Teach your children well

 

                                                Crosby, Stills, and Nash

You, who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so, become yourself
Because the past is just a goodbye

Teach your children well
Their father's hell did slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick's the one you'll know by

Don't you ever ask them, "Why?"
If they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you

And you (Can you hear?) of tender years (And do you care?)
Can't know the fears (And can you see?)
That your elders grew by (We must be free)
And so, please help (To teach your children)
Them with your youth (What you believe in)
They seek the truth (Make a world)
Before they can die (That we can live in)

And teach your parents well
Their children's hell will slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick's the one you'll know by

Don't you ever ask them, "Why?
If they told you, you will cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you

What  do you think when you hear this song ?

Music Lightens the Heart

1965? Promoted to high school.  1968? MLK Jr was assassinated, Democratic National Convention in Chicago showed me just how harsh the world is.  1969...

Current times have smash ups of disasters. Now, it is time to view life and disasters, in ways and perspectives we do not consider.  Now, see and discuss. 

Sound of Music, about 4 minutes long

Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody Revised

about six minutes

Truly this is a great way to spend time being who

we are, we love to be, giggling

He Ain't Heavy

I never really gave this song much thought, but could remember the first few words and then hum along with the rest. It was first sung by Neil Diamond. That basically how I do all songs.  Being a young adult and seeing nothing but the hopes, love and life ahead, this song didn't mean much to me.

I know this song has been done in different ways, by different artists. The recording and video below means more to me, at this stage of my life.

The lyrics? Can you hear them?  Understand them?  Here they are:

The road is long/ with many a winding turn

That leads us to who knows where/who knows when.

But I’m strong/strong enough to carry him.

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.

So on we go/his welfare is of my concern.

No burden is he to bear/we’ll get there.

For I know/he would not encumber me.

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.

If I’m laden at all/I’m laden with sadness

That everyone’s heart/isn’t filled with gladness

Of love for one another.

It’s a long, long road/from which there is no return

While we’re on the way to there/why not share

And the load/doesn’t weigh me down at all.

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

He’s my brother…He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother...

What do you remember of the 70s or 80s, when this song was making the rounds? Did you know the lyrics then? Did this speak to you? 

Addendum:  This was a song for many when it was released in 1970. Vietnam took many of our local boys from small farming communities where I grew up. Some came back, some didn't. When I hear this, the senior HS  pictures come to mind of those boys, their names. My cousin Billy didn't return.

Repost from 2014

Discovering what was there all the time...

In my youth, country western music was the only music played on local radio stations. Lyrics were outdated and predictable; music was twangy and depended heavily on banjos.  

What about Janis Joplin?  Beach Boys? What about "She wore an itsy bitsy, teeny weenie, yellow polka dot bikini"?

Given my varied musical taste, rediscovering country western music is surprising. Sadly, some legends had already died, some dying young from various addictions or in accidents. Others died in the course of time. 

Hank Williams died before he was thirty.  Patsy Cline died at the same age.   Johnny Cash left in 2003 at age 71.  

Such is life.  And death.  I found their music empowers those who take the time to listen to words, which I finally did.

A rare clip from 1952 with Alice Carter and Hank Williams

Back in the days of black and white television...

Johnny Cash died in 2003 at the age of 71.  This video was the last he recorded. 

OOPS!  I somehow put two Johnny Cash (the same ones) up.  Don't know how to delete one.  Oh well.

Take the time to listen, really listen.  To the words, which say it all.