Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter passed away yesterday at the age of 96. She and President Jimmy Carter were married for 77 years. 

“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” the former president said in a statement. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”

As we mourn her passing and extend condolences, our choice for this week’s Sharp Notes Monday is Warren Zevon’s ”Keep Me in Your Heart.” The song is the final track from The Wind, the 2003 album Zevon recorded while he knew he was dying. 

“I don’t think anybody knows quite what to do when they get the diagnosis,” he told VH1. “I picked up the guitar and found myself writing this kind of farewell.“

The lyrics, though written about Zevon’s own personal fate, provide comfort for the loss a loved one such as the former president’s loss of the woman with whom he spent nearly all of his adult life. 

Shadows are falling and I’m running out of breath
Keep me in your heart for awhile
If I leave you it doesn’t mean I love you any less

As part of our “Sharp Notes, Sharp Thoughts” music and social media project, we share a song every Monday to start your week.

View previous Sharp Notes Monday selections.

Visit our “Sharp Notes, Sharp Thoughts” music and social media page to learn more about the project and view videos of our presentations.

Categories: Jandoli Institute, Music and Social Justice, Sharp Notes Monday, Sharp Notes Sharp Thoughts

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