My Swan Song

I was a shy kid so it took a lot for me try out for my senior school play in 1988.

I auditioned and successfully landed the role of Suzanne in a play called "The Swans of Song".  It was a supporting role, which to me was a big deal.  I was ecstatic!  For once in my life I was popular.  The other cast members even invited me along to some of their many parties.  I felt a great boost in my confidence level.  Until the third day of rehearsals.

"Today we're going to go over the solos," Mr. Benjamin, the director explained.

Solos?  What solos?  Nobody told me I'd be singing.  I could barely act, not much sing.  A part of me hoped that my role as Suzanne would not require a solo.  No such luck.

"Ms. Ziehl, you'll be singing 'Your Song'"."

"By Elton John?"  I asked.

"Yes."

Luckily we were given sheet music to go by.  I felt myself cringe as I sang.  The piano player winced. 

"We'll have to work on it," Mr. Benjamin told me.

Work on it I did.  For weeks I practiced that song, on my own and with the help of a music teacher.

The first Friday in May was the big night.  I knew I'd either make it or break it.  And I hoped it wasn't the latter.

It came time for me to take center stage and sit on the little park bench.  There I was to hold the hand of Jeffrey, the male lead in the play, and sing to him.

I could feel my throat close up as I neared the final chorus:  "And you can tell everybody/this is your song/it may be quite simple but/now that it's done/I hope you don't mind/I hope you don't mind/that I put down in words/How wonderful life is while you're in the world".

The crowd roared.  Or so it seemed to me anyway and I felt myself blush as we moved on to the next scene in the play.

Since that day I have sang and acted in many plays but none will ever mean as much to me as singing "Your Song", my first "swan song".