Lauryn

 

 Lauryn, Sketch, pencils (2022) 

Every so often I go through a phase of drawing musical artists with lyrics from a song of theirs. Something about the lyrics, the music and/or the artist just resonates with me at different stages of  my life. Last year I felt compelled to draw Lauryn Hill and add the lyrics from her song Tell Him in a circle around her head. Now that I look at it, it looks like an afro / halo. 

I really connected to this song (and several others) from the The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill's album when it came out in the late 90s. I was happy to see someone who not only looks more like me in the mainstream media but who also thinks like me. I love how she covers important topics on a deeper and wiser level. 

This particular song feels very grounded to me. There was a time when I needed to hear that song as a reminder of what I stand for. A couple years ago, I was in a situation where I felt betrayed and hurt by peers who just didn't have the capacity to see beyond their own interest. They didn't seem to have  any compassion for people suffering around them. I remember feeling extremely disappointed by their behaviour and was contemplating just cutting them off because I was expecting more from them. But then then that song popped in my mind. So I listened to it a couple times in a row and it helped me ground myself and release the expectations I had of them. 

I came to an understanding that we're all at different stages of consciousness and everyone is doing the best they can with what they know at the time. I didn't have to stay close to them but I also didn't need to suffer from the disappointment. I could just release it and recognize that we were at different stages, and that's life. 

From my experience, this is how powerful some songs, sang by the right artist, can be. And perhaps this drawing was another reminder. If you're curious, you can read the lyrics from this particular song below and see if her message resonates with you too. 

Tell Him

(written by Lauryn Hill) 

Let me be patient, let me be kind

Make me unselfish, without being blind

Though I may suffer, I'll envy it not

And endure what comes

'Cause he's all that I got and

Tell him

Tell him I need him 

Tell him I love him 

And it'll be alright

And tell him, tell him I need him

Tell him I love him

It'll be alright

Now I may have faith to make mountains fall

But if I lack love then I am nothin' at all

I can give away everything I possess

But left without love then I have no happiness

I know I'm imperfect 

And not without sin 

But now that I'm older, all childish things end

And tell him

Tell him I need him 

Tell him I love him 

And it'll be alright

Tell him tell him I need him

Tell him I love him

It'll be alright

I'll never be jealous

And I won't be too proud

Cause love is not boastful

Oooh and love is not loud

Tell him I need him

Tell him I love him

Everything's gonna be alright 

Now I may have wisdom and knowledge on Earth

But if I speak wrong then what is it worth?

See what we now know is nothing compared

To the love that was shown when our lives were spared

And tell him

Tell him I need him

Tell him I love him

And it'll be alright

Tell him tell him I need him

Tell him I love him

It'll be alright

Tell him I need him 

And it'll be alright

Tell him it'll be alright

Tell him it'll be alright

When the evening comes... 

In the nighttime

In the morning

In the evening baby, tell him