Soundtrack
This is a soundtrack you will listen to a zillion times. Not only will Tim’s music relax you, it will heal your heart and soul. It can only be explained as a miracle from God that Tim and I met. I’ll tell you all about it in a companion book I’m writing. When Tim offered to partner with me to bring Tillie to the world, I knew in my heart not only would our story impact the lives of everyone who hears but his music would leave its mark on the listener above and beyond measure. Abundant blessings from our hearts to yours.
1. Tillie’s Song:
(Original Composition for Tillie Soundtrack) To think a song has been written in honor of my Aunt Tillie. The very thought of this reality makes my heart swell! She left an imprint of love with everyone she came in contact with during her long life. It is with great honor I share her spirit and love. May her quest for eternal life lift your soul to heaven.
2. Ocean Rose:
(From Beautiful America CD) This was the first song that captured my heart that cold fall night in Wisconsin when I was putting our families Titanic history down on paper. I pictured my Grandma standing in the shipyard, watching the Titanic pull away from the dock with tears streaming down her face, wondering if she would ever make it to America with my dad and his sisters.
3. Upon the Sea:
(From An Enchanted Evening CD) The week before I was to meet Tim in Nashville for the first time to share our story, my husband, Todd, came busting through the door with tears in his eyes, “Linda, you’ve got to listen to this song.” He puts the newest Tim Janis CD in our stereo, turns the volume up loud and sits me down to listen. While I am trying to listen to the words and melody of the song, Todd is sobbing like a baby. Immediately I knew why he was crying.
Turn the volume up and listen to the words. They are the words of my Grandma’s heart crying out to my Grandpa across the Atlantic Ocean. “Forlorn my heart goes….to find thee. Forlorn my soul drifts….out beyond the sea.” When the music quickens, can’t you just see the ship cutting through the icy Atlantic Ocean with my Grandma standing on the deck of the S.S. Coronia, wind blowing through her hair….God most definitely had a special plan for this song when he dropped it into Tim’s heart.
4. A Look into the Ages:
(From Beautiful America CD) The haunting sound of this song grips my heart with anguish for what my Jewish ancestors endured before loosing their lives in the Holocaust.
5. Far and Beyond:
(From Beautiful America CD) Have you ever “longed” for something with desperation? I know my Grandma “longed” to be reunited with my Grandpa, desperate enough to risk all their lives to sail to America, even after the “unsinkable Titanic” sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. I believe Aunt Tillie “longed” for eternal life.
6. High Sierra:
(From December Morning CD) I love this song. I hear “hope,” hope for better things to come. For Grandma, it was a new life in a new world. When I was a little girl, it was to be free from abuse, for Aunt Tillie it was eternal life!
7. Canyon Winds:
(From Beautiful America CD) I pleaded with God…. “Please, please call your daughter Tillie home. No more suffering, I beg you.” This was the cry of my heart.
8. Mantles of Gold:
(From Beautiful America CD) Reunited, my grandparents were together at last to share 44 more years of life with each other. I can picture them running into each others arms and vowing never to be separated until death do they part.
9. Twin Lights:
(From Water’s Edge CD) I wouldn’t be alive today to tell this beautiful story had my dad not been sick on that fateful day. I believe God spared my family’s lives so that we could bring glory and honor to God almost a century later. This song just exudes triumph and overcoming tremendous hardship. It a song of hope we can all cling to!
10. August:
(From Water’s Edge CD) The drums in the background of this song simply shouts perseverance and victory in overcoming the trials and tribulations of life.
11. Come Home to Me:
(From Gifts of the Heart CD) As I sat washing Aunt Tillie’s feet many Tuesday afternoons, it would remind me of Jesus’ message to serve one another. It is the ultimate expression of love. I believe if all mankind would love one another as Christ loved us, our world would be at peace. This song carries that message of love.
12. Light on the Moon:
(From Beautiful America CD) As Aunt Tillie’s health declined, the light of love that burned so bright in my life was burning out. Though my heart was weeping, my soul was rejoicing. I was closing a chapter of my life that lasted ten months and I knew I would never be the same.
13. Sleep with Angels:
(From An Enchanted Evening CD) Aunt Tillie always talked about angels the last ten months we spent together. I believe angels are all around, watching over us day and night. I have a Tillie angel looking down right now and I pray I’m making her proud. My abuse always came in the night and sound sleep has evaded me most of my life. This song helps me feel safe, and brings comfort and hope that nothing will harm me in the night ever again.
14. Psalm 23:
(Original Composition for Tillie Soundtrack) I know there are many versions of the 23rd Psalm written but not by world renowned, Tim Janis….until now. Aunt Tillie had not spoken a word, no….not a single word for seven weeks then she recites the entire 23rd Psalm with me and closes with “Beautiful, soooo beautiful.” Her voice projected itself strong and steady just like the Aunt Tillie I once knew. Not another word was uttered after that day. I knew in my heart this was a scene I needed to recreate for the audio and soundtrack. It is Tillie’s gift to the world.
15. The Rushing Wings of Dawn:
(From Along the Shore of Arcadia CD) Every time I listen to this song it takes me right back to the night Aunt Tillie died in my arms. I was reminding her of her dream and sharing my dream when she opened her eyes and locked gaze with me for one minute and twenty seconds…. before taking her final breath. I can feel her spirit and soul leaving her body and know she is leaving this life to spend eternity in heaven.
16. Eternity:
(Original Composition for Tillie Soundtrack) Beautiful, soooo beautiful, He gives eternal life! He called my Jewish Aunt Tillie and He’s calling you. I can’t help but believe most people are desirous of spending eternity in heaven. When I began to describe this song to Tim, and then to Hollie, I never dreamed they would capture the very essence of what was speaking within me. It was Aunt Tillie who spoke the words, “Beautiful, soooo beautiful” throughout our story. Just days before Tim flew into St. Louis to record this song, I woke from a sound sleep in the middle of the night singing, “There’s no other place that I’d rather be for all eternity.” It continued singing itself over and over and over. When I told Todd, he said, “Quick, email Tim and Hollie. That needs to be a part of the song.” The rest was created by the gifted talents of Tim and Hollie. Can you hear Him calling?
17. We Adore You:
(From An American Christmas Carol CD) I’ve heard it said we all have a God-shaped hole in our hearts and will only be filled when we invite Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son to be the Lord of our life. Until we meet in heaven Jesus, I will continue to lift up Your name….the hope of all ages and the cry of every heart!