(music notation by Amie Moore)

Verse 1: Kathleen was bright and her heart was full of love but her mama, she was tired and mean. She was down on her luck, cause she married a drunk and she sent her girl to work at fourteen.

Verse 2: Kathleen's Daddy was a bully, he was mean to his boys, they in turn needed someone to tease. Though her name was Kathleen, they called her Leena, pulled her hair, pushed her down to her knees. (chorus)

Verse 3: Every night, when Kathleen was asleep, she had the most amazing dream: she was playing the piano -- everybody loved her and her hands were soft and they were clean.

Verse 4: I never laughed at mother-in-law jokes, when she was mine, she was tired and mean. But I'm glad that I met her, and even better I'm glad I named my second girl Kathleen.

(chorus)

Verse 5: Oh, my Amy Kathleen she's a rock'n'roll queen. She plays, she sings, she steals the show. If her Grandma were here, she would see very clearly how far a poor girl's dream can go. (repeat the last two lines)

(chorus twice)

I have gradually learned that every self-discovery, no matter how painful, every experience, no matter how intense, has a growing edge to it. I have found that in writing a song, I can transform the pain or sorrow or rage into a form that speaks to many people's experiences. In that process I also educate and heal myself.

I am now able to pass this knowledge on in my counselling practice. I meet women and men to whom the language of music is profoundly relevant. If it is appropriate, I share some of what I've learned about music as a gateway to the emotions and a source of empowerment. Some clients begin to give their own singing sounds permission to emerge and to open up tight places within themselves. Other clients choose music which has inspired them as a familiar background and support for exploring their "inner space" during guided fantasy and hypnosis, while others take up playing an instrument or singing again with renewed commitment and appreciation.

Although I am not a full-time musician or songwriter the central theme of music as a means for inspiration and communication continues to weave its way through my life and that of my family. Two of my children are professional communicators (linguistics, broadcast journalism) and one is a professional singer. The Goddess is good!

Judith Boel is a feminist therapist in practice and an educational psychologist. She is currently working on a Ed.D in school psychology. She is the proud grand-mother of three granddaughters and a grandson, and is a singer and registered songwriter