Steven Reed Johnson
Portland, Oregon USA
Essays and Stories
We’re Trying to Get out of the Way
Sidebar
There was one of those NPR fund raisers awhile back. You know, with aged facsimiles of “our” rock and roll hall of famers. Singing oldies and goodies. A pan of the audience revealed grandma types singing along.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
That's your grandma out there singing the lyrics. Its just not the same
as seeing my mother sing along with songs from her era.
Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So let's sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again
Altogether shout it now
There's no one
Who can doubt it now
So let's tell the world about it now
Happy days are here again
Strange Days indeed as John Lennon said. The same group also knew the lyrics to Mr. tambourine man. "Hey mom, what's grandma singing about anyway.
Take me on a trip upon your magic swirling' ship
My senses have been stripped, my hands can't feel to grip
My toes too numb to step, wait only for my boot heels
To be wanderin'
I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way
I promise to go under it.
Is she going on a trip somewhere?
A couple of friends and I once fantasized about creating a baby boomer streamline trailer park. Or now with new technology of course a very green version (*see www site). We could sit around the campfire and talk about the good old days
The problem was of course that none of us would be able to remember much so we'd end up with conversations like:
Wow that was some social movement wasn't it?
Yeah remember all those groups and all those things we did?
and the time that what's his name did that you know what using a what was it called?