About a year ago, I had JD make a mix CD of 70's and 80's songs. The stereo in my pickup plays MP3's, so I requested that the songs be in that format (which meant he was able to fit over 115 songs on one disc). I had a few specific requests (Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty, Rhinestone Cowboy, etc), but most of the songs were selected by JD -- including a few Neil Diamond songs.
I have never been much of a Neil Diamond fan, but my dad absolutely loved him. He would blast Jonathon Livingston Seagull at full volume -- and wonder why we kids were covering our ears instead of enjoying it like he was (Hmm... history kind of repeats itself -- but Noah runs in to listen with me). I always found Neil's voice to be rather flat and ordinary - and the accompaniment of elevator music wasn't exactly dazzling. But, I do get a sense of nostalgia when I hear one of his songs.
I always thought all of Neil's lyrics had about the same depth as Forever In Blue Jeans, but lately I have been paying closer attention. The song Be has a mythical, mystical feel to it -- and the words flow quite nicely with the elevator music. I think it is Neil Diamond's best song.
Be by Neil DiamondLost
On a painted sky
Where the clouds are hung
For the poet’s eye
You may find him
If you may find himThere
On a distant shore
By the wings of dreams
Through an open door
You may know him
If you mayBe
As a page that aches for words
Which speaks on a theme that’s timeless
While the sun God will make for your day
Sing
As a song in search of a voice that is silent
And the one God will make for your wayAnd we dance
To a whispered voice
Overheard by the soul
Undertook by the heart
And you may know it
If you may know itWhile the sand
Would become the stone
Which begat the spark
Turned to living bone
Holy, holy
Sanctus, sanctusBe
As a page that aches for word
Which speaks on a theme that is timeless
While the sun God will make for your day
Sing
As a song in search of a voice that is silent
And the one God will make for your day
Are there any poetry/song lyric interpreters out there who want to take a stab at the deep underlying meanings in this song?
Posted by jethro at October 18, 2004 10:15 AM | TrackBack