Do You Realize?

Listen while you read:  Do You Realize?

Do you realize that you have the most beautiful face?
Do you realize we're floating in space?
Do you realize that happiness makes you cry?
Do you realize that everyone you know someday will die?

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes
Let them know you realize
That life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning 'round

Do you realize? Oh, oh, oh
Do you realize that everyone you know
Someday will die?

~  Wayne Coyne et al (The Flaming Lips)

No, I did not realize that this classic was fifteen years old. It appears on The Flaming Lips' 2002 release Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. You may know it because you heard it at a funeral. Or a wedding. (Till death do us part?) Or a Hewlett-Packard commercial. The song gets around.

But I bet you didn't know this: from 2009 until 2013, the song was the "Official Rock Song of Oklahoma." That's right. Of course, there's a political reason why it stopped being that after 2013. You can google it yourself if you're interested. (I'm trying to take a break from politics.)

One review states that Coyne wrote the song when bandmate Stephen Drozd was having a hard time trying to kick a heroin addiction. That makes sense. Is it true that we never appreciate life, a loved one's or our own, until it becomes possible that it may be taken away from us? Probably. We tend to take so much for granted.

In researching the song, I came upon a comment that claimed the average life expectancy for humans is 67 years. What? In a near panic, I asked Google to verify that comment. Google told me the correct answer is 79 years. Phew! I'm good for awhile.

And yes, I do realize how silly that is. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to go pry the tongue out of my cheek. As for you, you should go tell someone how beautiful he or she is.

Evening in June

Listen while you read: Evening in June

By the light of the moon
When the night holds the secrets
Of the sleepy lagoon
I'm contemplating moonlight on the water
When I'm walking with you
On an evening in June

On an evening in June
It can get so sentimental
When I'm thinking of you
And I can't think of anything
Except being with you 
When the summer is through
On an evening in June

On an evening in June
Well, it lifts me up
When I'm talking to you
On an evening in June
When the flowers are in bloom
And the sky is so blue

Well, there's so many things taking place
That it's hard to keep up with it all
Keep your eye on the ball
And to make the right call
When we're longing for fall
On this evening in June

~  Van Morrison

Already five days into June, and I'm just getting around to my favorite song-of-the-month. Although I would be hard-pressed to name a Van Morrison song I don't like, What's Wrong With This Picture, released in 2003, contains some favorites, including this one. It's just a pretty love song, delivered in the romantic way that is quintessential Van. (I am often puzzled by the artists who come across as such romantics in their songs but can be so arrogant in their everyday lives, like Van Morrison and Ryan Adams, to name two.)

It sounds like the couple in this song are separated during the summer, considering lines like "when the summer is through" and "when we're longing for fall." But it would be folly to waste the beauty of an evening in June because of loneliness or longing. I know about this. Mindfulness would ask that we seek peace and joy in the moment instead of living in memory and anticipation. It is a hard practice, but worth the effort.

I have always been drawn to words that indicate the time of day or night. While words like morning, noon, and night can become meaningless and tiresome due to overuse, I love words like dawn, mid-day, twilight, dusk, and evening. I even like late afternoon. For me, these words conjure light and shadow, the slant of the sun, air temperature, and stillness. Add a season to any of them, and my senses are awash in color and contrast, aromas, and sound (or lack thereof). In other words, they help to create my mood as well as my sense of being alive and part of the ever-changing landscape. An evening in June? I'm there.

And this song is the perfect soundtrack.

My front yard on an evening in June.

Power

Listen while you read: No Nukes

Just give me the warm power of the sun
Give me the steady flow of the waterfall
Give me the spirit of living things
As they return to clay
Just give me the restless power of the wind
Give me the comforting glow of a wood fire
But won't you take all your atomic poison power away

Everybody needs some power, I'm told
To shield them from the darkness and the cold
Some may seek a way to take control
When it's bought and sold
I know that lives are at stake
Yours and mine of our descendants in time
There's so much to gain and so much to lose
Every one of us has to choose

~  John and Johanna Hall

I guess that my recent posts indirectly inspired this one. Yesterday's mention of the Three Mile Island meltdown and the reference to "I Give You Power" in the post the day before commingled in my brain to point me to this song. It wasn't a hard sell; I have always loved this song, ever since I first heard it at a No Nukes concert at Madison Square Garden in September 1979. I think the song may be found on a John Hall album of the same name, but I linked a youtube video from one of the No Nukes concerts for this post. If you watched the video, you may have recognized Carly Simon, Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, and Bonnie Raitt singing along with Hall. Browne, Nash, Hall, and Raitt formed MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) after the Three Mile Island meltdown and performed at five concerts at the Garden for their No Nukes effort.

John Hall, originally with the group Orleans ("Still the One"), became active in the movement to curtail nuclear energy after learning that a power plant was planned for Cementon, New York, near his home in the Saugerties. That project was kiboshed after Three Mile Island. Hall went on to be very active politically, serving as the Democratic representative for the 19th district from 2007 to 2011.

In recent news, we learned that our current administration has pulled us out of the Paris Climate Accord, a slap in the face to environmentalists, and well, to the world. At the same time, the news has shown us images of the world's largest floating solar power plant . . . in China. In a twist of irony, it turns out the lake supporting the solar plant was created by rain after the surrounding land collapsed following intense coal mining operations over a period of years. You might remember coal? That outdated fossil fuel that caused some job losses? You know, coal . . . the industry that our leader wants to revive and part of why he pulled out of the Paris Accord. Maybe he'll also bring back 8-track tapes and telephone answering machines? I myself have been hoping that they start making Sony Walkmans again. I'll put mine right there in my belly bag.

By all reports, there were 22 Senators who supported the decision to pull out of the Paris Accord and penned a letter to Trump urging him to do so. Coincidentally, they are all beholden to Big Oil. Their campaigns have received more than $10 million from oil, gas, and coal companies in the last three election cycles. Is anyone surprised by this?

As for me, just give me the warm power of the sun. (She said, on yet another rainy day in the Northeast.)

London Calling

Listen while you read: London Calling

London calling to the faraway town
Now war is declared and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come outta the cupboard, ya boys and girls
London calling, now don't look to us
Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing

The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growin' thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drownin'; I live by the river

London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out and draw another breath
London calling and I don't want to shout
But while we were talking, I saw you noddin' out
London calling, see we ain't got no high
'Cept for that one with the yellowy eyes

~  Joe Strummer & Mick Jones (The Clash)

By now, you've heard about the most recent terror attack, again in Great Britain. This time, a van plowed through pedestrians on London Bridge before three men emerged from the van and began stabbing people. The three attackers were killed by police within minutes, but not before seven citizens were dead and 48 injured. Upon hearing the news, "London Calling" (which used to be the ringtone on my phone) came into my head and there it remains. Appearing on 1979's album of the same name, "London Calling" is one of The Clash's most notable efforts. The album is #8 on Rolling Stone's list of "500 Greatest Albums of All Time," containing "19 songs of apocalypse, fueled by an unending faith in rock & roll to beat back the darkness."

During WWII, the BBC World Service station began their communications with the words, "This is London calling . . . " in order to identify themselves to occupied countries. Could it be that Strummer and Jones were announcing the start of another war? Perhaps a war of sorts, against 1979's fear of global cooling, depletion of the ozone layer, an economic meltdown, a wheat shortage, and an energy crisis. A nuclear error, but I have no fear. They were very concerned about the tragedy at Three Mile Island (PA) in which a nuclear reactor had a meltdown. At the same time, the band was having disagreements with their record company. It is unclear to me which of these issues were being addressed when Strummer said, "We felt that we were struggling, about to slip down a slope or something, grasping with our fingernails. And there was no one there to help us."

Although the current leader of our country proclaimed in a tweet that the United States is willing to do what it can to help out, that was not before he politicized the tragedy by using it to push for his (Muslim) travel ban. It is noteworthy that he also tweeted about the "terror attack" before the London police had even named it as such. And to make matters worse, this morning, he tweet-attacked the mayor of London, who cautioned his people not to be alarmed at the increased police presence in the city. Completely twisting this comment, the Tweeter-in-Chief issued the inflammatory response: "At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!"

At the end of the song, the feedback spells out Morse code for SOS, the universal distress signal and call for help. London could use our help, not our criticism. The mayor of London, to his credit, has not responded to the tweeter's insult. I suspect he has other things to be concerned with, unlike other ineffective "leaders."

As for me, in these troubled times, I will continue to maintain my "unending faith in rock & roll to beat back the darkness."

Better Things

Listen while you read: Better Things

Here's wishing you the bluest sky
And hoping something better comes tomorrow
Hoping all the verses rhyme
And the very best of choruses to follow
All the doubt and sadness
I know that better things are on the way

Here's hoping all the days ahead
Won't be as bitter as the ones behind you
Be an optimist instead
And somehow happiness will find you
Forget what happened yesterday
I know that better things are on the way

It's really good to see you rocking out
And having fun
Living like you just begun
Accept your life and what it brings
I hope tomorrow you'll find better things
I hope tomorrow you'll find better things

~  Ray Davies (The Kinks)

How's that for upbeat? For me, better things are on the way. My daughter arrives home for a visit tomorrow, and then I will head south to see my guy next week. My other daughter will leave her job in the Bahamas and make the trip back north with me to spend the summer here. The only thing missing is a visit with my son. I'll be an optimist and try to make that happen soon.

Sir Ray Davies, who was knighted a couple of months ago, wrote "Better Things" when he was divorcing his wife. (In 2011, American Songwriter named it their "Favorite Breakup Song.") It's the last track on Give the People What They Want, a rather dark and cynical album, released in 1981. As the last track, "Better Things" offers the promise that things will get better. But have they?

The dark songs on the album were inspired by Davies' experience while writing songs for The Kinks' previous album. He'd been watching American TV and noticed that it was becoming more and more sensational and that viewers were increasingly fascinated with violence and tragedy. Keep in mind that this was in 1979, years before reality TV became the norm. Davies likened that viewer fascination with the Romans watching Christians being fed to the lions. I can't help but think of people gathering to witness executions. While I do not think I would ever want to watch something so disturbing, I have to wonder, "What the hell is wrong with us???"

And has American television gotten any better? I cancelled my cable subscription years ago. I know, I know, I've missed out on "This Is Us." But then again, I choose to fill my home with music instead of drama. There's enough drama out there in the real world. "Give the people what they want -- and they'll get what they deserve" is a quote credited to The Kinks. It would be too easy to apply this quote to the disaster in the White House. But let's never forget that the people wanted someone else. By three million votes.

Well, it looks like I lost my optimism there, doesn't it? The Kinks finished their album on a positive note. Let me try to redeem myself with the last verse of the song:

I know you've got a lot of good things happening up ahead
The past is gone, it's all been said
So here's to what the future brings
I know tomorrow you'll find better things.

I know tomorrow I'll find better things.

Everything Now

Listen (and watch) while you read: Everything Now

(Intro)
I'm in the black again, can't make it back again
We can just pretend we'll make it home again
From everything now

Every inch of sky's got a star
Every inch of skin's got a scar
I guess that you've got everything now
Every inch of space in your head
Is filled up with the things that you read
I guess you've got everything now
And every film that you've ever seen
Fills the spaces up in your dreams
That reminds me

Everything now
Everything now

Every inch of road's got a sign
And every boy uses the same line
I pledge allegiance to everything now
Every song that I've ever heard
Is playing at the same time, it's absurd
And it reminds me, we've got everything now
We turn the speakers up till they break
'Cause every time you smile, it's a fake
Stop pretending, you've got . . . 

(Everything now) I need it
(Everything now) I want it
(Everything now) I can't live without

Every ancient road's got a town
Daddy, how come you're never around?
I miss you, like everything now
Mama, leave the food on the stove
Leave your car in the middle of the road
This happy family with everything now
We turn the speakers up till they break
'Cause every time you smile, it's a fake
Stop pretending . . .

~  Arcade Fire

If this song is new to you, that may be because it was just released YESTERDAY! This is the single from the new Arcade Fire album of the same name, Everything Now. I've watched the video a couple of times now, and I find something new each time. Please watch it if you haven't already.

The song addresses our need to obtain everything immediately in order to guarantee our happiness. It speaks to the overstimulation promoted by our culture as well as our insistence on instant gratification. About the song, Win Butler says, "There's sort of an everything-nowness to life. I feel like almost every event and everything that happens surrounds you on all sides. It's trying to capture some of the experiences of being alive now in all its flaws and all its glory."

The video, set in the stark desolation of the desert, offers a contrast to the consumer-ridden and often congested communities in which we live. Till every room in my house is filled with shit I couldn't live without. But strip away the McMansions and vehicles and technological toys, and what remains? Telephone poles, electrical wires and cables, barbed wire, and contrails. In this other-worldly desert environment, all the signs on the storefronts claim "Everything Now." The children play on the fallen spacecraft and watch more attempts at expanding our universe as rockets take off over the horizon.

And it begs the question: Why can't we make taking care of this planet a priority before we try to inhabit others? Is it only coincidence that this video/song was released on the same day that the decider-in-residence announced our withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord? Take note of the scene in which the camera focuses from above on a bird nest full of eggs sitting atop a telephone pole while children throw rocks at it from below. An obvious metaphor for the destruction of nature.

Arcade Fire is a Canadian band, but they make no secret about their feeling toward this new U.S. administration. On the day before the Inauguration, they released "I Give You Power" featuring vocals by Mavis Staples. There's a line in the song that follows "I give you power." Mavis sternly threatens, "I can take it all away -- watch me!"  We're all watching, eyes on the 2018 mid-terms. All proceeds from "I Give You Power" were given to the ACLU. A statement from the band cautions, "It's never been more important that we stick together and take care of each other."

The "outro" concludes the song as everything now goes up in flames:

The ashes of everything now
And then you're black again
Can't make it back again
From everything now

I want to believe that it's not too late. How about you?

Have You Ever

Listen while you read: (but you might cry)

Have you ever wandered lonely through the woods?
And everything there feels just as it should
You're part of the life there
You're part of something good
If you've ever wandered lonely through the woods

Have you ever stared into a starry sky?
Lying on your back, you're asking why
What's the purpose? 
I wonder who I am
If you've ever stared into a starry sky

Have you ever been out walking in the snow?
Tried to get back where you were before
You always end up
Not knowing where to go
If you've ever been out walking in the snow

If you'd ever been out walking, you would know

~  Phil Hanseroth (for Brandi Carlile), performed by The Avett Brothers

Looks like I'm following up on yesterday's post regarding the search for the meaning of life. Seems to be a journey that many of us are analyzing these days. But I'm pretty excited about the subject of this post, and if I do it right, we all might feel a bit better about covfefe life.

Brandi Carlile released The Story in 2007 to much critical acclaim. I was immediately moved by that collection of songs and purchased the CD. It still moves me, and I return to it often. Paste, an online music magazine, sums it up: "The Story is deeply personal, an album filled with lyrical paintings of desolation and longing while including equally triumphant moments of strength and self-awareness." I return over and over again to that duality of opposites that informs this existence. Brandi Carlile gets it.

In celebration of the tenth anniversary of The Story, Carlile engaged several artists to cover the songs, and Cover Stories was released on May 5. I had a hard time selecting which song to feature on this post, but the Avetts' rendition of "Have You Ever," with its slow and soothing banjo, just blew me away. Plus, I love the simplicity of the lyrics. This one was written by one of "the twins" who serve as Carlile's longtime backup band.

Other artists contributing to Cover Stories include Kris Kristofferson, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), Indigo Girls, Pearl Jam, and Adele. Carlile, who is close to Pete Souza (previous White House photographer), even got President Obama to write a forward: "Brandi Carlile tells stories that encourage us to see ourselves in one another."

And here's the best part! All proceeds from the sale of the album will go to War Child UK, supporting children affected by conflict. President Obama continues: "As an artist, Brandi Carlile is using her talent on behalf of the most vulnerable among us, children living in areas of conflict. She reminds us that, together, we can build for our children a more just, peaceful world." I will be ordering my copy as soon as I finish writing this post. I hope you will consider doing so, too.

And it matters not which side of the aisle you occupy. According to Carlile, "This is not about politics. What we do with these kids is the greatest test of our generation and our humanity. We need a lot of new voices to come to the table on this issue." I will spare you a repeat of the photo of the little Syrian toddler washed up on the Turkish shore. But now that I've put that image in your head, you know what you need to do.

Be part of something good.