Parkinson’s: I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall

“When the road you’re on begins to crumble, forge ahead – better it crumble behind you than ahead of you.” John Avery

“Theories crumble, but good observations never fade.” Harlow Shapley

Introduction: For the past few years, I have been posting music and songs I genuinely love listening to for many different reasons. There is always a power in the lyrics of some songs or a strength lifting out from the music itself. In this blog post, I want you to listen to a song from Sir Tom Jones entitled “I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall.”

“Sometimes it’s good to fall down to see who will pick you up.” Eartha Kitt

Resilience is Needed to Live With Someone With Parkinson’s: It is not always an easy time when your partner is a person-with-Parkinson’s (PwP). We don’t do it deliberately, but our actions, movements, and contractions can be most irritating occasionally. Although life with a PwP can undoubtedly be loving and fun, it can always bring disruption and sorrow as you see the PwP deteriorate slowly. Your love and caring manner mean the world to your PwP. Your confidence and patience are received with gratitude, knowing that the ocean’s tide will eventually turn. Finally, Parkinson’s will overwhelm the PwP in the approaching shoreline. It takes resilience to be the Care Partner of someone with Parkinson’s. And through your devotion, although it may not always be acknowledged, your strength is evident, and it is due to your determination.

NOTE ADDED IN PROOF: This last paragraph is a projection of what I sense a PwP/Care Partner must maneuver through over time together as the PwP slowly advances under the disorder’s control. My body and mind are doing okay and stable, as I have been for several years. Changing only so little by little, it would seem. I feel in my heart and body that I’m fighting hard each minute I am going through life against Parkinson’s, and as these changes slowly happen, I/we adjust, as we must do. This means my brain is still working and cranking hard to defeat this curse we call Parkinson’s.

“I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.” Joseph Campbell

Life Goes On: As a PwP, I genuinely appreciate the care and concern from everyone, mostly my Care Partner Susan, my family, and my friends. But please stay strong and keep your life moving forward. So thank your Care Partner. Their job is beyond description, and their lives are linked to yours. However, they need to remain themselves throughout the day and days ahead; they must remain strong.

“Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel.” Napoleon Hill

The Meaning of the Song: When Sir Jones’ wife was diagnosed with lung cancer, you get a sense she said, you will not also die. She also probably told him not to crumble if she fell (got worse). All she was saying and meaning was love me now, support me as long as I am alive, but keep your wits and your life in order after I’m gone. Yes, mourn my passing, but don’t let it bring you down.

He speaks of remaining by her side, no matter the hardship. Despite the song’s terse feeling, it is filled with love.

.The song is compelling, with meaningful lyrics and full of depth, and Tom does an excellent job with emotion and tone. The first time I heard it, it left me speechless; it was late one night, and I was up, not sleeping, but working on a book chapter, and this song came in from YouTube Music.

The lyrics are straightforward and not confusing, showing support from the beginning: “And I’ll stand beside you as long as I can / I will hold back the evening of your sun / But I won’t crumble with you if you fall.” By the end of the second verse, a reminder if you start to fade, I will remain by your side and stay strong, “I will walk to the tune of your song / But I won’t crumble with you if you fall.”

“Sometimes life knocks you on your ass… get up, get up, get up!!! Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them.” Steve Maraboli

A live version of “I Won’t Crumble With You if You Fall”

Here is the version Sir Jones sang on “The Voice UK” last year (with an explanation as to its meaning):

Lyrics to “I Won’t Crumble With You if You Fall”

[Verse 1]
I will wake in the morning if you call
And I’ll stand beside you as long as I can
I will hold back the evening of your sun
But I won’t crumble with you if you fall

[Verse 2]
I will shadow the heat of your day
And I’ll drink from the sweat of your brow
I will walk to the tune of your song
But I won’t crumble with you if you fall

[Verse 3]
Come walk with me and hold to my hand
Touch me, let me know I ain’t here by myself
Stretch my night dreams into my day
Stop short of falling apart if I go down

[Verse 4]
I’ll wake in the morning if you call
And I’ll stand beside you as long as I can
I will hold back the evening of your sun
But I won’t crumble with you if you fall

“I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. Basically, to not give up when things get tough, and to learn to truly enjoy and appreciate life, with everything that it brings.” Irena A. Hoffman

Cover Photo Image by bertvthul from Pixabay