Sinead: Thank You For Hearing Me

She's been an up and coming rock star, a heretic priest, a mother of several children with several husbands, a lesbian, a Muslim, a woman grappling with suicidal thoughts, an uncompromising feminist, a Rasta, a down and out has been, a feisty sort-of celebrity getting into media spats, an avatar of the shaved head look for women, and, of course, maybe the first high profile individual to take a stand against child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church when she ripped up a photo of the pope on Saturday Night Live, an act that removed her rather quickly from the path of popularity. Yes, rock fans can be a reactionary bunch, can't they?

On one level you could say, well, this is clearly the trajectory of someone who struggles with bipolar disorder, which she does (or something like it). But on another level one could resist problematizing things and say that she just has really unique and adventurous karma that has prepared her to experience life more widely and more intensely, for good and ill, than most individuals. Indeed, she has an incredible soul force that comes through in her singing. Long story short: I love Sinead and think she's a first-rate artist. A note on the music: Sinead is really adept with musical modes derived from dub reggae. So cool when the full rhythm section kicks in before the third verse.

Thank You for Hearing Me

Thank you for hearing me
Thank you for hearing me
Thank you for hearing me
Thank you for hearing me

Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me

Thank you for seeing me
Thank you for seeing me
Thank you for seeing me
Thank you for seeing me

And for not leaving me
And for not leaving me
And for not leaving me
And for not leaving me

Thank you for staying with me
Thank you for staying with me
Thank you for staying with me
Thank you for staying with me

Thanks for not hurting me
Thanks for not hurting me
Thanks for not hurting me
Thanks for not hurting me

You are gentle with me
You are gentle with me
You are gentle with me
You are gentle with me

Thanks for silence with me
Thanks for silence with me
Thanks for silence with me
Thanks for silence with me

Thank you for holding me
And saying "I could be"
Thank you for saying "Baby"
Thank you for holding me

Thank you for helping me
Thank you for helping me
Thank you for helping me
Thank you, thank you for helping me

Thank you for breaking my heart
Thank you for tearing me apart
Now I've a strong, strong heart
Thank you for breaking my heart

Composed by Sinead O'Connor and John Reynolds