In the Introduction of the book, Moore says “The soul is not a thing. It represents more an area of region of experience, both inner and outer, that conveys essence, depth, substance and mystery. You can become aware of that region in yourself when you realize how deeply some event stirs you.” Over these years of building my new life since divorce, I’ve read and reread parts of the book. One of the things that ‘deeply stirs me’ is music; it has helped me through pain and sadness, and has heightened my joy–especially when I’m dancing.

Looking back, I see that’s been true throughout my life. When I was a girl, I loved music and dancing that I’d watch on American Bandstand and Soul Train. My favorite singers were The Supremes, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye–to name a few. When I researched Paul Carrack, I learned that he is widely considered one of Britain’s premier blue-eyed soul singers. That term, that was popularized in the 1960s, refers to white artists who perform soul, rhythm and blues (R & B) and Motown-style music. It makes sense that his voice, his style would touch me deeply just like two of my favorite singers–Michael McDonald and Bob Scaggs, also considered blue-eyed soul singers.

I printed out the lyrics for “Satisfy My Soul.” The first two lines speak to me of Hope:

“Satisfy my soul, let the day begin

Make the evening roll, let the big sky in”

When dancing to that song, I mostly hear the opening line and maybe the chorus. There’s the competing sound of rhythmic feet on the wooden floor and partners talking, laughing, and enjoying their few minutes together during that song. The next lines, remind me of why dance has helped so much during the loneliness of divorce:

“Satisfy my heart, it’s so good to feel

Love is all around , and all the hurt will heal”

Music and Dance have certainly been part of that healing–and now, they’re two big things I share with the man in my life. I’m grateful for finding a new song that speaks to me and is a companion for this life journey.

My hope for you is to find the things that speak to your Soul–that are part of your true essence.

Connie