Locked down with my Ukulele 37

These are strange times and I’ve stopped listening.

I’ve done it and I’ve had it done to me. You’re talking and the eyes of the listener go dead and they develop a steady nod that’s more like a rhythmic rock.

I’d like to think that I’m not so boring that I’m tipping the people I talk to into a vocal induced coma. I may be able to develop it into a talent for either becoming a hypnotist or a cure for insomniacs.

Then there are people who believe that a conversation is where they talk at you without letting you get a word in. I always thought that a conversation involved an exchange of ideas. However, who is to blame! I think it is a British thing that you might feel frustrated at the time but too polite to actually say anything. After all it would be terribly impolite to suggest that you were able to contribute anything meaningful on a social or intellectual level.

I did know a guy who loved to play “just a minute”. For those who haven’t spent time playing games or listening to the radio. The object of the game is for panellists to talk for sixty seconds on a given subject, "without hesitation, repetition or deviation". This fellow was good at it and could talk for hours. His wife said he loved the sound of his own voice. Sometimes he would ramble on and after a while I couldn’t remember what we had been talking about. I guess there were times I just phased out.

It can be like that on Zoom. Sometimes somebody dominates the conversation. Sometimes that can be fairly frustrating. Other times it can be quite nice not to have to make small talk but still enjoy the company.

Sometimes it’s better just to listen. If you stop listening you could miss something important. I often miss the point and I have been listening, I’ve just not heard what’s been said.

Listen (Beyonce)

I knew of this song. It was through the X Factor final. But this was buried in the spare bedroom of my mind. It’s the performance that makes this song stand out. I’ll leave you to look it up yourself. The history of this one is epic but so worth exploring.

I found it by trying to make a song fit the subject of listening but it’s so much more!

Oh, now I'm done believing you You don't know what I'm feeling I'm more than what you made of me I followed the voice you gave to me

But now I've gotta find my own You should have listened

Stay safe