• John B Whalen Jr Esq •
“Tiny Dancer”
Released 1971
Music By Elton John/Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
The song’s lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin to capture the spirit of California in 1970 encapsulated by the many beautiful women he met there
David Eric Grohl
Born January 14, 1969
Founder, frontman, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter of the rock band Foo Fighters since 1994, and was the best-known and longest-serving drummer for Nirvana from 1990 to 1994, when they broke up, following the death of Kurt Cobain.
when Kurt died, I remember the next day
and thinking I still get to live
so I’m going to live every day
like its my last one
even if it’s the worst day
I’m going to try and appreciate it
“All Dead All Dead”
Released October 28, 1977
Queen – British rock band
All Dead, All Dead” was partly inspired by the death of Brian May’s cat.
Sung by Brian May, the lilting, melancholy track “All Dead, All Dead” sounds like a farewell to a departed lover, but it was at least partly inspired by the death of the guitarist’s childhood cat.
“It was a song I had around for a while,” May recalled during an appearance on In the Studio with Redbeard.
It was kind of about the passing of friends and I think the thing that started it off was my cat, losing my cat.
My cat died when I was a kid, and I kind of never got over it.
I think it was one of those things which surfaces now and again in different ways.
I think I wrote the song for the album thinking that I was writing it about something completely different – but I think part of it was sort of getting it out of my system.
and give me something to believe in
Bret Michael Sychak
Born March 15, 1963
American Musician, Actor, Director, Screenwriter, Producer,
“With “Something To Believe In” I wrote that late at night after a friend (James Kimo Maano, a security guard and best friend of Bret Michaels) of mine passed away a couple of Christmas’ ago.
I was at my mom’s house for Christmas when we got the call and it was late at night. That really affected,” he says as his voice trails off.
The song emphasizes several different things, such as the televangelism scandals, the thoughts of a Vietnam veteran and how he can never seem to shake the memories of “a war he can’t forget,” the recent death of a friend, and seeing the homeless on a street at night, dimly lit by a neon sign that once spelled out “Jesus Saves” and how it seems that the lessons of yesterday are forgotten on the world of today.
Well I see him on the TV
Preachin’ ’bout the promised lands
He tells me to believe in Jesus
And steals the money from my hand
Some say he was a good man
But Lord I think he sinned, yeah
Twenty-two years of mental tears
Cries a suicidal Vietnam vet
Who fought a losing war on a foreign shore
To find his country didn’t want him back
Their bullets took his best friend in Saigon
Our lawyers took his wife and kids, No regrets
In a time I don’t remember
In a war he can’t forget
He cried forgive me for
What I’ve done there
‘Cause I never meant the things I did
And give me something to believe in
If there’s a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise
My best friend died a lonely man
In some Palm Springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas Eve
And they told me the news
I tried all night not to break down and cry
As the tears rolled down my face
I felt so cold and empty
Like a lost soul out of place
And the mirror, mirror on the wall
Sees my smile it fades again
And give me something to believe in
If there’s a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise
Sometimes I wish to God
I didn’t know now
The things I didn’t know then
Road, you gotta take me home
I drive by the homeless sleeping on a cold dark street
Like bodies in an open grave
Underneath the broken old neon sign
That used to read Jesus Saves
A mile away live the rich folks
And I see how they’re living it up
While the poor they eat from hand to mouth
The rich is drinkin’ from a golden cup
And it just makes me wonder
Why so many lose, so few win
Give me something to believe in
(Give me something to believe in)
Give me something to believe in
(Give me something to believe in)
If there’s a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
(You take the high road and I’ll take the low road)
Oh Lord
And give me something to believe in
(You take the high road and I’ll take the low road)
Oh Lord arise
(You take the high road and I’ll take the low road)
And give me something to believe in
(You take the high road and I’ll take the low road)
And give me something to believe in, yeah, yeah
Solibury Hill
Released 1977
Peter Brian Gabriel – English singer, songwriter, and record producer who rose to fame as the original lead singer and flautist of the progressive rock band Genesis.
… I have been blogging for over a decade now …
… many have read my posts …
… most know my mania and folly …
… I blog about legal updates …
… I blog about my gig in estate law …
… The best part of my gig
… Is getting to meet people …
… And getting to know them …
… The one immutable fact I know …
… As well as your God …
… and a handful of self-actualized others …
… Is that we are all broken …
… We are all lonely …
… We are all insecure …
… We have all been to hell and back …
… Yet – no one talks about these things …
… They’d rather just go to the mall …
… They’d rather just watch reality tv …
… Ostriches and crabs …
… (that’s a metaphor) …
… ab initio – ad infinitum – ad nauseam …
… you’ll need “Google Latin” for that one …
… I know the reasons why …
… It’s due to embarrassment …
… Its due to ignorance …
… It’s due to selfishness …
… It’s due to narcissism
… (sorry – look it up) …
… It’s due to solipsism
… (yeah – keep the browser open) …
… It’s due to egocentrism …
… (sorry – I graduated from 3rd grade) …
… It’s due to all of these things and more …
… But – there are very simple answers …
… Most – however – don’t like simple answers …
… there are simple ways to garnish the courage ..
… there are simple ways to throw away old things …
… there are simple ways to get through things …
… my brother says – “life is hard – get a helmet” …
… That’s simple …
… so – back to why I am writing this …
… I have already addressed this topic is many posts …
… and the list goes on …
… Peter Gabriel was in the band Genesis …
… He was disillusioned …
… He was unhappy for many reasons …
… he was thinking of leaving the band …
… And starting a solo career …
… He did end up leaving Genesis …
… and launched a successful solo career …
… “Solsbury Hill” was his first single …
… He has had a magnificent solo career …
… I think it means that Peter had the simple answer …
… He had the courage to let go of the past …
Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing, stretching every nerve
Had to listen, had no choice
I did not believe the information
Just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom, boom, boom
“Son”, he said, “grab your things, I’ve come to take you home”
To keep in silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day
Though my life was in a rut
‘Til I thought of what I’ll say
Which connection I should cut
I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom, boom, boom
Hey – he said, “grab your things, I’ve come to take you home”
When illusion spin her net
I’m never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me
Today I don’t need a replacement
I’ll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart going boom, boom, boom
“Hey”, I said, “you can keep my things, they’ve come to take me home”
… [Peter] Gabriel has said of the song’s meaning, that “It’s about being prepared to lose what you have for what you might get … It’s about letting go.” …
… His former bandmate Tony Banks acknowledges that the song reflects Gabriel’s decision to break ties with Genesis, but it can also be applied in a broader sense to situations of letting go in general …
… I admire Peter Gabriel for doing this …
… He had the determination to let go …
… He had the wisdom to know it may fail …
… He had the strength to make it happen …
We’re Going To Be Friends
Released Late 2002
American alternative rock band White Stripes
… this post is dedicated to finding ourselves in others, finding others without themselves, and knowing that we need to help others rid themselves of their ‘outdated clothes’ if we are going to be true friends…
… I truly enjoy writing these blog posts …
… in one way, shape, or another …
… I have been writing my whole life …
… lyrics for a band …
… poems for whatever poems are for …
… professional articles …
… shopping lists …
… but these blog posts are my favorite …
… as music, literature, and art
… are my folly and mania …
… I tend to site these in support of legal and life …
… all to be continued …
… and then we grow up …
… in the blink of an eye …
… and at the speed of light …
… and we are too busy to notice …
… and in my line of work …
… I am privy to all of this …
… I see those who are still stuck …
… I wonder why they are …
… we have all been to hell and back …
… and we are all …
… “Like A Monster Back From Hell” …
… at times …
… [spoiler alert – that last quote is from an upcoming post] …
… its very important that that we move on …
… we can’t let the past continue to be the present …
… but I encounter many locked in the past …
… they have the same outfits …
… these outfits don’t fit them anymore …
… I am forced to conclude …
… that they find comfort in this …
… I am also forced to conclude that …
… they may be buried in those outfits …
… I believe that we are all the children we once were …
… we have just forgotten this …
… The White Stripes have not …
Fall is here, hear the yell
Back to school, ring the bell
Brand new shoes, walking blues
Climb the fence, books and pens
I can tell that we are gonna be friends
I can tell that we are gonna be friends
Walk with me, Suzy Lee
Through the park and by the tree
We will rest upon the ground
And look at all the bugs we found
Safely walk to school without a sound
Safely walk to school without a sound
Here we are, no one else
We walked to school all by ourselves
There’s dirt on our uniforms
From chasing all the ants and worms
We clean up and now it’s time to learn
We clean up and now it’s time to learn
Numbers, letters, learn to spell
Nouns, and books, and show and tell
Playtime we will throw the ball
Back to class, through the hall
Teacher marks our height against the wall
Teacher marks our height against the wall
We don’t notice any time pass
We don’t notice anything
We sit side by side in every class
Teacher thinks that I sound funny
But she likes the way you sing
Tonight I’ll dream while I’m in bed
When silly thoughts go through my head
About the bugs and alphabet
And when I wake tomorrow I’ll bet
That you and I will walk together again
I can tell that we are gonna be friends
Yes I can tell that we are gonna be friends.
… so – as I have thrown away my outdated outfits …
… I will continue not to notice any time pass …
