"There's a Heartache Following Me" - One of Meher Baba's Favorite Songs
By Margaret Magnus
AVATAR MEHER BABA outside the Bamboo Cage Room on Meherabad Hill, India, on July 30, 1941. The Cage Room was one of the places Meher Baba spent time in seclusion. (Photo: MSI Collection. Photographer: Padri)
Throughout His life, Avatar Meher Baba spent various periods of time in what He called “seclusion.” After 1958, Meher Baba discontinued His world travels and most public darshans (gatherings where He gave His followers His blessing in person)* as part of His seclusion.
Meher Baba withdrew into an increasingly strict seclusion for the purpose of what He called His “Universal Work.” While on occasion, He referred to the “strain” of His Universal Work, He rarely if ever explained what the work meant. This seclusion work continued throughout the 1960s.
The forms of His various periods of seclusion varied, but generally He asked for no correspondence or other contact from His followers. At times, His mandali or close disciples would also be in seclusion. This seclusion work, which often included fasting, was hard on His physical body.
“’In 1968, while doing his strenuous seclusion work in Guruprasad [in Pune, India], Baba said that listening to the music of Jim Reeves was his relaxation,” noted Mani S. Irani, Meher Baba’s sister and close disciple. “While Baba was having breakfast, we always began with ‘There’s a Heartache Following Me.’’” [1]
Jim Reeves Was One of Meher Baba’s Favorite Western Recording Artists
One Meher Baba’s favorite Western recording artists was American country and western singer Jim Reeves (1923-1964).
In the 1960s, "’Every day [Meher] Baba listened to the songs of Jim Reeves, especially 'Diamond in the Sky' [sic] and 'There's a Heartache Following Me.' Baba said there was great 'dard' (pathos) in Jim Reeves' voice, and these songs helped to relieve the strain of His work,’" wrote Arnavaz Dadachanji in her book Gift of God. [2]
“’It [‘Heartache’] was always the first record played, then others [such as ‘Take My Hand Precious Lord’] were played, then ending again with ‘Heartache’,” Mani explained. [3]
When Meher Baba listened to Jim Reeves, Mani remembered Him often pointing to His heart, indicating how touched He was. [4] “’His voice touches my heart,’” Meher Baba said about Jim Reeves. “It has dard. That’s why I like it.’” [5]
“Heartache” was first sent to Meher Baba by Adi S. Irani (Meher Baba’s brother known as Adi Jr.) in the late 1960s and was played at Meherazad in mandali hall. Meher Baba, however, mostly listened to Jim Reeves at Guruprasad. [6]
Meher Baba first heard Reeves on the Voice of America. When Mani saw how much Meher Baba enjoyed the song, she asked for a record of Jim Reeves be sent to Baba. Later Arnavaz, who was living in Mumbai (Bombay) sent some of Jim Reeves’ records, and Mani purchased others from Poona Music Mart.
“Heartache” Has Been Recorded by a Number of Other Artists
“Heartache” was composed by Ray Baker and first recorded March 4, 1963, and released on Reeves’ album Good ‘n’ Country in October 1963. A number of other recording artists also released their cover of the song, including: Rikki Henderson (1964); Jim Tobin (1971); Kentucky County (1976); Charley Pride (2001); Al Grant (2004); Daniel O’Donnell (2004); Marc with a C (2020); Peter Kent [DK]; and an instrumental version by Bert Whedon (1973). [7]
Rock musician and leader of the band The Who, Pete Townshend who is a follower of Meher Baba, recorded “Heartache” on his first solo album Who Came First in 1972.
Other Songs from Jim Reeves
Others songs from Jim Reeves that Meher Baba listened to were: [8]
“Take My Hand, Precious Lord” — Another favorite of Meher Baba’s. Composer/lyricist: Thomas A. Dorsey.
“Diamonds in the Sand” — The song mentioned in Gift of God as “Diamond in the Sky.” Composers and lyricists: T. Kikillus, G. Gibson.
“Snow Flake” — Composer/lyricist: Ned Miller.
“Welcome to My World” — Composers/lyricist: Johnny Hathcock, Ray Winkler. “Welcome to My World,” which Meher Baba enjoyed, has become a highly popular sing-along song during the morning and evening artis (a time of devotional songs and prayers) at Meher Baba’s Samadhi (Tomb Shrine) and at artis sung around the world held in remembrance of Him.
Sources
[1] David Fenster, Mehera-Meher: A Divine Romance, (Ahmednagar, India: Meher Nazar Publications, 2016 PDF Version), Volume III, pg. 438. ©David Fenster.
[2] Arnavaz N. Dadachanji, Gift of God, (Edison, NJ: Beloved Books), pp. 184-185. (c) 1996 Meherazad Trust for Avatar Meher Baba.
[3] Fenster, op.cit., pg. 438.
[4] Fenster, ibid., pg. 438.
[5] Fenster, ibid., Page 317.
[6] Fenster, ibid., page 317.
[7] SecondHandSongs, “There’s a Heartache Following Me,” accessed online March 18, 2020.
[8] Fenster, op.cit., Appendix C., Pg. 508.
Note
*There were three major darshans in the 1960s: the East-West Gathering at Guruprasad, Pune/Poona, India, in November 1962; the opening of the Poona Center in May 1964; the Eastern Darshan at Guruprasad in May 1965.