lying in the grass at the park when I was thirteen listening to music with Danica.”
“Yeah. Most of mine involve Gabe, actually.”
She gazed at me, but didn’t ask about that. I liked that she didn’t pry, or even ask.
Most people, first question out of their mouth was something about Gabe.
“My dad used to listen to Neil Young,” she said instead. “‘Heart of Gold’ is my favorite. I feel like it’s one of the world’s great, sad love songs.”
“I didn’t realize I put any love songs on my playlist.”
“Are you kidding me? How is ‘Heart of Gold’ not a love song?”
“I just never thought of it that way. To me… it’s always been a lonely song.”
“Can’t it be both?”
“Yeah. Of course it can.”
She sipped her coffee as I eyed her. “Don’t feel bad,” she teased. “Even a great musician can’t know everything about music.”
“Apparently.”
She set her coffee on the desk. We needed to get set up for a virtual meeting with the band in a bit, but she made no move to open her laptop. “I noticed you have ‘Paint It Black’ on there,” she said. “You know, The Rolling Stones’ best song ever.”
“I didn’t say it was their best song ever. I said I thought it was everyone’s favorite Stones song.” I sipped my coffee. “But it is their best song ever.”
“You may be right. I’ve been doing a little informal poll. But ‘Gimme Shelter’ will always be my favorite.”
“That’s good. Since you tattooed it on your arm.”
“Yes, I did.”
“If it makes you feel better, ‘Gimme Shelter’ was also Gabe’s favorite Stones song.”
Her jaw dropped. “What? He’d agree with me?”
“Yeah. If he was here, he would.”
And he’d fucking love that she agreed with him, too. The two of us had a ridiculous rivalry about it. It really bugged him that “Paint It Black” was my favorite and he could never convince me to sway.
“Well,” she said, “me and my tattoo feel strangely vindicated.”
“What do you love about that song?” I asked her.
“I love the vocal duet on it, the woman’s voice… Her voice was the first thing that grabbed me the first time I ever heard it.”
“Merry Clayton.”
“Is that her name? You know, I’ve never looked it up. I never even thought to look it up.”
“I’m sure most people don’t know her name, even if they love the song.”
“That’s a shame, though. It wouldn’t be what it was without her.”
“True. Most great songs are like that. If one element was different, or not there… if one of the people who contributed didn’t contribute… it just wouldn’t be the same. There are usually a lot of people who make a song what it is.”
“Hmm,” she said, taking that in. “Forget what I said about ‘Heart of Gold.’ I’m sure I’m woefully ignorant on this whole topic. Actually… I hope no one expects me to say anything in the meetings today, because I’m warning you upfront, I have zero to add to the conversation and I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.”
“You probably know a lot more about music than you realize.”
“I doubt it. I just listen. I’m not a musician.”
“You do more than listen. You got ‘Gimme Shelter’ tattooed on your body. There has to be more to that than the voice of a woman whose name you didn’t even know.”
“True. I also love the mood of the song. It always feels like a brewing storm when I listen to it. And I love the lyrics.”
“What about the lyrics?” I pressed.
“I love the title, actually. The words I tattooed on my arm. It says so much with just two words. And I love the whole idea that you can still ask for shelter, and hope to find it, when the world is going to hell. The lyrics are dark. They sing about war and rape and murder, floods and fire. The mention of love… it only comes in at the very end of the song. It’s like this spark of light after so much dark. After that darkness, the very idea that love could be a mere kiss away… It’s simple but so powerful.”
“Deceptively simple. It’s hard to say so much with so little. There’s a reason the Stones have endured as long as they have.”
“I’m sure.” She hesitated, then said, “What do you think Gabe liked about that song? I mean, if you don’t mind talking about it. I’d love to hear a musician’s point of view.”
I considered that. I really didn’t talk about him much, with anyone. Mainly because the