On Wednesday afternoon I spent a couple of hours working on the till at Oxfam. I needed some music on the shop CD player and quickly picked "After the Goldrush" by Neil Young. Incredibly, that album came out in 1970. It has been around for almost fifty years. Can you believe it?
One song from the album has stayed in my head the last forty eight hours. It is "Birds" and if I have any say in the matter, I would like it to be played at my funeral. Can't be too long now... Please listen:-
"Birds"
Lover,
there will be another one
Who'll hover
over you beneath the sun
Tomorrow
see the things
that never come
Today
When you see me
Fly away without you
Shadow on the things you know
Feathers fall around you
And show you the way to go
It's over, it's over.
Nestled
in your wings my little one
This special
morning brings another sun
Tomorrow
see the things
that never come
Today
When you see me
Fly away without you
Shadow on the things you know
Feathers fall around you
And show you the way to go
It's over, it's over.
One of my favourites, Neil Young is the best, I love him.
ReplyDeleteIn his early years, the songs were so plaintive, so bittersweet. They really connected. Thanks for calling by Bob.
DeleteIt is hard to believe that was fifty years ago. I graduated from high school in 1970 and it does not seem that long ago.
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed a beautiful song and very sad.
I am glad that it also touched you Bonnie.
DeleteThis song has been one of my favorites for, well, almost fifty years. That album, in fact, is one that I have listened to more times than I could possibly count. I still have it.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a perfect funeral song but I have to warn you- if you don't want sobbing in the aisles, best to avoid it. Then again, why shouldn't people sob in the aisles when we die? Put it in your instructions!
Another song I shall request for my funeral is "Farewell, Farewell" by Fairort Convention. Did you ever hear that song Mary?
DeleteNever had but now I have. That IS a lovely song.
DeleteDon't laugh but I've told my kids that if they have a service or party or whatever for me I want them to play Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road."
I love that Fairport Convention song. One of my first outings after we moved to London in 2011 was to travel to Putney Vale cemetery and find the grave of Sandy Denny!
DeleteLOVE Neil Young, a good old classic musician.
ReplyDeleteHe made songs to last and songs that really spoke of what it is to be a human being.
DeleteTime....the years fly by far too quickly...but, thankfully, good music lingers long.
ReplyDeleteI believe one of the good things about the eras in which I was born and grew up in...into my adult years...were eras that gave us wonderful music...music, I believe, will never be eclipsed by the music of current and future generations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH-QwK4v0ZI
"Burn, Baby, Burn"....would suit my departure, I think. I must insist it be played at the firing of my pyre.
What was new back then, may in some circles nowadays be classed as "old"...but, as the saying goes...."Everything old is new again!"
Was that John Travolta dancing in the video? I hope you have booked him for your funeral and a nice buffet too - using some of the wonderful recipes you have added to your blogposts. We'll have a helluva party.
DeleteOf course it is John Travolta, Yorkie...a scene from "Saturday Night Fever!
DeleteIt'll be a BYO party...bring your own food and grog! lol
Perhaps it could be a barbecue!
DeleteHa-ha! I'm chuckling.
DeleteNot one of my favourite Neil Young tunes, but to each his or her own. Read as a poem, without music, I like it better.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favourite Neil Young song Jenny?
DeleteHarvest Moon, from the album of the same name. It's a beautiful love song, and coming from someone who thinks most love songs are rather silly, that's a high compliment.
DeleteWhen I saw the headline of this post, I thought you'd picked up on what I had just been listening to on BBC Radio York while ironing, about the numbers of birds and insects in the UK (and, of course, all over Europe and probably the whole world) dwindling at an alarming rate.
ReplyDeleteThe RSPB have apparently released a single that contains 2 1/2 minutes of birdsong. They hope it will go viral and raise awareness of the problem.
What the hell are we doing to our world? It breaks my heart.
DeleteI was just reading about this campaign in the RSPB magazine!
DeleteA very beautiful song, Adrian! Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for calling by Ruby.
DeleteThat is a terrific song. I love the title tune, too, but somehow I never owned this album. I should go to iTunes and find it!
ReplyDelete