So much more than moons and Junes
- A song for each of the following decades beginning with A
- A lyric snippet from at least one of those songs to set you thinking... and commenting!
1960s: Alfie –
Dionne Warwick in US and Cilla Black in UK
1970s: American Pie
– Don McLean
1980s: Another Day in Paradise – Phil Collins
1990s: Angels –
Robbie Williams
American Pie
When Don McLean wrote American Pie he was telling the social history of the 60s as he saw it.
‘...the day the music died...’ was the death of both Buddy Holly
and 1950s innocence.
‘...sergeants played a marching tune...’ the Beatles' arrival in the US
with Sergeant Pepper,
‘...the half-time air was sweet perfume...’ that'll be the drugs!
‘...the half-time air was sweet perfume...’ that'll be the drugs!
‘...the flames climbed high into the night...’ said to be
about the US Altamont Speedway Concert when the Stones played on while a fan
was being stabbed to death.
I was unaware of any transition from innocence
to drugs. I was just a kid. Life was life and I
didn’t have time to analyse.
Were you aware of this transition or did your
parents/grandparents tell you about it!!?
Or was it not like that where you grew up?
Or was it not like that where you grew up?
Another Day in Paradise
Phil Collins wrote this song after seeing homeless people sleeping on the streets in cardboard boxes.
'She calls out to the man in the street,
Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep...'
...He walks on, doesn't look back.
He pretends he can't hear her...'
I'd like to say that I've never done that but I have, when I visit London, rushing off to the theatre, expensive tickets in my bag. I'm embarrassed, scared, not sure what is the best way to help.
What do you do when you see homeless people begging on the streets?
Will money given just be spent on drugs?
And I could have added:
'What's it all about, Alfie...' I never did find an answer to that question, and as for '...through it all she offers me protection...' yes, I do believe that we have Guardian Angels but that's for a whole different blog post.
Phil Collins wrote this song after seeing homeless people sleeping on the streets in cardboard boxes.
'She calls out to the man in the street,
Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep...'
...He walks on, doesn't look back.
He pretends he can't hear her...'
I'd like to say that I've never done that but I have, when I visit London, rushing off to the theatre, expensive tickets in my bag. I'm embarrassed, scared, not sure what is the best way to help.
What do you do when you see homeless people begging on the streets?
Will money given just be spent on drugs?
And I could have added:
'What's it all about, Alfie...' I never did find an answer to that question, and as for '...through it all she offers me protection...' yes, I do believe that we have Guardian Angels but that's for a whole different blog post.
If you have a favourite song from one of these decades that says something to you, something more than just ‘moons and Junes’, then let me know, along with your blog link if you have one, and I’ll include it if I can.
