M is for Mondays...and Music: Musical Memory - Jump Little Children's Cathedrals

Musical Memory: Jump Little Children's Cathedrals
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Dover, NH - Autumn, 1999

Two 90'stastic musical memories in a row!

This morning, just as I was pulling into work Cathedrals by Jump Little Children came on. Immediately, I was 17 years old again, and my heart melted.

You see - Jump Little Children was introduced to me during the fall of my senior year in high school by a fellow who we will call "S." Even though we had been in school together for three years, I had never quite noticed S. Then in September of '99 we were both put into Select and Jazz choirs together. We were elected co-presidents of our class and became good friends. S was intelligent, funny, musically talented and impossibly tall. He might've been the first in a long line of awkward gangly musician types to make my heart go pitter patter. It's a horrible horrible weakness of mine.


At our fall coffeehouse, S played and sang a beautiful song that I had never heard of. It was Cathedrals. He shyly (and adorably) performed with his eyes closed and his soulful tenor voice filled the cafeteria. At this juncture, I was fairly smitten.

We talked after the show about the song, and the band behind it, Jump Little Children. I immediately went to my local record store and picked up a copy of their album Magazine - which may be one of the greatest unsung albums ever. (90's rock marrying a string section? Yes please). JLC became an obsession - and a common interest to strike up discussions with my dear crush, S.

Alas - S was oblivious, as most 17 year old boys are, and I was shy. A terrible combination. He was snatched up by a bolder young lady than I and they embarked on one of those saccharine sweet romances that only happen in high school. The kind that caused the nerdy girls (like me) to shoot glares of envy at the blessed couple as they walked hand in hand through the hallways and then scribble woeful poetry about indefinite solitude into their journals. Probably while listening to Bjork. Or Tori Amos. (Whaaaaaaat?! I never did anything like that. Ever.)

Regardless, S and I remained friends throughout the remainder of our senior year. He was a gentle, lovely soul and this song will always remind me of him and that sweet time.