Sometimes when I’m mulling a decision or trying to figure out how to address a problem, I’ll realize I have song lyrics running through my head. It’s not because I’ve been listening to music and ended up with a “song stuck in my head.” I can be sitting in complete silence and gradually become aware of the lyrics that have been pushing their way forward into my consciousness. The weird thing is, the lyrics almost always relate to situation I’m facing and, often, hint at the possible solution. Some say music in a universal language. Maybe it is. At the very least, it’s a common denominator among races and cultures. A song doesn’t have to be familiar to be recognizable. Regardless of its roots and without understanding the lyrics, we can all recognize an upbeat tune, a sad song, a love song. In some ways, music ties us together across otherwise impenetrable differences — or even just across generations. At a recent family gathering, one of my relatives pulled out a guitar and began to play and sing old standards (“Homeward Bound”) and folk songs (“Charlie on the MTA”). The age range at the party ranged from 14 to 75, but we all knew the lyrics and sang along. And now that damn “Charlie on the MTA” song is stuck in my head.  – Lisa Matte, Editor-in-chief