Login | Register
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2 2008
Home Home » Declare Home » Member Blogs

Chris Lowe's Post

Chris Lowe's Post

A song to be remembered and pondered

Chris Lowe | 08.27.08 | 04:52 AM |
5
(3 ratings)
Chris Lowe's picture

I'm not an American but there are things about your country I hold dear. In particular American music has played a hugely influential role in my life.

I came across this clip on YouTube by a guy who should be one of your national treasures if he's not already. I thought I'd post it here because it seems a timely find given you will shortly elect a president and set a new course for your country.

The song is uplifting and inspirational, yet at the same time lays down a challenge to realise it's promise, and the monologue this performer injects into his father's song is characteristicly funny and poignant at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3EimMuTbJQ

I'm not preaching to you; just thought you'd like to remember

Chris

blog | share | 158 reads

Member Comments:

Another Song
Submitted by Butterfly-Bee on August 27, 2008 - 3:25pm.

Unencumbered

Chris,
Thanks for the Arlo piece. I just signed on to post a song, myself.
Although it is of a different nature, I'll post it here instead of taking attention away from this blog by posting up there.

Joan Baez (I think Bob Dylan wrote this. Ken?)

Forever Young
www.youtube.com/watch?v=favgoOn-U1I&feature=related

Barbara

Yes, Dylan
Submitted by Chris Lowe on August 27, 2008 - 6:12pm.

From Planet Waves '73.

Funny, I was listening to a heap of Joan Baez last night - first time in years.

Chris

Arlo
Submitted by Ken Ebert on August 27, 2008 - 6:03am.

Yup, Arlo is a national treasure. At least among those who don't mind old hippies. Culture wars, ya see. Sheesh.

We saw him perform at our local arts theather - small small venue - last winter. He was incredible! His commentary struck me back then. I can get cynical and dark along with the very best of them. But my overall hopefullness has a staying power that is what some might call "old faihful". Hmmmmmm - do I make a positive contribution? I'd have to be stupid to doubt that!!! Which I am, at times.

Thanks for the Arlo clip, Chris. I gotta mention that his daughter, Sara Lee, told the story of when he bought the old church that was featured in his "Alice's Restaurant" song. She asked him what kind of church it was going to be, now that he owned it. Arlo said it was a "bring your own God church". That'll do, no?

~ Ken

Arlo Live
Submitted by Chris Lowe on August 27, 2008 - 6:13pm.

Let me know when he's coming back, I'll try and join you.

Chris

That'll do . . .
Submitted by Bob Johnston on August 27, 2008 - 8:04am.

Thanks for the memory, Chris and you Ken for the anecdote. That's my kind of church, first church of the Universe within which my every response is an option for health or for ill. Within its magnificently beautiful vaulted five-dimensional interior I'm breathing, feeling, thinking, imaging, and acting . . . enjoying my being right now, right here as I write. Warmly, Bob

My kind too
Submitted by Chris Lowe on August 27, 2008 - 6:28pm.

Would I limit it 5 dimensions though?

Thanks Bob

Chris

My speculation about more than five-D
Submitted by Bob Johnston on August 28, 2008 - 8:35am.

Actually, Chris, my tiny little mind can only handle a temporal four-D frame of reference . . . fifth-D to me is maybe a misnomer. I use it in a vague sort of way in my speculations about the realm of ultimate transtemporal infinity . . . but it's fun to play around with. Thank you for your question. Warmly, Bob

National Treasure, indeed
Submitted by Jeffery DeCelles on August 27, 2008 - 4:35am.

Thanks, Chris. Watching that clip lifted me.

Guthrie's comments stung a bit, in that, I know I could make more "positive contributions", but am often mired in cynicism, ennui, and fear.

I did like to remember. Please keep up the reminders.

JED

Funny but ..........
Submitted by Chris Lowe on August 27, 2008 - 6:16pm.

I read your positive contributions all the time Jeff. Hows could you have missed them?

Chris

Missed
Submitted by Jeffery DeCelles on August 28, 2008 - 7:52pm.

One of my "Isms" daddy-o, as in ego(t)ism, narciss-ism, itellectual-ism.

ISM can mean Incredibly Short Memory.

Or, Irritating Senior Moment.

Or, Intermittently Slipping Mind.

But, when I get some traction, baby, look out!

Gracias, amigo.

Alice's Restaurant
Submitted by John K Arnold on August 27, 2008 - 2:49pm.

He sure has changed since Alice's restaurant. Well, we could step back in time, light one up, this was back before plants were genetically engineered like they are today, eat at Alice's Restaurant and listen the Arlo.

John

Alice's
Submitted by Chris Lowe on August 27, 2008 - 6:23pm.

I made quite a living out of Alice's Restaurant during my high school days - kerb side performances outside an inner city pizza barn. Curly locks, floppy hat, battered 6 string - I like to remember too.

Wrote this in the 80's dressed in a tailored suit, in an old folk club and feeling a little maudlin':

(Last Verse)

"Now we hippies sit at these old tables
dressed up in designer lables
and wonder how things might have been
had we had the strength to live our dream."

It was about so much more than getting high.

Chris

Had we the strength to live our dream
Submitted by Butterfly-Bee on August 28, 2008 - 1:45pm.

Unencumbered

Yep.

Had we the strength to live our dream
Submitted by Butterfly-Bee on August 28, 2008 - 1:45pm.

Unencumbered

Yep.

Had we the strength to live our dream
Submitted by Butterfly-Bee on August 28, 2008 - 1:44pm.

Unencumbered

Yep.

Profound Answer
Submitted by Butterfly-Bee on August 28, 2008 - 3:26pm.

Unencumbered

I don't know how that profound answer of mine printed three times. I'm going to treat it as a "meant to be" and leave it there.
Barbara

It's not over
Submitted by John K Arnold on August 27, 2008 - 7:27pm.

Chris,

Have you ever had a dream that completely made sense? I haven't. I wake with bits and pieces. I spent over 15 years training myself to lucid dream. I got really good at it. It took me about another 5 years to be able just go to sleep and lets my dreams be. Now, I am kind of in the middle.

Who says we did not or do have the strength to live our dream. Not me. Sometimes the dreams need a rest to let the world catch up so they can awaken, rested and stronger than ever.

John

That's tellin' it, Bro!
Submitted by Jeffery DeCelles on August 28, 2008 - 7:36pm.

'Nuff said.

The Dream
Submitted by Chris Lowe on August 27, 2008 - 7:53pm.

"And if our hands should meet in another dream, we shall build another tower in the sky." Gibran

Well met my friend.

Chris

If you and Kalil have a moment...
Submitted by Jeffery DeCelles on August 28, 2008 - 7:45pm.

...I've been dreaming, {with Bucky's coaching} of domes in the sky.

And tetrahedral LTA cities,

and Doors to diverse places.

We might vision, yet,

and still have hands to grasp.

JED

LTA
Submitted by Butterfly-Bee on August 29, 2008 - 4:37pm.

Unencumbered
Que es LTA?

Share This Page

User login