Troubling times indeed, but may I suggest a song that is appropriate, yet hopeful — and besides, “it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it.” (If you recognize that quote I just used, you might be giving away your age —although you could have been in your playpen or even in utero when you heard it.) Oh well, I digress — now, back to my song.
It’s an excellent fit for our times, even though it was written almost 30 years ago by one of my favorites, Leonard Cohen.
I hope you will like a listen. Google Leonard Cohen Democracy and YouTube, and there you will find a video.
My favorite stanza in Cohen’s “Democracy” is —
Sail on, sail on,
Oh mighty Ship of State,
To the shores of need,
Past the reefs of greed,
Through the squalls of hate,
Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on.
You might want to look up all the lyrics, give them some thought, let them sink in.
Many people love Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” Even though I am not sure what all those lyrics in that one are about, I cannot resist singing along with the chorus.
Cohen’s version of Irving Berlin's classic and most romantic song “Always” is a favorite of mine, too. We attended a wedding where it was the dance for the bride and groom. I think it was supposed to be the original version which I am pretty sure was a generational wedding tradition for the family. I wonder what the grandparents thought when the DJ played Cohen’s version with these lyrics:
Days may not be fair, always,
Yeah, but that’s when I’ll be there, always,
Not for just a second or a minute or an hour,
Not for just a weekend and a shakedown in the shower,
Not for just the summer and the winter going sour,
But always, always, always. . .
If you have a little time this morning, maybe spend a few minutes with Leonard Cohen on You Tube.
Happy 2021.
Boomer