LEWISTON, Maine — When renowned singer-songwriter James Taylor was asked to play the national anthem at Wednesday night's football game between Lewiston High School and Edward Little High School, he said he was happy to accept the invitation.
“A friend of my wife’s and mine who has deep roots in the neighborhood here wrote a letter, a beautiful letter, and just passed on the invitation to come and play a national anthem at this game between the Red Eddies and the Blue Devils," Taylor told NEWS CENTER Maine Wednesday. "We just can’t stop thinking about it and we’re really sort of honored to be asked to have a presence here and come up. And happy to accept the invitation. It was great.”
The "Battle of the Bridge" rivalry game was another tentative step in the Lewiston-Auburn community's recovery from Maine's deadliest mass shooting.
Eighteen people total were killed in shootings at two different Lewiston locations about 4 miles apart from each other last Wednesday evening. Seven people were killed at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley, formerly Sparetime Recreation, eight were killed at Schemengees Bar and Grille Restaurant, and three died at a nearby hospital.
Placards with the names of each of the victims written in blue in the center of a heart were posted on the fence at Lewiston High School's football field Wednesday night. Taylor said those placards really hit home.
“You realize that these are real people," he said of the victims. "That each of them were connected to scores of other people in their lives who will miss them.”
Taylor has roots in New England and references the region often in his songs.
“I live in New England and I love it here," he said. "I love Maine, too. Love the state of Maine. I think I’ve got a couple of songs that mention it.”
“Just the very Maine-ness of it all," he added about why he loves the state. "It’s a very unique spot. There’s no place like it.”
Taylor humbly acknowledged how much it means to him that his music could help people get through hard times.
“People have mentioned it before at numerous times in my life and my career that my music has helped people through a tough time or helped them deal with a challenging situation ... It’s gratifying," he explained, "It’s great to hear that it has some use. That it has some place for some people in an important time of their lives.”
The singer-songwriter also offered a couple of songs that could help people grieve.
“'Amazing Grace' always seems to bring people through or help people through. Of my own songs I’d say ‘You Can Close Your eyes’ perhaps," he said. "That seems to fit the bill occasionally. But I don’t know, music itself, it’s got a way of putting you back in perspective. Of bringing the universe into some kind of alignment. It’s been a joy to have a life in music.”