I collected these audio snippets from the Long-Play Recording “From Now On” published in 1972. Each song is preceded by a few lines starting with “From now on …” and these texts are recited by Al Cappelle. Marshall Rosenberg called Al his best teacher overall – he said this in his autobiography, written for the dissertation of Majorie Witts.
So it touches me to hear Al Chappelle recite these lines of commitment – of intention – of how I want to live my life … from now on.
Text
From now on
I want to remain aware
that when my thinking guides me into communion with life’s sweet flow,
I am able at the same time
to be myself, to give myself, to transcend myself …
And it’s only in this sweet flow
that we are all one,
caring for each other,
and that’s all that needs to be done.
From now on,
I want to be aware of the unchosen thoughts
that have been planted into the soil of my memory,
by narrow-vision authorities,
by mind-numbing media,
and daily routine.
Otherwise unquestioned have-tos, shoulds and oughts
are smothering my ever-emerging self,
leading me into robot-like action,
denying my human possibilities.
From now on, when my feelings tell me,
that I’m out of rhythm with the dance of my own choosing,
I want to find the wish I avoid,
even when it’s hidden beneath the alienating way
I think of myself and others.
From now on I want to listen,
when my feelings tell me
whether I’m moving in tune with myself
or whether I’m being rocked off course,
by alienating thoughts and events.
For many years I ignored the ever-present counseling of my feelings
I believed that my emotions should be hidden in boxes
marked: sinful, selfish and unmanly.
John Wayne and my other macho heroes
never admitted to loneliness
or hurt
or being sad.
I experience the mystical excitement of being human
when I courageously choose
what I want to have happen.
So from now on, I want it said of me,
that when trouble began
he didn’t say: “Oh, what’s the use?”
but: “Here’s my plan!”
From now on, I want to accept that
wisdom often takes more time
between visits than I would like.
Otherwise I feel like throwing up,
when I see myself slowing up,
in my growing up.
From now on,
I want to see and respect the unique and holy experience
each person is, every moment.
From now on, I want to rid myself
of the myriad of sad tricks,
I’ve learned for chilling the warmth of closeness.
From now on, I’d rather be sad
because I’m missing what I once had
that not touching someone in a way to be sad about,
when the touch is no longer there.
From now on,
I want to remind myself that worrying about missing boats,
keeps me from enjoying the voyages that I’m on.
And I further want to remind myself
that the harshest of judgments
is either a poorly sent SOS
or a poorly wrapped care package.
From now on,
I want to go beyond removing cinders from my eye
and channel the energy blowing debris toward you and me
into a life enriching energy.
Hey there, sister! Hey there, brother!
What I’m trying to say is
From now on we don’t have to exploit,
violate, oppress, or dominate people young,
people old, people meek, people bow;
the hes, the shes, the illiterates,
or the phds, those who lose, those who win,
those of any color of skin,
black, white, eskimo,
red, yellow, chicano,
those straight, those gay,
in fact those who are different in any kind of way,
because we’ve got magic to give each other.
From now on – Collected intros to songs, taken from the LP record From now on – 1976
Spoken by Al Chappelle