Frank Sinatra’s ‘I Love You Baby’, once heard seldom forgotten and of course for all reasons good. However, I didn’t expect to hear it late last night in the cold wind and rain as I stood waiting for a taxi in the remote part of the country where I live.
But unmistakably there it was filling the night air. It was being sung by two teenage boys, no older I guess than 16 who, word perfect matched the rendition of Frank himself being streamed on one of the boy’s mobile phones.
In the almost total darkness, they seemed oblivious of me the only other person present. At some point I looked up to show my appreciation and saw that they were in fact singing it to each other. As the song progressed into its iconic showband sound of its era, the boys started to dance, together and for each other. Rhythmic, tender, intimate and most definitely with love. No adolescent piss taking from these two.
It came to an end. But clearly their love of each other didn’t, they remained held in each other’s arms.
Me, I remained deeply moved. I had spent the evening with a friend, engaged in our own intense way discussing sexuality, love, intimacy, the priesthood and celibacy. We were recalling experiences across four decades. So, these two very young confident men, without them knowing it, joined the evenings conversation and brought it to a beautiful conclusion. Just as ‘I Love You Baby’ is a song not possible to forget, I will never forget them…
Out of the darkness, wind and rain, A taxi eventually arrived and with love they shared it with me….
Br Stephen Morris fcc
