Nostalgic Music Month Day 14
Simon and Garfunkel by Jon Hilton
The songs of Simon and Garfunkel are what nostalgic music month is all about. When I look back over the entirety of my life, these are songs that have been along for the ride from the time I was 7 until today at 51. As I have grown and matured, so have the significance attached to each song. In high school, these songs were there. In college, it was the same. Even as I navigated the ever-shifting waters of adulthood, the music of Simon and Garfunkel has been there. The difficult part for me is choosing just 5 songs that most impacted me throughout life.
- Mrs. Robinson– There are few songs that have stood up like this one. The lyrics can be applied to today just as well as the 1960’s. The facade that people portray in life. Under the surface there are issues and no life is
perfect. Where have you gone Joe Dimaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you. There is also to the seemingly hopeless political divisions of 2017. Laugh about it, shout about it, when you’ve got to choose, any way you look at this you lose. - Bridge Over Troubled Water– There are few songs that transport you to an exact moment, and you can vividly remember all of the emotion, thoughts, and feelings surrounding that event. Life is an experience of highs and lows, bitter and sweet, that makes it an interesting journey. I hope that I have been a bridge over troubled water for those who needed
it. I also know I have been troubled water to others. For that, I am sorry. All I could do was my best to ease your mind. Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine. All your dreams are on their way. - Kathy’s Song– If you are a thinking human being, you realize that many of the things you believe in the morning of life are going to be rendered lies or useless as you move into the afternoon and evening of your life. This song reminds me of all the special people who have helped me understand some of those changing beliefs over the years. Love is the greatest teacher if you pay attention to the lesson. My mind’s distracted and diffused
My thoughts are many miles away. They lie with you when you’re asleep. And kiss you when you start your day. - Homeward Bound– Looking back on all the different phases of my life, I think all of the struggles and easy moments have all been for the same purpose to find home. I have been fortunate to find some home in many places and to make the best of most situations. Much of what we have to do in life takes us away from being with the people we love. Ideally, I think work should be something that you are passionate about not something that you do for a paycheck and stability. I know, not realistic. I
wish I was, Homeward bound, Home where my thought’s escaping, Home where my music’s playing, Home where my love lies waiting Silently for me. - The Boxer- Your life can best be symbolized as a line graph. There are times that all factors align to place you on the high end. Then others put you down toward the bottom. This song reminds me of the spirit that we all have of courage to bounce back from adversity. To reinvent yourself, find some growth and keep going forward even when it is dark. The fighter is there always in all of us to overcome any obstacle. In the clearing stands a boxer And a fighter by his trade. And he carries the reminders. Of ev’ry glove that laid him down
The Sounds of Silence, I am a rock, Scarborough Fair, America, Cecelia, April She Will Come, A Hazy Shade of Winter, 59th Bridge St song, For Emily wherever I may find her, Blues Run the Game
Harry Chapin by Mike Martin
My father has many sayings. My favorite, “if you are going to hire out tough you’ve gotta play the part”
My brother Kevin and my cousin Shawn know my father’s sayings well. We heard them often while we were moving cords and cords of firewood from the big woods of Maine to our homes in Greenville, Maine
Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter best known for his folk rock songs including a number one hit Cat’s in the Cradle.
The song’s lyrics began as a poem written by Harry’s wife, Sandra Gaston; the poem itself was inspired by the awkward relationship between her first husband and his father a Brooklyn politician. This is a tribute to Harry Chapin character to record a song written by his wife about her former husband.
Watch the video (Harry Chapin – Cats in the Cradle) Sandy says that Harry put the poem aside until the birth of their son, Josh, born on November 15, 1972.
Josh, who is still involved with the family’s website, www.harrychapinmusic.com , and contributes to the release of new Harry Chapin material under the family’s label Chapin Productions, says that people want to touch him when they meet him, and he hears many stories of how Cat’s in the Cradle helped heal their relationships with the fathers.
From this line in the song,
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed
Said, I’m gonna be like him, yeah
You know I’m gonna be like him
It seems that Sandy’s first husband’s father didn’t have much time for his son and it makes sense because love them or hate them, politicians are busy people attending daily work sessions and late night meetings- a huge time commitment that is most definitely a hardship to the family.
My dad has many talents but earned the majority of his income from fixing the big equipment used to harvest the trees for the State of Maine’s paper industry. He said often that he wished better for us that we didn’t have to earn a living lying underneath a dirty old tractor. This astonished me because, when I was ten all, I ever wanted was to make a living lying underneath a dirty old tractor.
Luckily, when I was a kid, my dad always had time for me. I got to go to work with him often and I always came home covered with grease. Of course, that was a day when they let a 10-year-old boy got to work like a man. Those were great days, filled with great lessons, mostly taught by example.
My son was born October 14, 1999, and turns eighteen today. Happy Birthday Coop, may the World bring you hope, joy, and prosperity, and
I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then
Please, have a great day, and if you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville
#OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth #visitGreenville
