The prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is to include the words “to me”. This is my response.
Whenever there’s an upset in my life, I ask myself the same question: “How could this be happening to me again?”
Sometimes I wonder if I’m a total sap to give myself entirely to a friendship and at some point end up getting hurt. I don’t know …. maybe I’m delusional but I expect people to treat me the same as I treat them. Perhaps “expect” is too strong a word; after all, do I really have the right to expect people to behave a certain way just because I think they should?
Someone once told me my expectations are unrealistic and that I can’t “will” someone to act or react a certain way simply because I want them to. Perhaps he was right. I think about his words when I feel hurt or angry.
So, yes, I was hurt once again by a friend going behind my back and lying to me. This leaves me wondering if I bring this sort of behavior on myself or if I’m just unfortunate with some of the friendships I have made?
One thing I simply cannot tolerate is lying. I have a personal pact with myself never to tell lies. I know people lie all the time; is it too much to ask those near and dear not to lie to me?
Writing about this recent hurt is cleansing and I have decided I will put it behind me. What gives me some small amount of satisfaction is the fact that the person who lied to me knows that I know. This friend certainly went to a lot of trouble to cover all the tracks but they weren’t 100% successful. First of all, I am nobody’s fool and I catch on fast. Secondly, when you involve a third party into the plot, things can go horribly wrong very quickly. And last, my friend slipped up by making a comment online which I saw through immediately; as I said, I am nobody’s fool. The plotting and scheming behind my back compounded with the lie is particularly vicious; it was entirely intentional. You can’t get much lower than that.
Well, while I am going through this cleansing period, I am not above admitting that I hope the liar(s) are squirming and feeling guilty about stabbing me in the back. This was a grievous act on their part; could an admission and an apology be on the way?
There’s nothing quite as poignant as the sight of a dying swan, when her beauty wanes like that of faded silken cloth.
A life of such magnificence she leads, dressed in only the most majestic and royal of attire, bestowed so easily by nature while other breeds look so ordinary in comparison.
Confident in her beauty, she floats like a downy queen; she renders no judgement on the world nor assumes a superior attitude. Hers is a graceful, peaceful existence.
She rises above the tumult and silently, in a sweetly romantic character, will she take to heart a mate for all her life. No other and never another will she need, for they are soulmates of the seas.
With wings and elegant necks entwined, they swim the waters together, no fear, no discord. In unison they fly with wings of angels, ever one with the other.
The finches and skylarks in admiration glance down from the trees and sing to the beauty of the swans.
Their love comes to fruition; their cygnets hatch like tiny balls of feathered fluff.
But now the song of the swan is almost over, come full cycle but far too soon for her mate has fallen victim to the fisherman’s nets and weights and has been dragged unceremoniously to the depths of the lake.
Now she is alone with only a broken heart until the time comes for her to rest and in silence she will close her eyes for one long and final sleep.
My mother was coming for a visit – just a couple of hours but enough time to give my house the once-over.
I gave up long ago trying to please Mom or meet her unreasonable expectations; nothing I did made her happy or proud so why even bother? Now that I was a mom, spending time with my kids was more important than keeping an immaculate house.
To my surprise, the afternoon with Mom was delightful. As she was leaving, she walked by the pile of shoes in my mudroom and announced with a huff, “Nancy, you are such a disappointment.”
Denise @ GirlieOnTheEdge has once again challenged us to write a Six Sentence Story, incorporating the word “limit”. This is my response. 🎅🏼
“Now listen up, kids, because Daddy’s had just about enough of this nonsense; I’m at the end of my rope and very close to losing it right here in front of Cinnabon, you hear me?
Every year it’s the same thing with you kids; Timmy, Sally .… I need you guys to get a gripbecause people are starting to stare, mall security is checking me out and the big guy in the redsuit is becoming impatient.
Try to remember what we talked about last night when I read you a bedtime story, how you gotta behave because Santa is watching all the time and he knows when you’re being naughty (like now) or when you’re being nice; if you want Santa Claus to come to our house this year and bring you Christmas presents, you better shape up this minute and stop crying or else you’re gonna get a big fat lump of coal in your stocking!
Sally, I know you want Mommy right now but the last time I saw her she was ducking into Ye Olde Candle Shoppe and she hasn’t come out yet …. as if we really need more goddamn candles that smell like fruit cake and reindeer balls …. it ain’t normal, I’m telling you; look, we’re next in line to see Santa so everybody settle down, stop crying and when we’re all done we’ll go down to the food court and get ice cream at Baskin Robbins, ok?
Hold on a second, kids, cos one of the elves is putting up a sign and I wanna see what it says; whoa, whoa, whoa …. wait up there, pal …. what’s with the sign?
Ok, change of plans, kids …. Santa’s taking a lunch break and won’t be back till 3:00 so we’re gonna go hunt down Mommy in the friggin’ candle store and then we’re gonna go home where Daddy can watch Sunday football and have a couple of cold ones and Mommy can bring you back to the mall tomorrow while I’m at the office; Timmy, Sally …. for fuck’s sake …. that’s enough now cos Daddy’s good and pissed and has reached his limit …. so stop with the damn crying or I’ll really give you something to cry about!”
This is Bob Rivers & Twisted Christmas with “I Am Santa Claus”
It’s Birthday Thursday today at The Rhythm Section. Stop by and see who’s celebrating a birthday! No fuss, no muss; just wall-to-wall-music! https://rhythmsection.blog/
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays here in The Rhythm Section. Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on that day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Harry Chapin December 7, 1942 in New York City
Out of the blue the call arrived. It was late and I was beyond tired after a day of Christmas shopping and decorating. We were tempted to let it go straight to voice mail, but Gary thought it might be important.
“Gary? Hi, it’s Alice from the adoption agency. I hope you and Carol are sitting down! We have a baby for you! Can you come by in the morning to talk?”
Gary stood up; his face registered shock. “What? My God! Are you sure?” Completely convinced that something terrible had happened, I grabbed the phone from Gary. “This is Carol Wheeler. Who’s this, please?”
It was not bad news …. just the opposite. It was elating, magical, top-of-the-world, The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year news!
A baby in need of a home! A baby for us to love!!
“Yes!! We’ll be there! Oh, Alice. I’m so happy! Thank you so much!” I was rambling.
Dumbstruck, we stood there …. then pandemonium broke loose. Laughing, crying, hugging, kissing, dancing, tossing tinsel around the room like crazy people. Anytime would have been amazing but for this to be happening during the holiday season was wondrous!
We didn’t think …. or even care …. to ask “boy, girl, age, etc., etc.”? After eight years of trying to get pregnant and faced with disappointment each time, an incredibly strong and loving stranger was presenting us with the most precious gift imaginable.
“Gary, do you realize in a few days we will be a family of three?” I asked breathlessly.
IN A FEW DAYS!!
All tiredness forgotten, we raced to the attic for the plastic bins of assorted baby items. There in the corner stood the bassinet; it seemed to glow in the darkness. I believe at that moment I heard angels singing. We reverently carried it down to our room. I leaned into Gary, overcome with elated exhaustion.
And then the phone rang a second time. We stared at it, afraid to answer, sure it was Alice calling to say the baby’s mom had changed her mind, there would be no happy family for us.
I reached for the phone and wearily, warily said “This is Carol.”
“Carol, it’s Alice again. Sorry to bother you and Gary but there’s been a development.”
I closed my eyes waiting for the words I didn’t want to hear. Not now, not at Christmastime. Alice continued talking and I felt my knees growing weak.
Stunned, crying, all I could manage was a hushed “Oh, Alice! Are you absolutely sure? How could this be happening? Yes. Yes, I understand.”
I hung up the phone without even saying goodbye. I was already crying when I turned to face Gary. He held me close and whispered “Shh. It’s ok, honey. Everything will be ok. Another baby is out there waiting for us. It’s just a matter of time.”
On tiptoes, I reached up to give my darling husband a little kiss. I murmured “I love you”, my mouth just brushing his. I looked into his eyes and spoke, my voice breaking.
“Oh, Gary. There was a mix up at the hospital and Alice was given the wrong information.”
Gary started to speak but I gently placed my fingers on his lips to quiet him. I continued.
“Alice called just now to ask how we feel about adopting twins.”
I’m quite sure neither of us was breathing at that moment. Gary’s eyes grew wide as the realization sunk in and I let out a little laugh. Gary put up two fingers and mouthed the word “Two”. I nodded and replied “Two. Twin girls”.
We fell to the couch, a huddle of tears and laughter and hugs. Then I heard my love’s voice next to my ear: “I told you another baby was out there waiting for us!”
Can you believe we are in December already? Chanukah begins in just three days, Christmas is less than three weeks away and a new year is knocking on the door! I love the holidays …. the smell of pine trees, the sight of twinkling lights, the taste of peppermint, the warm feeling of a fireplace, the sound of seasonal songs and the love of family and dear friends. What a joyful time it is.
Welcome to In The Groove: Sounds Of The Season! To help get us in the holiday mood, I thought it would be nice to start our new category with some lovely traditional holiday instrumentals. Light the candles, pour yourself a brandy, a cup of cocoa or a glass of eggnog and snuggle up with your favorite blanket. The music is about to begin.
Now bear in mind …. as is my style, I have prepared a number of videos for you; think of them as the hors d’oeuvres at a holiday party. Sample a video today, perhaps another one tomorrow; they are meant to be viewed and enjoyed throughout the week. However, if you cannot wait and simply must gobble them all up at one sitting, then go right ahead. The choice is yours!
For your relaxing listening pleasure today I have chosen the beautiful sounds of Mantovani.
Annunzio Paolo Mantovani was an Anglo-Italian composer and conductor known for his signature cascading musical string sound. He was born in Venice, Italy in 1905 into a music-oriented family. His father, Benedetto Paolo Mantovani, was a violinist and served as the orchestra concertmaster of La Scala opera house in Milan, under the baton of Arturo Toscanini. The family moved to England in 1912, where young Annunzio studied at Trinity College of Music in London. After graduation, he formed his own orchestra, which played in and around Birmingham. By the time World War II broke out, his orchestra was one of the most popular British dance bands, both on BBC radio broadcasts and in live performances.
Sit back now and enjoy the soothing sound of Mantovani & His Orchestra.
This is “O Tannenbaum” (O Christmas Tree)
“The Christmas Song”
“Christmas Bells”
“O Come All Ye Faithful”
“Sleigh Ride”
“O Holy Night”
What beautiful music to put us in the holiday mood; let’s spread the joy of the season everywhere we go!
Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet up with me today. I hope you’ll join me again next Tuesday for more delightful Sounds Of The Seasons here In The Groove.
Stay well and be kind to yourselves and one another.
Today in Song Lyric Sunday Jim is challenging us to write about a killer album closer. Here’s my response:
Say “hello” to my little friend. This is Eddie, the official mascot for Iron Maiden. Eddie is a perennial fixture of the group’s artwork, appearing on all their album covers and merchandise, which includes T-shirts, posters and action figures. Eddie, AKA Eddie the Head, made his debut February 8, 1980.
There are metal singers and then there are METAL SINGERS. Bruce Dickinson, without a single solitary doubt in my mind, falls into the latter category. He is among the best of the best!
“Hallowed Be Thy Name,” the end track from the epic “The Number of The Beast” album, is not only one of Iron Maiden’s best songs, it’s one of the greatest metal tracks of all-time, period. The epic 7+ minute track instantly became a mainstay at live shows and has been covered by numerous artists, including Dream Theater and Machine Head.
Allmusic describes it as “perhaps the most celebrated of the band’s extended epics; it’s the tale of a prisoner about to be hanged, featuring some of Harris’ most philosophical lyrics.” Several band-members have since stated that it is one of their favorite tracks, with Bruce Dickinson describing it as “fantastic” and that performing it live is like “narrating a movie to the audience.”
On the evening of October 2, 1982, my mister and I hired a babysitter for our boys and drove into Manhattan for one of our final rock concerts. It had been a while. Now that we had kids, who knew when we would be able to have this experience again. We were all grown up with a different set of priorities but this was one event we could not miss. Performing that night at Madison Square Garden were two British groups Bill and I didn’t have a chance to see B.K. (Before Kids).
The concert tour was called “Beast On the Road” and the two groups were Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. It was incredible and the closing song sounded a lot like this:
“Hallowed Be Thy Name” by Iron Maiden
Lyrics
I’m waiting in my cold cell when the bell begins to chime Reflecting on my past life and it doesn’t have much time ‘Cause at 5 o’clock, they take me to the Gallows Pole The sands of time for me are running low Running low, yeah!
When the priest comes to read me the last rites Take a look through the bars at the last sights Of a world that has gone very wrong for me
Can it be that there’s some sort of error? Hard to stop the surmounting terror Is it really the end, not some crazy dream?
Somebody, please tell me that I’m dreaming It’s not easy to stop from screaming The words escape me when I try to speak Tears flow, but why am I crying? After all, I’m not afraid of dying Don’t I believe that there never is an end?
As the guards march me out to the courtyard Somebody cries from a cell, “God be with you” If there’s a God, why has he let me go?
As I walk, my life drifts before me Though the end is near I’m not sorry Catch my soul, it’s willing to fly away
Mark my words, believe my soul lives on Don’t worry now that I have gone I’ve gone beyond to seek the truth
When you know that your time is close at hand Maybe then you’ll begin to understand Life down here is just a strange illusion
Yeah-yeah-yeah, hallowed be thy name Yeah-yeah-yeah, hallowed by thy name
Little Arvid was just a wee babe when his parents were tragically killed in a sledding accident. The only family he had was his Uncle Gunnar and Aunt Sigrid, who happily took him in to live with them. They were childless and lovingly raised their nephew.
Gunnar and Sigrid were little people, married for so long, neither one could recollect; their devotion was so rare, it kept them young. In fact they hadn’t aged at all since the day they married!
They lived in a tiny house in the world’s northernmost town of Longyearbyen, just 650 miles from the North Pole.
As Arvid grew, it became obvious that he, too, would be a little person; this was no problem because almost everyone in the town of Longyearbyen was a little person.
When Arvid reached the age of 8, Gunnar and Sigrid knew it was time for “the talk”. With great care they led Arvid into a small privy which was so secluded, Arvid had never seen it before. There was an imposing teal blue safe inside …. how very curious! Arvid was even more surprised when Uncle Gunnar opened the safe’s door to find it led directly outdoors!
The little family hopped on a long sled parked outside and sped down the snowy mountains until they reached the most magical place of all …. The North Pole! Soon, alongside his aunt and uncle, Arvid learned the mystical wonders of life …. helping Santa make toys for good girls and boys.
It’s only fitting that we conclude this week of “All Things George” with one of my favorite George Harrison songs.
“Taxman” was the sixth song by George to appear on a Beatles album; out of all the Beatles songs combined (not counting solo work), only 22 were written by George. “Taxman” was released as the opening track on “Revolver” in 1966. It’s a powerful piece of guitar rock with a sexy beat that dives into psychedelic rock.
Written from the perspective of a federal agent, the song sarcastically attacks the high levels of progressive tax taken by the British government of then Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
Early on, the press called the Beatles millionaires; they were so naïve, they didn’t realize their millions were earnings, not assets, and they needed to set aside a lot of those earnings for taxes. They were never happy about that and that’s why George wrote “Taxman”. They’d been poor boys who worked hard to make their money and now someone was trying to take it away …. something we can all relate to.
This song named names and pointed fingers; it’s down and dirty, gritty and sexy, and I didn’t need any more convincing that George had it going on. This song bashed me over the head like a caveman and dragged me home by the hair …. and I loved it.
From 1966’s Revolver, with superb artwork by the brilliant Klaus Voormann, this is the gritty, sexy, down and dirty “Taxman”.
Lyrics
One, two, three, four One, two (one, two, three, four)
Let me tell you how it will be There’s one for you, nineteen for me ‘Cause I’m the taxman Yeah, I’m the taxman
Should five percent appear too small Be thankful I don’t take it all ‘Cause I’m the taxman Yeah, I’m the taxman
I’ll tax the street (If you try to sit, sit) I’ll tax your seat (If you get too cold, cold) I’ll tax the heat (If you take a walk, walk) I’ll tax your feet (Taxman)
‘Cause I’m the taxman Yeah, I’m the taxman
Don’t ask me what I want it for (Ah, ah, Mr. Wilson) If you don’t want to pay some more (Ah, ah, Mr. Heath) ‘Cause I’m the taxman Yeah, I’m the taxman
Now my advice for those who die (taxman) Declare the pennies on your eyes (taxman) ‘Cause I’m the taxman Yeah, I’m the taxman And you’re working for no one but me (taxman)
Dad never learned to drive so mom had to take matters into her own hands.
She got her driver’s license in 1957 at age 40. Oh, she’d driven a bit when she was younger but women drivers in the 30s and 40s was unheard of.
Her first car was a Studebaker Golden Hawk and she ran that thing into the ground, literally.
One blindingly sunny day with the pedal to the metal, mom drove off the road, smashed into the cemetery and dug up a few floral arrangements along the way.
After a couple of discreet contributions to “Help!”, George really started taking his revenge with “Rubber Soul” and began to show his enormous capacity as a songwriter. With this new-found theme, George was on his way to surpassing himself on each upcoming album.
I thought I couldn’t dig George any more than I already did, but when this song came out in 1965, I realized I was wrong. I was under his spell!
In his 1980 autobiography, “I, Me, Mine”, George recalls a little about the inspiration behind “Think for Yourself”. He said that his intention was to target narrow-minded thinking and identified the British government as a possible source. Partly as a result of the vagueness of his comments, the song has been interpreted as both a political commentary and a statement on a failing personal relationship.
The song reflects the influence of Bob Dylan; just as their songs had encouraged Dylan to embrace rock music, Dylan’s work inspired the Beatles (and particularly George, as a budding songwriter), to address more sophisticated concepts than the standard love song. Some critics likened “Think For Yourself” to Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street” …. not too shabby a comparison!
From 1965’s fantastic “Rubber Soul”, this is the impressive, heavy-hitting “Think For Yourself”.
Lyrics
I’ve got a word or two To say about the things that you do You’re telling all those lies About the good things that we can have If we close our eyes
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
I left you far behind The ruins of the life that you had in mind And though you still can’t see I know your mind’s made up You’re gonna cause more misery
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
Although your mind’s opaque Try thinking more if just for your own sake The future still looks good And you’ve got time to rectify All the things that you should
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
You may have picked up on a theme here in my ‘all things George’ week. I started with the first song by George to appear on a Beatles album and am working my way up chronologically …. managing somehow to have overlooked two! 🤦🏼♀️ One of those songs appears today; the other will appear tomorrow. By Saturday I’ll be back on track with the correct chronology. True Giorgiophiles didn’t call me out on that booboo but those two songs are very good ones and deserve airtime here. Mea culpa!
Let’s backtrack a bit to the third George song included on a Beatles album. It was his second composition for the “Help!” album, recorded in 1965 for the film of the same name but it never made it to the soundtrack.
George double-tracked his vocals, with Paul joining in at certain times. Double-tracking vocals is the act of recording a vocal part two or more times, attempting to match each performance as closely as possible to the original, both in phrasing and in pitch, to add depth, dimension, character and harmony. (If you’re familiar with the songs of Connie Francis, you’ll know that she is famous for double-tracking and she certainly did it well.)
Presumably written about his relationship with Pattie Boyd (another ode to the divine Ms. B!) this is “You Like Me Too Much” from “Help!” or “Beatles IV”, depending on which side of the pond you’re located.
Lyrics
Though you’ve gone away this morning You’ll be back again tonight Telling me there’ll be no next time If I just don’t treat you right You’ll never leave me and you know it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you
You’ve tried before to leave me But you haven’t got the nerve To walk out and make me lonely Which is all that I deserve You’ll never leave me and you know it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you I really do
And it’s nice when you believe me If you leave me I will follow you and bring You back where you belong ‘Cause I couldn’t really stand it I’d admit that I was wrong I wouldn’t let you leave me ’cause it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you
‘Cause you like me too much and I like you I really do
And it’s nice when you believe me If you leave me I will follow you and bring You back where you belong ‘Cause I couldn’t really stand it I’d admit that I was wrong I wouldn’t let you leave me ’cause it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays here in The Rhythm Section. Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on that day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Billy Idol November 30, 1955 in Stanmore, UK
Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge is challenging us to create a Six Sentence Story using the word “detail”. This is my response to that challenge. (Revamped, rewritten and reposted from a 2022 story)
Recently, while talking with a friend, I asked her “What is your earliest childhood memory?” to which she replied her days in kindergarten and there may have been some mention of earwax and/or sticking bubble gum in her ears but that’s her story to tell; as it turns out, some of my early childhood memories also revolve around my kindergarten days and what a joy it was to be five years old when all that really concerned me was eating and playing.
My kindergarten teacher’s name was Mrs. Merchant and she could have been anywhere from 34 to 64 years old with her short, curly salt-and-pepper hair, rimless glasses, shirtwaist dresses, sensible shoes and sweaters (which she wore every day regardless of the temperature), but the single-most thing that stands out in my mind about Mrs. Merchant was the fact that she would discreetly vomit daily into a silver bowl which she kept behind the piano, and then cover the bowl with a towel and carry it off to the bathroom for a good washing; our mothers told us not to stare because it was rude but it was pretty damn hard to ignore your teacher puking behind the piano every day.
We did all sorts of fabulous things in kindergarten like arts and crafts, story time, marching band parades and show-and-tell but my favorite thing of all was the talent shows where we could sing, dance, tell a joke …. basically whatever 5-year-old kids did that qualified as talent; I always sang a song and I remember every detail about one of my performances – my song, my little dance and most of all my costume, my little pig costume.
My mother, ever the creative seamstress, bought a child’s pair of pink one-piece Dr. Denton footed pajamas with a rear flap for “easy potty time” (if you don’t remember Dr. Denton pjs, you’re really missing out on something!) and she brought home some pink felt from the shop where she worked to make little pig ears and a curlicue tail which she fashioned out of a short length of a wire clothes hanger covered in pink felt and stitched to the little rear end flap of my pjs; my mother covered one of my plastic headbands with felt and attached the ears to it while my piggy nose was made from stiffly starched fabric covered with felt with two holes cut out on each side for the string which tied around the back of my head to keep my piggy nose in place like a mask.
I did a little Pig Jig which I can only describe as a cross between clogging and the tarantella and I was told I looked absolutely adorable but sadly …. or luckily, depending on how you look at it …. no photos remain of that momentous occasion – at least none that I’m aware of; I’m sure if there were any photos out there, someone would have used them to blackmail me by now, don’t you think?
Yes, those days in kindergarten were great and I believe Mrs. Merchant (who probably suffered from bulimia, poor thing) didn’t have a first name because I’d never heard it; I also wasn’t crazy about nap time because no 5-year-old wants to nap but what I wouldn’t give these days for a nice cozy afternoon snooze!
Today we mark the 22nd anniversary of George Harrison’s death; as I said the other day in my post on Song Lyric Sunday, the passing of George broke my heart. The youngest of the Beatles, he was only eight years my senior, almost to the day, but when I was 13 or 14 years old, that eight years seemed like a huge age gap.
I was in my car driving up to Rhinebeck NY to see my mother and sister when the news came on the car radio. I cried for the rest of the trip and, upon my arrival, shared the sad news with them. The irony was not lost on me how 36 years earlier the three of us bonded at a happier occasion …. the Beatles concert at Shea Stadium. The Lads always had a way of bringing people together.
And they still do for here we are once again brought together by their great music!
After “With The Beatles” and “Help!”, George was ready to take his long over-due revenge with “Rubber Soul”. “If I Needed Someone” marked the start of his (acknowledged) emergence as a songwriter beside the likes of Lennon and McCartney.
This is yet another song which George wrote for his future wife, Pattie Boyd. She must have been something else, that Pattie, to have two men (George and Eric Clapton) fall madly in love with her, marry her and have three songs (that I know of) written for her!
In “If I Needed Someone”, George invites is love interest to “Carve your number on my wall” yet offers only the possibility that he will call her back. I always loved the way he cleverly used the word “carve” when a songwriter of lesser chops would have gone with the word “write”.
From 1965’s “Rubber Soul” here is “If I Needed Someone”. There’s not a single thing wrong with a George Harrisong!
LYRICS
If I needed someone to love You’re the one that I’d be thinking of If I needed someone
If I had some more time to spend Then I guess I’d be with you, my friend If I needed someone
Had you come some other day Then it might not have been like this But you see now I’m too much in love
Carve your number on my wall And maybe you will get a call from me If I needed someone Ah, ah, ah, ah
If I had some more time to spend Then I guess I’d be with you, my friend If I needed someone
Had you come some other day Then it might not have been like this But you see now I’m too much in love
Carve your number on my wall And maybe you will get a call from me If I needed someone Ah, ah
Here’s a link to a story I first wrote in 2021 then reposted earlier this year. Most of you have read it but some have not. I’m rather proud of this piece; a ton of research went into it and it took me about 2 weeks to paraphrase everything George said because the last thing I wanted was a cut and paste type of job. It’s about as close to the truth as I could get without actually sitting down and talking with George himself. Thank you! 🩶
Continuing with my “All Things George Week”, today I have for you the 2nd of George’s Beatles’ songs. If you remember from yesterday, his first song was written in 1963; it took another 2 years for George to get the much-coveted nod from Lennon and McCartney.
Recorded in 1965, this song appears in the Beatles’ film “Help!” in a scene filmed on Salisbury Plain (a chalk plateau in southern England covering 300 square miles) where the group was under military protection from a murderous cult. Ooh, very exciting!
The song is “I Need You”, originally written by George for Pattie Boyd, the English model/actress he married in January 1966, breaking millions of girl’s hearts around the world.
From the Beatles’ album, “Help!”, this is George Harrison’s “I Need You”. There’s not a single thing wrong with a George Harrisong!
Lyrics
You don’t realize how much I need you Love you all the time, never leave you Please come on back to me I’m lonely as can be I need you
Said you had a thing or two to tell me How was I to know you would upset me? I didn’t realize as I looked in your eyes You told me, oh, yes, you told me You don’t want my lovin’ anymore
That’s when it hurt me And feeling like this I just can’t go on anymore
Please remember how I feel about you I could never really live without you So, come on back and see Just what you mean to me I need you
But when you told me You don’t want my lovin’ anymore That’s when it hurt me And feeling like this I just can’t go on anymore
Please remember how I feel about you I could never really live without you So, come on back and see Just what you mean to me
Since 1934 when the FCC was created, countless recordings have been banned or censored for a variety of reasons, including “provocative or sexually suggestive lyrics, inciting violence or promoting hate and political or religious beliefs and/or associations”.
Come with me as I reveal the most powerful number to close out the month. Let’s see which one I saved for last and who made it (in)famous.
Welcome now to the final week of “I’m With the Banned”. I gave much thought to whether I wanted to post this song or not. Surely I could find another song, any song, but this one. But then I realized to exclude this song would be a travesty, another kick in the gut to all those who struggled, fought and died in one of the most disgusting and ignoble ways because all they wanted was to escape slavery, be free and be treated as a human being. This song and the story behind it is compelling and I will not sweep it under the rug or hide it away like so much of our history. It deserves to stand alone which is why it’s the only song I posted today. I beg you to please read the entire post before jumping ahead to the video; what you read may be shocking but the insight I hope you gain will be immeasurable and unforgettable. Thank you.
🙈 🙉 🙊
Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday
In March 1939, a 23-year-old Billie Holiday walked up to the mic at West 4th’s Cafe Society in New York City to sing her final song of the night. Per her request, the waiters stopped serving and the room went completely black, save for a spotlight on her face. And then she sang softly in her raw and emotional voice: “Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black body swinging in the Southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees…”
When Billie finished, the spotlight turned off. When the lights came back on, the stage was empty. She was gone. And per her request, there was no encore. This was how Billie Holiday performed “Strange Fruit,” which she would determinedly sing for the next 20 years.
“Strange Fruit” was written and composed by Abel Meeropol, a white Jewish communist, teacher and civil rights activist from The Bronx, New York who wrote it first as a poem, then later as a song.
His inspiration? Meeropol came across a 1930 photo that captured the lynching of two black men in Indiana. The visceral image haunted him for days and prompted him to put pen to paper. After he published “Strange Fruit” in a teachers union publication, Meeropol composed it into a song and passed it on to a nightclub owner, who then introduced it to Billie Holiday. She recorded it and it became her signature piece.
Abel Meeropol chose the words “Strange Fruit” to compare the hanging bodies to the fruit of trees. Such lynchings had reached a peak in the southern US at the turn of the 20th century and the vast majority of victims were black. The song has been referred to as “a declaration” and “the beginning of the civil rights movement”.
While civil rights activists and black America embraced “Strange Fruit,” the nightclub scene, which was primarily composed of white patrons, had mixed reactions. At witnessing Billie Holiday’s performance, audience members would applaud wildly, while those less sympathetic would bitterly walk out.
One individual who was determined to silence Billie Holiday was Federal Bureau of Narcotics commissioner Harry Anslinger. A known racist, Anslinger believed that drugs caused black people to overstep their boundaries in American society and that marijuana-smoking black jazz singers created the devil’s music.
When Anslinger forbid Billie to perform “Strange Fruit,” she refused, causing him to devise a plan to destroy her. Knowing that she was a drug user, he had some of his men frame her by selling her heroin. When Billie was caught using the drug, she was thrown into prison for the next year and a half. Upon her release in 1948, federal authorities refused to reissue her cabaret performer’s license. Billie Holiday’s nightclub days, which she loved so much, were over.
Before we go any further, let me make something very clear: While it’s true Billie Holiday was a drug addict and an alcoholic, she was in every sense of the word a victim who really didn’t stand much of a chance. Born to unwed teenage parents who didn’t want to be bothered with her, Billie was shuffled around from one “aunt” to another. Her life was predestined for grief, loneliness and hardships from day one and all the fame she realized couldn’t save her from her demons …. or the law. Let’s continue.
In 1959, Billie checked herself into the hospital suffering from heart and lung problems and cirrhosis of the liver due to heavy drinking. She had been a drug addict for a long time and was now in a very bad way. Still Harry Anslinger was ruthlessly relentless. Bent on ruining her, he had his men go to the hospital and handcuff Billie to her bed. The coldhearted Anslinger forbid doctors to offer her further treatment. She died within days. Harry Anslinger accomplished what he set out to do and he killed Billie Holiday in the process.
Despite her tragic demise, Billie Holiday has a lasting legacy in the world of jazz and pop music. She garnered 23 Grammys posthumously and was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. Among the many songs that Billie Holiday is celebrated for, “StrangeFruit” will always be one of her defining works. It allowed her to take what was originally an expression of political protest and transform it into a work of art for millions to hear. In 1999 Time magazine designated “Strange Fruit” the “song of the century.”
This is the one and only Billie Holiday performing “Strange Fruit”.
As I often do, I’d like to add a personal note: my parent’s ashes are interred at St. Raymond’s Cemetery in The Bronx, New York. The last time I was there doing some ‘spring cleaning‘, I went in search of my long lost uncle’s gravesite. Reading the names on the headstones, I stopped short and gave a little gasp. There, not more than 15 feet from my parent’s gravesite was Billie Holiday’s grave. I was overcome with such emotion, I cannot put it into words. Just thinking what this woman went through made me feel so incredibly sad. I was standing at the feet of a legend, someone I greatly admired for many years. Billie’s headstone was covered with trinkets, cards, letters and mementos from fans and admirers who come from near and far every day to pay their respects. A cemetery worker told me so many people stop by to leave remembrances, he has to clear off the headstone every other day. The items I saw on her headstone had been dropped off that morning alone. There are bins stacked in a storage room at the cemetery containing all the trinkets left on Billie Holiday’s headstone. What a powerful message that sends to the world.
I took this photo last year while at St. Raymond’s Cemetery. What an incredible morning that was for me. Before leaving, I placed a flower on Billie Holiday’s grave.
This is the final installment of I’m With The Banned. Thank you for reading about these historic songs and artists and for listening to their pivotal messages.
I’ll be back here again Thursday with birthday wishes.
This week I’m doing something I never do: I’m not going to write any stories (unless a word or photo prompt seduces me, which is always a possibility). I needed a little break and thought I’d concentrate on my other great love: music.
November 29 is the 22nd anniversary of the death of George Harrison so this week is all about George and the songs he wrote while with the Beatles.
Let’s get the ball rolling with this little gem. Here’s some background info:
Between August 19 and 24, 1963, the Beatles were playing some concerts in Bournemouth, on the southern coast of England, along with Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas and Tommy Quickly. Feeling sick and with orders from his doctor to rest, George had nothing to do in his room at the Palace Court Hotel. Bored, he began writing a song, recording himself on a portable tape recorder. The result was “Don’t Bother Me”, George’s first song to appear on a Beatles’ album.
From the band’s second album, “With The Beatles”, this is “Don’t Bother Me”. There’s not a single thing wrong with a George Harrisong!
Lyrics
Since she’s been gone I want no one to talk to me It’s not the same, but I’m to blame, it’s plain to see So go away and leave me alone Don’t bother me
I can’t believe that she would leave me on my own It’s just not right when every night I’m all alone I’ve got no time for you right now Don’t bother me
I know I’ll never be the same If I don’t get her back again Because I know she’ll always be The only girl for me
But ’til she’s here, please, don’t come near, just stay away I’ll let you know when she’s come home until that day Don’t come around, leave me alone Don’t bother me
I’ve got no time for you right now Don’t bother me
I know I’ll never be the same If I don’t get her back again Because I know she’ll always be The only girl for me
But ’til she’s here, please, don’t come near, just stay away I’ll let you know when she’s come home until that day Don’t come around, leave me alone Don’t bother me Don’t bother me Don’t bother me Don’t bother me Don’t bother me
This week the theme at Song Lyric Sunday is to find a song by an artist or group that won a Grammy.
Where do I begin? Where my heart takes me!
If you know me, chances are very good you know I’m a Beatles lover from Day 1. If you know me really well, there’s no question which of the Fab Four is closest to my heart.
Perhaps it’s because we’re both Pisces. Maybe it’s because I always root for the underdog. Maybe it’s because he was an immensely humble man never allowing money or success to be the end all in his life. He was accepting, gracious, genuine …. a man of great faith who possessed an enormous talent.
He was, of course, George Harrison.
George has an amazing catalog of songs; in my mind one of the best things he ever did was the “Concert for Bangla Desh” which won a Grammy in 1973 for Album of the Year. I will not bore you with statistics; here’s a link to Wiki where you can find out everything you ever wanted to know:
Today we’re just going to sit back and enjoy the legendary eponymous song from that phenomenal concert. Here is “Bangla Desh”:
Please follow me this week as I feature a different George song every day as a tribute to and in memory of the great George Harrison.
On Wednesday, November 29, we will mark the 22nd anniversary of his passing. That was a day that truly broke my heart. Thank the gods his music will never die.
As I like to say, “There’s not a single thing wrong with a George Harrisong!”
My friend came to me, with sadness in his eyes He told me that he wanted help Before his country dies Although I couldn’t feel the pain, I knew I had to try Now I’m asking all of you To help us save some lives Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh Where so many people are dying fast And it sure looks like a mess I’ve never seen such distress Now won’t you lend your hand and understand Relieve the people of Bangla Desh Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh Such a great disaster – I don’t understand But it sure looks like a mess I’ve never known such distress Now please don’t turn away, I want to hear you say Relieve the people of Bangla Desh Relieve Bangla Desh Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh Now it may seem so far from where we all are It’s something we can’t neglect It’s something I can’t neglect Now won’t you give some bread to get the starving fed We’ve got to relieve Bangla Desh Relieve the people of Bangla Desh We’ve got to relieve Bangla Desh Relieve the people of Bangla Desh
Ah, my dear readers …. we have a serious tune today. This wonderful song is a lesson and a warning to parents everywhere.
It was also a huge hit for the person who wrote and recorded it.
Let’s not waste another minute with talk. Here are your five clues.
Today’s featured performer was born December 7, 1942 in New York City; he was a singer-songwriter, philanthropist and hunger activist best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs.
This 1974 song is the only number-one song for our performer. It was nominated for a Grammy in 1975 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011.
On July 16, 1981 our multi-faceted artist was killed in an accident on the Long Island Expressway when his Volkswagen Rabbit was rear-ended by a tractor trailer truck. He was on his way to perform at a benefit concert when the accident occurred.
As a dedicated humanitarian, today’s performer fought to end world hunger. He was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977 and in 1987 was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work.
Today’s song started out as a poem written by the wife of our performer; he took her words and put them to music. It is a story of regret, the sad tale of a man who only has time for his work and puts everything before the needs of his young son who grows up to be just like his dad.
Those are the clues, my friends. Do you think you know the answers? Scroll down to see if you are right.
How did you do? If you knew the answers were Harry Chapin and his fabulous song, “Cats In the Cradle”, then you did great!
Let’s have a listen to that terrific song right now.
What a great song by the late Harry Chapin whose birthday happens to fall on a Thursday this year; if you’re a faithful reader of all my posts, you’ll know all about Birthday Thursdays! 😉
Thanks for joining me today. Please be sure to catch me this coming Tuesday as I wrap up November with the final installment of I’m With The Banned. I guarantee you, it will be an unforgettable post.
A provocative & evocative image from Jenne at The Unicorn Challenge; our mission, if we choose to accept it, is to write our reaction to this prompt. Here is mine.
Carry myself with pride, as my mama taught me. My name is Elizabeth but everyone calls me Betsy. I am sixteen, pretty and full of life. This is day one of my first paying job – working in the cotton mills. I’m lucky and so grateful.
Mama is home caring for my seven little siblings. Daddy left one day and never came back.
In my lunch sack is bread, an orange and a chunk of cheese; a plain lunch but it keeps me going. During my break I’ll sit by the banks of the river and splash my scorched face. Life is good.
Carry myself with stooped shoulders. I’ve been in the mill for eight months. It’s hotter inside than the blazing Georgia sun. Humid, too, to keep the thread from breaking. Boiled potatoes and river water for lunch. I’m sixteen. Maybe I’ll meet a husband here.
Carry myself on leaden feet. I work six days a week, twelve hours a day. I earn $1.00 each week. The air is thick with cotton dust. Nobody talks anymore; we keep our mouths covered but that doesn’t stop the coughing. I have no time or energy for anything else. I’m sixteen and feel like I’m sixty.
Carry myself with doom. I’m coughing up blood and see nothing in my future except dying in the mill. I think I’ll just walk into the river and never come out.
Carry my dead body to the graveyard. I was only sixteen and my name was Betsy.
The man stood off to the side, silently watching, seething.
They were neighbors, friends at one time …. brothers, a lifetime ago. When asked to go into business together, he turned his friend down saying it was a foolish venture, throwing good money after bad. He was afraid.
His friend was successful in his business and became wealthy beyond measure while his own life languished. Jealousy turned to self-pity which morphed into anger and hatred so deep and volatile, his head pounded at the sight of his once friend.
And look at her with that flashy red purse. Disgusting.
To all my WordPress friends ~ warmest wishes to you for a blessed and happy day of giving thanks.
Try not to be so harried and rushed that the day loses its significance and becomes a drudgery. Holidays can turn us into loose cannons ready to explode at the first sign of a glitch. Pour yourself another cup of coffee and watch the parade with the kids for half an hour, then go back and face that problem. You may be surprised how inconsequential it really is.
Take the pressure off yourself; we’re not superheroes so don’t feel like you have to juggle ten baking pans at once. Ask for a little help; you may discover cooking with someone can be more fun and relaxing than cooking for someone. And when I’m having fun and feeling relaxed, it’s contagious.
Hit the play button and get some cool tunes going. That old saying that music soothes the savage beast is true. Let the calm wash over you like a warm relaxing shower. You don’t even have to go hunting through your CDs or playlists; there’s a video at the end of this post that will take you all the way through appetizers, dinner and dessert (and maybe a little romantic dancing after all your guests have left)!
Remember the meaning of thanksgiving, the things and people in life that make you feel blessed. No matter how difficult times get, there’s always something to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving, my friends. Whether you observe the holiday or not, may you enjoy a beautiful day of peaceful solitude or celebratory joy with those you hold near and dear.Be thankful, grateful and blessed,today and every day.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays here in The Rhythm Section. Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on that day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Johnny Mandel (Composer/Arranger) Born November 23, 1925 in New York City
“The Shadow Of Your Smile” composed by Johnny Mandel
“My Valentine” arranged by Johnny Mandel for Paul McCartney
Open a map of New York, go as far east as possible and you’ll find the town of Montauk – a laid-back fishing village kissing the Atlantic Ocean. I lived there for the first 18 years of my life with my brother and parents before heading off to college.
Winters were harsh and barren, a sharp contrast to the summers teeming with tourists escaping the cramped and sweaty streets of Manhattan in search of the perfect wave, the perfect tan and the perfect lobster roll. Springtime in Montauk is mesmerizing with trees budding, flowers sprouting up through the ground and the delicious smell of the ocean. We’d keep the windows open at night and fall asleep to the sound of the waves.
Our house was off the beaten path, with only two neighbors within walking distance. In the house on the left lived a young couple with rambunctious five year old triplets: Timothy, Thomas and Theodore – ‘The Terrorizing Trio’. Befitting their status as triplets, the boys had identical mountain bikes – one red, one blue, one green – which they rode with wild abandon on the dirt road, through our back yards and down to the beach.
Our neighbor on the right was the usually phlegmatic Doctor MacGregor – never-married, retired history professor-turned-nature-enthusiast. He was particularly particular about the upkeep of his yard and the glorious profusion of flowers attracting all varieties of birds and insects. His pride and joy was a tall redwood apiary which housed eight honeycomb trays. Inside reigned the queen, surrounded by her working and droning subjects. Mac, our secret nickname for the professor, would don his protective gear every day and inspect the hives and the honey production, all the while puttering and muttering, making sure everything was as it should be.
And it always was …. except for THAT day when mom happened to be outside hanging the laundry; she looked up at the sky and saw a huge black swarm rapidly approaching. Mom ran into the house and yelled for us to “close all the windows and doors”; we watched anxiously as thousands of buzzing bees hovered over our house, took a sharp turn and headed straight for town. After the bees took off, we were shocked to hear the usually mild-mannered Mac angrily shouting and cursing; we ran over to see what had gotten him all riled up.
Trevor, the triplet’s father, raced over from the other direction to see what all the commotion was about. We all arrived at the professor’s yard at the same time to discover a disheveled and blustering Mac wandering around the remnants of his beloved apiary. Splintered pieces lay in a heap on the ground, the redwood gouged and marred with clearly visible traces of blue, red and green paint. Trevor groaned audibly and raced out of Mac’s yard toward his own house, yelling out the triplet’s names as he ran. It was obvious they had crashed their bikes into the apiary and were probably hiding from the inevitable fallout.
As we silently helped Mac clean up the mess, we became aware of screaming and shouting off in the distance; it was coming from the village as horrified townsfolk ran for cover from the angrily stinging horde of bees.
It took a long time for the residents of normally tranquil Montauk to settle down after that day; the only one who benefited from the bee attack was the town G.P., who was kept busy tending sting after sting after sting.
As for Timothy, Thomas and Theodore …. they were found hiding behind their garage crying and covered from head to toe in bee stings. The boys were in a lot of discomfort (not to mention trouble). Trevor felt sorry for his sons and he was not unsympathetic but the triplets needed to be punished for the damage to Mac’s apiary. They were grounded for three weeks – one week for each boy – and their scraped bicycles were temporarily locked away in the shed.
As for Professor MacGregor …. he’s taken up birdwatching.
Since 1934 when the FCC was created, countless recordings have been banned or censored for a variety of reasons, including “provocative or sexually suggestive lyrics, inciting violence or promoting hate and political or religious beliefs and/or associations”.
The ban on most, if not all of these songs has been lifted; however, in some countries, certain types of music are still banned. They are considered illegal and carry severe penalties if the law is broken. Incredible, isn’t it?
Come join me as I reveal some of these controversial songs, why they were banned and the artists who made them (in)famous.
Eve of Destruction – Barry McGuire
“Eve of Destruction” is a protest song written in 1965 by P.F. Sloan. Several artists have recorded it, but the most popular recording was by Barry McGuire. Here’s an interesting segue and a perfect example of 6º of separation: McGuire recorded “California Dreamin‘” for one of his albums on which the Mamas & the Papas sang backup. McGuire is mentioned several times along with John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds in the Mamas & the Papas hit song “Creeque Alley“, my favorite song by the M&P. I left the link in case you want to check it out. It’s a very cool song with lots of interesting lyrics that chronicle the events leading up to the 1965 creation of the Mamas and the Papas.
“Eve of Destruction” references social issues of its period, including the Vietnam War, the draft, the threat of nuclear war, the civil rights movement, the American space program and turmoil in the Middle East.
The American media helped popularize “Eve of Destruction” by using it as an example of everything that was wrong with the youth of that time. Due to its controversial lyrics, some American radio stations claimed it was an aid to the enemy in Vietnam and banned the song. It was also banned by some British radio stations.
As we’ve seen since I started this segment, banning did not have a grossly negative impact on the popularity of these controversial songs. In the first week of its release, the single of “Eve of Destruction” was at No. 103 on the Billboard charts. It reached its peak of #37 on the Billboard album chart during the week ending September 25. That same day the single went to #1 on the chart, and repeated the feat on the Cashbox chart, where it had debuted at No. 30. McGuire would never again break into the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Let’s listen to that very popular and controversial song from 1965. This is Barry McGuire and “Eve of Destruction”:
Here’s an interesting and quirky interview which asks the burning question: “Whatever happened to Barry McGuire?”
Did you read all the social issues mentioned in the second paragraph of this post? My goodness …. most of those topics are still in the news today! The more things change, the more they stay the same. With a new year just around the corner, let’s hope and pray that we will see safer, happier, healthier and kinder times for our world.
🙈 🙉 🙊
Ohio – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
CSN&Y’s song “Ohio” is about the events of May 4, 1970, when the US National Guard shot and killed four unarmed students at Kent State University in Ohio, leaving 9 other students injured. The shootings occurred after several days of confrontations between authorities and protestors against the Vietnam War. Protestors were especially upset that President Richard Nixon, who had called them ”bums”, had announced the expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia.
The shootings were the cover story of the May 15 Issue of Life magazine; when Neil Young read the story and saw the photos, he was compelled to write a song about the events.
Bandmate David Crosby recalled: “He was silent for a long time, then picked up his guitar and 20 minutes later had this song”. All the band members got together to record the song in Los Angeles on May 21. “Ohio” was released on June 4, exactly one month after the shootings.
“Ohio” became a protest anthem as Americans got fed up with the war in Vietnam. What you hear at the end of the song is David Crosby’s impassioned vocals yelling “why?” and “how many more?” His emotion was genuine. “Ohio” was a high point for the band. They were reacting to the reality and dealing with it on the highest level they could by being relevant and immediate. The song named names and pointed a finger. In the song, Neil Young likens the National Guard troops to ‘tin soldiers‘ controlled by President Nixon.
The CSN&Y album “Déjà Vu” had been out for just three months when “Ohio” was released as a single. In 1971, it was included on their live album “4 Way Street” which went to #1 in the US and sold over 4 million copies. ”Teach Your Children Well” was climbing the charts when the band sacrificed it by releasing the far more urgent “Ohio”.
On August 4, 1974 when Richard Nixon announced he would be resigning as President, CSN&Y were on tour in New Jersey; they announced the new from the stage before playing “Ohio”.
“Ohio” was banned by some AM radio stations, including many in the state of Ohio for challenging the Nixon Administration. The song received a great deal of airplay, however, on underground FM stations in bigger cities and in college towns. I remember hearing the song all the time so, once again, so much for banning music. Today the song is played often on classic rock stations. In 2009 “Ohio” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Let’s listen now to CSN&Y performing “Ohio”.
To all my friends who will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week, I wish you a beautiful day with your loved ones. Be well, my friends. Be safe and keep your families close.
Next Tuesday will be our final edition of I’m With The Banned; in December we will say good bye to all this sturm und drang and welcome in a month of glorious holiday music!
The Elephant's Trunk 
