Jennny Bienemann is a local Chicago-based singer songwriter, who also writes haiku. Sometimes she invites her singer-songwriter friends to write a song based upon her haiku, and then puts on a show. it’s an amazing experience and a joy to see so many singer-songwriters creatively inspired by Jenny’s all-wise words.
Something happens when you are given a task and meant to collaborate with another. Joel and I dutifully scoured Jenny’s haiku books and individually chose those haiku which stood out.
When we came together with our selections, there was an undeniable theme that presented itself. You can’t really heal unless you are true to yourself. And you can’t really be true to yourself unless you can share your true self with others (or at least another).
We ended up weaving four of Jenny’s haikus into our finished lyrics.
Truth and half truth
May lie down together
But they don’t rest easy
When I get to thinking about them
I don’t know which to believe
Tell me your secrets
I will tell you mine and then
We will both be free
All of the voices inside your head
And the lessons that they bring
You can learn a lot when you’re talking to yourself
Just by listening
All of these burdens
We’ll lift them together
Won’t you carry them with me
Tell me your secrets
I will tell you mine and then
We will both be free
Free, both be free
Free, we will both be free
Tell me your story
Begin at the beginning
And leave nothing out
Wisdom it comes with time my friend
Of this there is no doubt
All of these burdens
We’ll lift them together
Won’t you carry them with me
Tell me your secrets
I will tell you mine and then
We will both be free
Secrets, tell me your secrets
Free, free, I will tell you my
Tell me your secrets
I will tell you mine and then
We will both be free
