As this virus lockdown (stay at home order) goes on I’ve been thinking about song lyrics that relate to the effect this is having on our everyday lives. The list follows. No commentary necessary, I’ll let them stand on their own. Stay safe and well my friends.
“I’ve seen the lights go out on Broadway…”
Billy Joel, “Miami 2017”
“But the subways are empty and so are the cafes.”
Neil Young, “Ambulance Blues”
“Now all them things that seemed so important, well mister they vanished right up into the air.”
Bruce Springsteen, “The River”
“Don’t it always seem to go you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.”
Joni Mitchell, “Big Yellow Taxi”
“Stuck inside these four walls, sent inside forever, never seeing no one nice again… “
Wings, “Band on the Run”
“I’m on the pavement thinking about the government… “
Bob Dylan, “Subterranean Homesick Blues”
“It’s just that demon life has got you in its sway.”
Rolling Stones, “Sway”
“I can’t believe the news today, I can’t close my eyes and make it go away.”
U2, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
“And in attempts to understand a thing so simple and so huge.”
Jackson Browne, “Before the Deluge”
“It’s the end of the world as we know it…”
REM, “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
“How come Jesus gets industrial disease?”
Dire Straits, “Industrial Disease”
When I find myself in times of trouble mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
The Beatles, “Let It Be”
Someday soon we all will be together if the fates allow. Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow.
Judy Garland, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
ARTS ROUNDUP
Podcast: “Here’s The Thing” with Alec Baldwin. Not sure how I stumbled on this but I’m glad I did. Baldwin is a well prepared and enthusiastic interviewer. You can tell he is fan of his subjects’ work and he has a great voice for a podcast. I’ve listened to interviews of Cameron Crowe (cool story about casting Sean Penn in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”), Jann Wenner (his friendship with Mick Jagger), concert promoter Ron Delsener and broadway star Kelli o’Hara.
Books: “After Henry”, Joan Didion. This is her book of essays from the late 1980’s. Some of these essays are so densely packed with insights that I got to the end of one and re-read it immediately. Her long piece on the Central Park Jogger case that closes the book is a must read for anyone who has lived or worked in New York City.
Streaming: “Echo In The Canyon”. Jakob Dylan made this combination documentary and concert film as a tribute to the late 1960’s artist enclave in LA’s Laurel Canyon. The focus in on artists like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys and The Mama’s and the Papa’s. Interview subjects include Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Graham Nash and Eric Clapton. The movie also features the last filmed interview with Tom Petty. The concert performances are covers of the popular songs from the era. Performers include Dylan, Beck and Fiona Apple. The knockout performance is the cover of the Mamas and the Papas “Go Where You Want To Go” with Dylan and Jade Castrinos. Castrinos’s performance is absolutely mind blowing. You can find it on YouTube but watch this movie. For everyone who is a fan of the Southern California sound.
Music: “Caretakers”, Pete Yorn. One of my fondest musical memories is the summer of 2001 driving in my car listening to Pete Yorn’s debut “musicforthemorningafter”. Almost 20 years later Yorn is still putting out strong pop/rock records and “Caretakers” is one of his best in recent years. In his weaker moments PY’s songs can meander in search of a hook. Not here. All the songs build quickly to catchy choruses and bridges. The full band sound is sometimes pleasantly dense with Yorn’s layered vocals just peeking out above the mix. Good stuff.