Download the piano/vocal score.

TEACHING FROM THE HEART

CATHERINE
But how did you get into this Sacred Lotus stuff? Wait, don't tell me, a pretty girl in your drum circle at Burning Man was into it and the two of you hooked up.

MARCUS
I wish. My ex-wife and I were traveling in India.
THERE WE SAT
AMONG A HODGEPODGE
ON A BUS
TO MUMBAI.
WHEN THIS CAT
WHO RAN A SWEAT LODGE
SPILLED HIS GUTS
TO HER AND I.
IT TURNS OUT
HE WAS A SHAMAN
AT A LOTUS FLOWER SCHOOL,
SO WE CHECKED
IT OUT;
WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON.
HE SEEMED COOL.

IN A CLASSROOM, BRIGHT, AND SUNLIT
I HEARD TWO GIRLS, NO MORE THAN EIGHT
SAY, "IF THE UNIVERSE IS INFINITE
THAN I AM ITS CENTER, AND SO'S THIS PLATE."

I WAS BLOWN AWAY.
BY THEIR KEEN IMAGINATIONS.
SUCH A TENDER AGE,
SUCH A SENSE OF FASCINATION.
I KNEW RIGHT THEN THAT I WANTED TO BE A PART
OF THIS PEDAGOGY THAT SEEMED TO ME MORE LIKE AN ART.
IT'S NOT ABOUT SMARTS.
IT'S TEACHING FROM THE HEART.

(Music continues under the following.)

CATHERINE
Figures you're the center of the universe.

MARCUS
No, she was. Look, the point is, that child had a conception of the cosmos, of infinity, of the oneness..

CATHERINE
I get it, I get it. It's a cute story, but I like my version better.

MARCUS
You would have just thought the child was being a smart ass.

CATHERINE
Hey! I appreciate a child's imagination.

MARCUS
So what about you? You dated a guy who was a teacher.

CATHERINE
I have a mind of my own.

FROM THE TIME
I WAS A YOUNG GIRL, ALL
I WANTED WAS TO TEACH.
I WOULD LINE
UP ALL MY DOLLS,
PUT ON NICE CLOTHES,
AND GIVE A SPEECH.
I HAD FEW FRIENDS.
I WAS DISCERNING
EVEN AS A LITTLE GIRL.
I KNEW EVEN THEN
HOW LEARNING
COULD BETTER THE WORLD.

THEN IN COLLEGE
I READ THAT NOVEL,
WHERE CHILDREN PLAY
IN A FIELD OF RYE.
NEAR A CLIFF EDGE,
STANDS HOLDEN CAULFIELD
THERE TO CATCH THEM ALL
SHOULD THEY FALL.
I THOUGHT, "HEY..."
IT OPENED MY EYES.

I WAS BLOWN AWAY,
AND I CAME TO MY DECISION:
I WOULD JOIN THE FRAY.
SAVING KIDS BECAME MY MISSION.
I KNEW RIGHT THEN THAT I WANTED TO BE A PART
OF THIS NOBLE PROFESSION THAT SEEMED TO BE MORE LIKE AN ART.

CATHERINE AND MARCUS
IT'S NOT ABOUT SMARTS.
IT'S TEACHING FROM THE HEART.

CATHERINE
I MUST SOUND A BIT DRAMATIC.
THEN AGAIN, LOOK WHO I'M TALKING TO.

MARCUS
YOU MUST THINK I'M A REAL FANATIC.
TELL THE TRUTH.

CATHERINE
I KIND OF DO.

CATHERINE AND MARCUS
BUT I'M BLOWN AWAY.

CATHERINE
BY YOUR COMMITMENT.

MARCUS
BY YOUR PASSION.

CATHERINE
CAN WE MEET HALFWAY?

(She extends her hand. He shakes it.)

MARCUS
WE'RE A TEAM NOW. TIME FOR ACTION.

CATHERINE
I'M SORRY I BARGED IN.

MARCUS
CAME TEARING MY ROOM APART.

CATHERINE AND MARCUS
LET'S PUT IT BEHIND US AND FOCUS ON DOING OUR ART.
LET'S MAKE A NEW START.
TEACHING FROM THE HEART.

LET'S BLOWN THEM AWAY.
GIVE THEM A SENSE OF FASCINATION.
LET'S SHOW THEM THE WAY.
LET'S IGNITE THEIR IMAGINATIONS.
YOU HAVE TO ADMIT, IT'S EXCITING TO BE A PART
OF THIS NOBLE PROFESSION
THAT SEEMS TO BE MORE LIKE AN ART.
IT'S NOT ABOUT SMARTS.
WE'RE TEACHING FROM THE HEART.

Words and Music by Michael Johnson
© 2022, Zubsongs, Ltd.