What can a song teach us about growing up, letting go, and watching life change around us? How can a few simple lyrics capture the strange feeling of time passing—of being a child one moment and suddenly seeing the world differently the next? In this Song Surgery session, we’ll listen closely to two classic songs about the cycle of life: The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell and Father and Son by Cat Stevens. Together we’ll slow down, read the lyrics, listen carefully, and explore the emotions and ideas hidden inside these songs about youth, aging, parents, children, and the passage of time.

Hosted by Leslie, a wonderfully friendly guide with a deep love for American folk music and the spirit of storytelling, peace, and humanity that runs through it, this discussion is open to everyone, including people who have never heard these artists or songs before. Leslie will introduce the music and help unpack the stories behind the lyrics, but the real magic comes from the group: everyone hears something different, and there are no wrong interpretations. Expect a relaxed, thoughtful evening where great music opens the door to a deep, smart, and surprisingly personal conversation. 🎶

一首歌能不能教会我们一些关于成长、放手，以及看着生活慢慢变化的事情？为什么几句简单的歌词，就能把时间流逝那种微妙的感觉写出来——好像前一刻还是孩子，下一刻就突然开始用另一种眼光看世界了？在这场 Song Surgery 活动里，我们会一起细听两首关于生命循环的经典歌曲：Joni Mitchell 的《The Circle Game》和 Cat Stevens 的《Father and Son》。大家会一起慢慢读歌词、认真听旋律，也聊聊这些歌里藏着的情绪和想法：关于青春、变老、父母与孩子，以及时间流过我们生活的方式。

活动由 Leslie 主持，他是个非常友好的分享者，也很喜欢 American folk music，以及这种音乐里那种讲故事的传统、和平的气质和对人的关怀。这场讨论对所有人开放，就算之前没听过这些歌或者不认识这些音乐人也完全没关系。Leslie 会先简单介绍音乐，也会带大家看看歌词背后的故事，不过真正有意思的部分其实来自大家的分享——每个人听到的东西可能都不一样，也没有所谓“对”或“错”的解读。整体氛围会比较轻松，一边听好音乐，一边慢慢聊出一些挺有意思、甚至有点个人化的想法。