Power of Music Mondays: “Beautiful”

Power of Music Mondays
by Allison W. Gryphon

“Don’t you bring me down today.”

I remember the first time I heard this song after it all started happening. I was in the car. One natural breast. One carved up from a mastectomy awaiting reconstruction. No hair. A swollen arm in a lymphedema sleeve and glove. Fading energy. Loads of determination. Loads of frustration. And looking for whatever my shot of, “keep going” was going to be for the day.

My iPod was on shuffle. I wasn’t expecting it. That first whisper of, “Don’t look at me” sent a shiver down my spine. In an instant, the music owned me. Tears poured down my face. Not for the fear, but for the release. For being understood. Even though I was all by myself, I wasn’t. The song played and my rage poured out, transforming into a brilliant beauty. It was a reminder that I could do this. That I would do this. That my spirit was not only beautiful, but powerful and cancer didn’t get to take that away from me.

I turned the song up as loud as it would go, played it over and over again on my whole drive into work, and sang along at the top of my lungs… and as it turned out, it was a pretty great day.



Click Here to purchase “Beautiful” from the album Stripped.
Click Here to visit Christina Aguilera’s official website.

"Beautiful"

Don't look at me

Every day is so wonderful
Then suddenly, it's hard to breathe
Now and then, I get insecure
From all the pain, I'm so ashamed

I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring me down... Oh no
So don't you bring me down today

To all your friends you're delirious
So consumed in all your doom
Trying hard to fill the emptiness
The pieces gone, left the puzzle undone
That's the way it is

You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring you down

You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring you down, oh, no
So don't you bring me down today...

No matter what we do
(no matter what we do)
No matter what we say
(no matter what we say)
We're the song inside the tune
Full of beautiful mistakes

And everywhere we go
(and everywhere we go)
The sun will always shine
(sun will always shine)
And tomorrow we might wake on the other side

We are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes, words won't bring us down
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring us down, oh, no
So don't you bring me down today

Oh, yeah, don't you bring me down today, yeah
Don't you bring me down ooh... today

About Power of Music Mondays

I received many gifts while I was going through my cancer fight. They were all amazing and helpful. What stands out to me more than anything is music. The songs and playlists I was sent became a huge part of my treatment. It’s the one
thing you can always have close by. It can turn you around and slip itself around your soul to make everything ok, if even just for a moment. Looking back, I'm not sure how I would have done without my music. ~Allison

The Power of Music is extraordinary. The right song can inspire, empower, comfort and redirect anyone. Cancer fighters and their families are no exception.

Every Monday, The Why? Foundation will celebrate a song and an artist that has given us a musical gift.

If you have a song that has helped you or someone you know fight the fight, we want to hear about it. Please send an email to info@thewhyfoundation.org with your story and your song.