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My mom, who’s in her 80’s, sometimes says stuff like "Don't put me in a nursing home! When I say I'm ready to die, just bring me to a high bridge and I'll jump!" Usually we end up joking about her olympic athleticism getting over the railing. But when she’s truly ready to die, will I be capable of acts of love she might need? This song, released today, is my attempt to prepare my heart for a situation like this. We need these hard conversations.

These days my mom is an activist for medical assistance in dying. All proceeds from this track will go towards politically advocacy to legalize medical assistance in dying in New York State.
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lyrics

In my last year of high school, I’d go every other day
To push my gramma’s wheelchair, to get her out of that place
But she couldn’t stand the helplessness, she just wasn’t built that way
I'd ask "Gramma, how you doin?" “I just wanna die” is all she’d say

Let me go when I am ready, she told my mom on the hill
I might need you to help me, Don’t keep me breathing still
I’ve lived a life of purpose, Long and light and full
So when that time comes daughter, just grab the chord and pull

As I walk up the driveway, my mom gardens in the yard
She staggers as she stands to meet me, change is freaking hard
And though these days she’s sometimes out of breath and looking frail
She loves that wind and sun, so she braves the mountain trails, and

Let me go when I am ready, she tells me on the hill
I might need you to help me, don’t want you to keep me breathing still
I’ve lived a life of purpose, long and light and full
When that time comes son, just grab the chord and pull

It's always struck me as the most amazing feat
To choose our hour of dying, to feel our life complete
And tho there’s always twenty thousand things left still to do
I hope when my time comes, I’ll be as brave as you, and

Let me go when I am ready, I’ll tell my kid on the Hill
I might need you to help me, don’t keep me breathing still
I’ve lived a life of purpose, long and light and full
So when that time comes
When that time comes
Valley of the shadow, trying to be brave
When that time comes
Feel so alone, try not to be afraid
When that time comes
Valley of the shadow, trying to be brave
When that time comes kid, just grab the chord and pull
When that time comes kid, just grab the chord and pull

credits

from Pretty Songs About Death, released November 2, 2022

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Jeremy Mage & The Magi image

Jeremy Mage & The Magi New York, New York

Mage is a New Yorker living in Switzerland. He played B-3 in church and broke his nose in a mosh pit, and then years later he broke it again on a Steinway. In between, he studied with Baba Olatunji, Alan Ginsberg, Fred Frith, Yusef Lateef; learned Raga in Varanasi and clave in Havana. He world-toured with Lizz Wright, Wunmi, and the Easy Star All Stars. His influences are a hopeless mix. ... more

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