Here’s another edition of the Thursday Evening Post. 🌸

I LOVE to try new things! 💜

I was recently reading a book that mentioned something about Marilyn Monroe.

I was aware of what Marilyn Monroe looked like and that she was famous, but I didn’t know anything about her.

I was curious to learn about who she was.

I had never read a biography before, but I thought, Why not?

I recently finished reading Marilyn Monroe by Barbara Leaming.

Leaming clearly did an exceptional amount of research on Marilyn Monroe to write such a detailed biography!

Since the book is still fresh in my mind, I wanted to write about “Candle in the Wind” by Elton John this week, his song for Marilyn Monroe.

Lyrics:

Goodbye Norma Jeane
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would’ve liked to known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would’ve liked to known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Goodbye Norma Jeane
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
Goodbye Norma Jeane
From the young man in the twenty second row
Who sees you as something as more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would’ve liked to known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

I remember hearing this song on the radio when I was a kid, but I never really listened to the words.

What an incredibly moving song.

As I look at some of the lyrics in this song, I’d like to share some information about Marilyn Monroe that I learned in Leaming’s book.

Goodbye Norma Jeane

Marilyn Monroe’s real name was Norma Jeane Baker.

Though I never knew you at all

No one really knew Marilyn. She was constantly suffering and was skilled at pretending that everything was fine.

And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill

Numerous individuals manipulated and took advantage of Marilyn because they knew she wanted to be a star.

Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in

Marilyn just wanted to be loved and respected but was unable to find that from romantic partners nor from those who posed as her friends.

Marilyn claimed that when she was very young, her mother had tried to smother her in her sleep. Due to her mentally unfit mother, Marilyn grew up in the foster care system where she experienced various types of abuse.

Your candle burned out long before

Marilyn recognized that she would not be able to achieve the life she longed for—the life of a respected star.

Leaming wrote, “For thirty-six years, Marilyn, with her immense life force, had fought against an equally strong pull towards death…death triumphed, and her struggle was over.”

Your legend ever did

Learming wrote “[Marilyn] had created something brilliant and magical—’Marilyn Monroe.’ Her creation had brought immense pleasure to millions of people, and would continue to do so long after she was gone.”

Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played

Although Marilyn was constantly around others, she felt extremely lonely and consistently feared abandonment.

Leaming wrote, “The world loved Marilyn. Yet in the end she felt utterly unloved and alone.”

Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid

Marilyn wanted so much to be a successful, respected actress that she would give herself such terrible anxiety. She wanted to do an outstanding job when she delivered her lines, but her stage fright was so intense that she would show up late to the set and/or be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs to numb her pain.

Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude

After getting a prescription she accidentally was given access to, she chose to end her life.
(If you or someone you know is deeply struggling, you are NEVER alone. There are ALWAYS people who want to help you heal.)

Marilyn was found with her hand on the receiver of the phone after she made a goodbye call. People were clearly oblivious to the fact that Marilyn felt so extremely alone.

Few people showed up to Marilyn’s funeral despite all of the various relationships she had established with others in Hollywood over the years.

Who sees you as something as more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn didn’t wanted to be seen as merely a sex symbol; she wanted to be seen as an artist who could exceptionally perform any type of role.

Elton John’s song for Marilyn is such a beautiful tribute to her! 💙

What are your thoughts about it?

What is your favorite Marilyn Monroe film?

May you be well! 💚

If you’d like to support my mission to share my passion for music with the world and spread joy, love, and positivity, you can do so here. Thank you! ❤️