[dar-list] SOTW: How Do I Work?

[Shawn Proctor]

I've always thought of "How Do I Work?" as the sister song to "Aging
Well."  They deal with finding yourself, though they come from the
opposite sides of the experience spectrum.

Both songs also celebrate having a sage or advisor, in this case it's
the teacher who compliments the narrator's (perhaps that is Dar herself)
twirling.  The support of someone who has already "arrived" offer those
who are yet finding their way a map.

I love the tweaked chorus at the end, which asks bigger questions, much
like koans, that the listener can ponder:

"How can it work?
How can we live together?"

Perhaps that's wonderment about society or simply that very different
people can co-exist.  Then it closes with an invitation to be a friend
on the road: 

"Oh, I have some ways to go.
Help me grow."

A beautiful tune, and one that showcases the lyrical themes Dar
continues to mine.  Additionally, you can see how much her singing and
guitar playing has matured since the early days.  

-Shawn Proctor

P.S. I have an article from Sing Out! a little later than when this song
was written where Dar is pictured sitting on the floor in a house in
western Massachusetts with a notebook and guitar and a small rotating
fan.  

Perhaps the key to being an artist is in that photo: simply do the art.