One may wonder, why is a section titled, “The Wisdom and Philosophy of Popular Music” in the website of a writer (especially one who wrote 2 books on action-adventure where “lite” sci-fi-Dieselpunk-meets-Atompunk?)
You may or may not be surprised at the answer; this writer grew up in what many consider the “Golden Age of popular music” (not to mention a wild, constantly changing world-reality)…
…and really believes that era, 1955-1980s-ish, produced arguably the best popular music, surely some of the best (and lyrically imaginative) music, ever written and produced.
Ever.
From the beginning of rock n’ roll to the early 1980s (though arguably, there were quite a number of musical turds in that time period, in addition to the platinum-quality nuggets).
As a writer and music enthusiast who listened to several thousand hours of and appreciated (for the most part), American popular music of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, along with a number of other lyrical forms…
…quite a while ago, idle pondering convinced James Hood’s mind, there existed in many song lyrics, a form of “folk wisdom.”
Not necessarily great philosophy a la Plato, Aristotle, Voltaire, Twain, Jung, but many varied words on a number of subjects, lyrical statements worth a brief pondering.
From the songwriters and lyricists of the 3rd quarter of the 20th century, came many bits worth remembering.
A book with the title of this website page was begun and copyrighted, two decades ago and is still “filling in”…with thousands of entries.
However, in the interim between now and publication, advantage will be taken of this blog to share some of what this writer considers, some gems of “The Wisdom and Philosophy from Popular Music.”
‘Hope you enjoy…
…and maybe ponder a bit, as well. Maybe go out there on the cosmicnet and listen to the whole song?
Better still, if the music resonates in your soul, purchase a CD, download or vinyl; after all, musicians do this to earn their livings.
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“Seems like yesterday, but it was long ago….”
Against the Wind, Bob Seeger, 1980, album Against the Wind
entry 2023 June 13
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“…April come she will,
when streams are ripe and swelled with rain.
May, she will stay,
resting in my arms again
June, she’ll change her tune,
in restless walks she’ll prowl the night….”
April Come She Will, Paul Simon, January 1966, album The Sounds of Silence
entry 10 June 2023
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“…You’re the reason our kids are ugly….”
You’re the Reason Our Kids are Ugly, written by L.E. White and Lola Jean Dillon, covered by Cyndi Lauper, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Boy George, and others.
entry 2023 May 05
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“…still, my guitar gently weeps.”
While My Guitar Gently Weeps, written and sung by Sir George Harrison MBE, album The Beatles, 1968
entry 2023 March 11
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“…Check out Guitar George, he knows all the chords. But he’s strictly rhythm, he doesn’t want to make it cry or sing. Yes, and an old guitar is all he can afford, when he gets up under the lights to do his thing. With the Sultans, with the Sultans of Swing….”
The Sultans of Swing, written and lead-vocal and guitar, Mark Knopfler, album Dire Straits, 1979
entry 2023 February 26
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“Well, I’ll be damned, here comes your ghost again. But that’s not unusual, it’s just that the moon is full, and you happened to call. And here I sit, hand on the telephone, hearing a voice I’d known, a couple of light-years ago….“
Diamonds and Rust, written and sung by Joan Baez, album Diamonds and Rust, 1975
entry 2022 September 11
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“…I’ve got no time, for you right now, don’t bother me….
Don’t Bother Me, written and sung by George Harrison and The Beatles, album With the Beatles, 1963
edit 2021 June 19 (seems like a perfect song for these Covid-19 plague times)
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“…and Harry doesn’t mind, if he doesn’t make the scene, he’s got a day-time job, he’s doing all right. He can play the honkey tonk like anything, saving it up for Friday night, with the Sultans, with the Sultans of Swing…”
The Sultans of Swing, written and lead-vocal and guitar, Mark Knopfler, album Dire Straits, 1979
entry 2020 May 11
(dedicated to all the non-professional musicians who play out anything but from one time at a party, to weekends, largely for the thrill of it)
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“…I really don’t know life...at all.”
Both Sides Now, written by Joni Mitchell, best known as sung by Judy Collins on the Wildflowers album, 1969.
Entry 2020 May 01, Happy Birthday, Judy, 81, oh, my….
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“…I get by with a little help from my friends…”
With a Little Help From My Friends, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, sung by Ringo Starr, – Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967
Entry 2020 April 29 Wednesday
(49 days into the “World War C” of the Covid-19 hell-pandemic, this lyric personifies what tens of millions of people are doing, worldwide…helping one another…there is hope.)
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“Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks like they are here to stay, oh I believe in yesterday.”
Yesterday, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Yesterday and Today, 1966
entry 2020 April 26 Sunday
(Being 46 days into “World War C,” 46 days after the World Health Organization announced the Covid-19 global pandemic…believing the “yesterday” of 46 days ago can come again after this horrific disease is controlled and vanquished, is a bright light of hope.)
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“There must be some way out of here…there’s too much confusion, I can’t get no relief.”
All Along the Watchtower, Bob Dylan, album John Wesley Harding, 1967 (Widely remembered is the Jimi Hendrix cover)
entry 2020 April 26 Saturday
(The peoples of veritably the entire planet are fighting “World War C” against the Covid-19 coronavirus; this lyric expresses what many folks feel.)
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“Harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust abounding, no more falsehoods or derisions, golden living dreams of visions….”
The Age of Aquarius, composers James Rado, Gerome Ragni, Galt MacDermot, best known performed by The Fifth Dimension, album Age of Aquarius and the rock opera, Hair, 1969
entry 2020 April 24 Friday
(These lyrics read as though they are the hopeful, prayerful, determined attitude and vision of those fighting to cure and forever banish the horror of the worldwide Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.)
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“…all we are trying to say is we are all we’ve got. You and me just cannot fail, if we never, ever stop!”
You And Me, Justin Hayward and Graeme Edge, The Moody Blues, album Seventh Sojourn, 1972
entry 2020 April 23
(Pertinent and hopeful lyrics, given the current immense, worldwide efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic)
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“Strange days have found us. Strange days have tracked us down. They’re going to destroy our casual joys….”
Strange Days, James Morrison, The Doors, Strange Days, 1967
entry 2020 April 22
(Could any lyric seem more spooky, appropriate, amidst this Covid-19 pandemic?)
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“Isn’t life straaaange…?
Isn’t Life Strange, John Lodge, The Moody Blues, Seventh Sojourn, 1972
entry 2020 April 21, Tuesday
(This lyric feels especially poignant, today being the 41st day after the World health Organization declared the Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic…
…and the day before the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day and its, “Save the Planet!” message.)
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“You wonder how it might have been, had you not cast your fate to the wind…”
Cast Your Fate To the Wind, composed by Vince Guaraldi, lyric written later by Carel Werber, Cast Your Fate To The Wind, (single) 1963, (album) 1965
entry 2020 April 20 Monday
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“…there will be another song for me, and I will sing it. There will be another dream for me, and I will dream it….”
MacArthur Park, composed by Jimmy Webb, best known as sung by Richard Harris, 1968
entry 2020 April 19, Sunday
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“…letters I’ve written, never meaning to send….”
Nights In White Satin, Justin Hayward and John Lodge, the Moody Blues, album Nights In White Satin, 1967
entry 2020 April 17, Friday
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“…don’t let the sound of your own wheels, drive you crazy.”
Take It Easy, Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, The Eagles, 1972
entry 2020 April 15 Wednesday (especially pertinent as we “Shelter in place” under the COVID-19 pandemic)
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“It’s been a hard day’s night, and I’ve been working like a dog.”
A Hard Day’s Night, (Ringo Starr said the line, Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote the song around it), The Beatles, 1964
entry 2020 April 14, Tuesday
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“There were hills I couldn’t climb when I was young. I was sheltered by my dreams, now shattered mirrors in the sun.”
Love Me Not Tomorrow, composer John Stewart, lead singer Beverley Bivens, We Five, You Were On My Mind, 1965
entry 2020 April 13 Monday
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“Close the door, light the lights, we’re staying home tonight, far away from the bustle and the bright city lights. Let them all fade away, just leave us alone.
A World of Our Own, Tom Springfield 1965, The Seekers, Best of The Seekers
entry 2020 April 11 Saturday
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“…in this world I lock out all my worries and my fears, in my room…”
In My Room, Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, Surfer Girl, 1964
entry 2020 April 08 Wednesday (especially applicable for those many millions, self-quarantining and sheltering in place during the Coronavirus pandemic)
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“Can it be that man can disappear from life and live another time?“
El Paso City, Marty Robbins, album El Paso City, 1976
entry 2020 April 07 Tuesday
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“There are places I remember, all my life, though some have changed. Some for ever, not for better. Some are gone and some remain.”
In My Life, Lennon and McCartney, The Beatles, Rubber Soul, 1965
entry 2020 April 05 Sunday
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“I came upon a child of God, he was walking along the road. And I asked him where he’s going, this he told me. ‘I’m going on down to Yazgur’s farm, gonna join in some rock and roll there. Get back to the land and set my soul free’.”
Woodstock, Joni Mitchell, 1969
(Songwriter Joni Mitchell did not attend the legendary music festival. Her then-boyfriend, Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills and Nash told her about it, as CS&N played at Woodstock. Joni was in New York, she was to appear on the Dick Cavett Show. Yup, Joni missed Woodstock to appear once on late night television. Oops.)
entry 2020 April 01 Wednesday
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“…we may lose and we may win, but we will never be here again, so open up, I’m climbing in, so take it easy!”
Take It Easy, Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, The Eagles, 1972
entry 27 March Friday
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“You only live twice, or so it seems, one life for yourself,and once for your dreams.”
You Only Live Twice, John Barry and Leslie Bricusse, 1967, film soundtrack
entry 2020 March 02 Monday
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“…a band was blowing Dixie, double-four time. You feel all right, when you hear the music play…”
The Sultans of Swing, composed. sung and lead guitar by Mark Knopfler, album Dire Straits, 1979
entry 2020 February 27
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“…I guess I just wasn’t made for these times…”
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times, Brian Wilson and Tony Asher (for) The Beach Boys, album Pet Sounds, 1966
entry 2020 February 26
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‘This world is rough and if a man’s gonna make it, he’s got to be tough….”
A Boy Named Sue, writer Shel Silverstein, best known sung by Johnny Cash, 1969, album At San Quentin
entry 2020 February 20
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“…I am a rock, I am an island…and a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.”
I Am a Rock, Paul Simon, album The Sounds of Silence, 1966
entry 2020 February 10
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“…the ocean is a desert with its life underground, and a perfect disguise, above….”
A Horse With No Name, Dewey Bunnell, album America, 1971
entry 2020 January 15
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“…it’s just another day…”
Another Day, Paul McCartney, 1969
entry 2020 January 01
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“The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee…”
Wreck of the Edmund Fitgerald, Gordon Lightfoot, 1976, album Summertime Dream
(The Great Lakes ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald broke up and sank in a violent storm on Lake Superior in November 1975, with loss of all 29 sailors on board)
entry 2019 November 01
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JAMES HOOD 