Flowing songs and stuttered speech: Creative Expression Inside-Out with Rebecca Klein
“Although my words still get stuck, my heart no longer burns with the pain of feeling different. I am free.”
She stutters when she speaks, but not when she sings. What is going on in that beautiful mind?Watch and see - and LISTEN - to Rebecca.
Rebecca is an incredibly dignified, courageous and articulate woman. We are sure you will agree after you hear what she has to say (and sing.) She uses her voice to express vivid images and powerful emotions - struggle and pain as well as friendship and acceptance. Likely, you will find yourself full of emotion as you watch and listen to Rebecca. We encourage you to focus on the message of her words as she demonstrates poise and poetry to express herself.
Then, wait for (or skip to 8:14) the moment Rebecca transitions from delivering spoken words as she stands behind a lectern, and switches to sit on a stool in center stage with a guitar and singing sweet song (written, composed and performed by the one and only, Rebecca Klein.)
“I now realize I have choices when I open my mouth.
I can stutter freely.
I can use speech tools.
And I can choose not to talk.
I am no longer confined to the jail cell of an unspoken life.”
Gala Performance at SAY: The Stuttering Association For The Young, April 16th, 2012. SAY (previously known as Our Time) is an artistic home for young people who stutter. For more information go to http://www.say.org/ (See lyrics below.)
“My words were fisherman lost at sea. Navigating the vast ocean of my mind. Desperate to find a home.”
““Ticking Clock”
Step right up to the center of the stage
Tell me what’s your name
It looks like you’ve been battered, you’ve been bruised
By the way you talk
But don’t mind the ticking clock
Just one more abusive thought
To keep me up at night
FocusING on the details of your life
Tell me what’s it like
To be alone where no one knows the ache
Of a thousand locks
‘Cause sometimes this ticking clock
Like a time bomb, it just goes off
And I know you’ve got so much to say
So let them rain
‘Cause you fill me up with your voice
They’re all the same
But us, we’ve got a choice
To step right up to the center of a stage
And say our names
I know we’re all battered, we’re all bruised
By the way we talk
But don’t mind the ticking clock
Hung there, on the wall
‘Cause I know it can’t be stopped
But our words are much more than thoughts”