Genuine Grief

(All About My Plan)

By Kaitie Ty Warren
©2024
Support and Follow: Patreon.com/KaitieTy

LIVE LOOPING full song:

3 part version (good for small groups; quick example):

Part 1: This is, this is, this is not how I planned

Part 2: And it’s all about my plan!

Part 3: This too shall pass, just don’t pass with it*

Part 4: Genuine Grief doesn’t need a place to sleep/All Life is loss and receiving

*my beloved friend and well known musician Rodney Franklin often says this to me – I think of Part 3 as the Rodney Part: when his wisdom comes floating back to me in the middle of Big Feelings. Thank goodness for those friends who speak louder than our own thoughts.
(~ Kaitie)

This is a great song to throw a tantrum with. I wrote it in frustration in the summer of 2024; I was struggling to cope with being pulled between my father’s worsening health and the expectations of my nearly-4-year-old to enjoy her first summer break. I felt sad about my dad, sad about my canceled plans, and mad at the whole thing.

To me, this song feels like it lends itself to being obnoxious in parts 1 and 2: just embrace the petty, childish feelings and honor them.
Part 3 is a quote my friend Rodney often reminds me of when I’m having a Big Feeling; thank goodness for his wisdom.
Part 4 is the genuine grief that was the undercurrent of all my frustration, the reality of spending the summer saying goodbye to my dad.

I taught it in the summer, and then forgot about it almost completely, until it came back as I was in the middle of song leading two days after the 2024 November election. This definitely is not how I planned. That week, I left out parts 3 and 4, and allowed us all to just embrace the tantrum.