Stand By Me (correct version)

When the night has come

And the land is dark

And the moon is the only light we see

No I won’t be afraid

No I won’t be afraid

Just as long as you stand, stand by me

            For those who haven’t visited The Byrd House, I typically begin my entries with lyrics that relate to my topic of discussion. At best, I connect the lyrics and attempt to provide a view of how music and poetry can touch at the core of our everyday needs and aspirations. Ahead of his time, in terms of songwriting and personal awareness, John Lennon wrote music for the everyday person; a person who needs love and comfort, and aspires to be a positive contributor to mankind.

            In Bessie Head’s novel, A Question of Power, the protagonist, Elizabeth, is an individual who is in desperate need for sources to help and support her. As some of you don’t know, Elizabeth has been in a constant struggle with good and evil through out the story. Because of her mental state, she is placed in a mental hospital and seems to be at the edge of destruction. But upon being released, Elizabeth’s frameless existence begins to develop an identity in her small village. The identity, although small and still hiding, is created by sources of help. These sources bring joy to her life and a feeling of stability.

            Through sources of help, Elizabeth begins to develop hope. One of these sources is a garden that Elizabeth helps attend to, along with other villagers. After her first visit, Elizabeth is drawn to the joy and simplicity to gardening. “Every man and woman is, in some way, an amateur gardener at heart and vegetables are really the central part of the daily diet” (Head, p. 72). She soon develops a sense of purpose through working outside and in the dirt. The work inspires her and Elizabeth truly regards the garden as a sanctuary from her, otherwise, abnormal and tormented existence. But her passion for gardening would eventually be recognized by the entire village, actually giving Elizabeth an identity within the community. Her ability to grow a non-indigenous fruit, the Cape gooseberry, makes this identity possible. “They did it so often that eventually Elizabeth became known as Cape Gooseberry” (Head, p. 153). More important, metaphorically speaking, just like the Cape gooseberry, Elizabeth had been planted in a foreign place and eventually found a way to grow and create a true identity. “The work had a melody like that – a complete stranger like the Cape Gooseberry settled down and became a part of the village life of Motabeng” (Head, p. 153).

If the sky that we took upon

Should tumble and fall

And the mountain should crumble to the sea

I won’t cry, I won’t cry

No I won’t shed a tear

Just as long as you stand, stand by me

            Another source of help for Elizabeth, one that is more tangible, comes from a young man named tom. He is an American volunteer in the village who recognizes Elizabeth’s internal struggles, and constantly encourages her to realize her great qualities. Tome, in essence, might have brought Elizabeth back from the edge of destruction. By standing by her, Tome becomes a “real” conviction of truth. “Her soul-death was really over in that instant, though she did not realize it. He (Tom) seemed to have, in an intangible way, seen her sitting inside that coffin, reached down and pulled her out” (Head, p. 188). Her escape from the uncertain, with the help from the garden and Tom, not only gave her an identity, but for the first time, Elizabeth’s frameless existence began to shape. For Elizabeth, she has an actual place she can call home and people who she can call family or friends.

Whenever you’re in trouble won’t you stand by me

Oh, now, now, stand by me

Oh, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

            Lennon really did have the right idea. In normal situations, an individual can achieve and be happy with the love and support from the persons in their life. Tom proves this by standing next to Elizabeth through her tormented episodes. In turn, though, Elizabeth proved her strength by desperately grasping on to the idea that someone cared and she could create an identity. Although the only light she saw was the moon, Elizabeth did not become afraid, but allowed someone and something to stand next to her. And they pulled her out of the darkness.