my term paper- not quite edited

Music, Muses, and Oral Traditions
In ancient times, myths were used to tell stories of the gods and of human origins. Myths and stories were told by the fire or the hearth, allowing the entire tribe or clan to join in with the chorus, giving them the interpretation of their choice. A lot of these stories gave rise to the ideas of culture, survival, and the environment. Stories passed into songs about the gods and about personal reflection. People were able to express themselves in both the oral and the literate traditions through song. Ideas, thoughts and opinions were able to be demonstrated through song, music, words, actions, and gestures. “Music is existence- Gesang ist Dasein.”
Muses were called upon for inspiration before a poet or performer of a story began their tale. The muses served as almost religious figures- an idea and women to be revered and treated with utmost respect. Another woman who receives invocation and reverence is Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus. The purpose of this invocation is a little different however; it is more about personal salvation as opposed to performing as best as one can. For instance, the song “Let It Be” by the Beatles references Mother Mary several times:

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be.
And when the broken-hearted people
Living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted
There is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Yeah, there will be an answer let it be
Let it be, let it be,
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be.
And when the night is cloudy
There is still a light that shines on me
Shine on unto tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Yeah, there will be an answer let it be
Let it be, let it be,
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be.

By means of the song “Let It Be,” writers John Lennon and Paul McCartney could reflect on their experiences as humans in a crazy media world. Music and lyrics gave to them a sense of relief and a way to express their thoughts. With music, Lennon and McCartney did not have to spell anything out for their listeners. Music is up for interpretation and each word can mean something completely different from one person to the next. That is what makes music what it is now and how it can change lives. “Let It Be” is a reassurance of my faith and a reminder that things happen that I cannot change. Rather than try to change everything, especially things that are out of one's control, sometimes it is better to leave them alone. “Let It Be” also serves as a reminder that there is a higher power and that God or Mother Mary or the gods or even the muses are out there in the world. Sometimes life is better if left alone and given whole-heartedly up to fate and chance.

Myth, as well as music and song, also reflect on the past. Memories and past decisions give writers and song-writers alike ammunition for their arsenal of words. The “If only” motto is apparent in a lot of songs and it shows the regret and feeling of what might have been. Yesterday becomes an obsession of sorts, and gives a person a wish to go back and change events that happened.

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Suddenly I'm not half of the man I used to be
There's a shadow hanging over me
Oh, yesterday came suddenly
Why she had to go
I don't know, she wouldn't say
I said something wrong
Now I long for yesterday
Yesterday love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Why'd she had to go
I don't know, she wouldn't say
I said something wrong
Now I long for yesterday
Yesterday love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe in yesterday.

“Yesterday” by the Beatles gives insight to the human world and mind. The human race, in general, desires what they do not have and wish for what might have been. Songwriters tend to focus on love because of the necessity of it for a full life. “Love, love, love is all you need...” Myth and other oral traditions focus on necessity but more so the primary necessity explained is survival. Lessons come about after the essentials are discussed and described. Beliefs and ideals are developed into the story and into the deeper meaning. Songs also have hidden meanings and one has to look inside of oneself to find the deeper meaning. The deeper meaning is something personal and something intrinsic. It is not easily explained and it can mean something different to each person that hears it or reads it.

Traditions, both in the oral and literate worlds, give the reader, the viewer, or the participant something different that they may not have experienced otherwise. The experience gives to the person time for reflection and introspection, thus giving him or her the chance to become a better person. Following in the steps of those around a person, he or she can reassess their life map and make a new path for themselves. They can choose to copy other writers and take “The Path Not Taken.” He or she can decide to carve their own way through life, experiencing everything for themselves and learning through mistakes and trials. Without the works of literature as a framework to guide us, we would be lost. Oral and literate traditions give the world something that we cannot give back. We have learned from them and we grow using the lessons they give us every day. Oral and literate (literacy) traditions give us the strength to step through the door but it is our own courage and conviction that we can greet the world and embrace it.

The Beatles. “All You Need is Love.” The Beatles 1. Martin, 2000.
The Beatles. “Let It Be.” The Beatles 1. Martin, 2000.
The Beatles. “Yesterday.” The Beatles 1. Martin, 2000.
Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” Mountain Interval. New York: Henry Holt and
Company, 1920.