Living young and wild and free…
While running errands this morn an old Beatles song came over the airwaves. Up went the volume. For a few moments I was sixteen again.
Lennon’s lyrics permeated the car-
I need a fix cuz ‘ I’m goin down….
Happiness is a warm gun
(Bang bang, shoot shoot)
Happiness is a warm gun mama
(Bang bang, shoot shoot)
When I hold you in my arms
(Oh yeah)
And I feel my finger on your trigger
(Ooo, oh yeah)
I know nobody can do me no harm
(Ooo, oh yeah)
The words from the White Album song are far more meaningful today than, if you will pardon the pun, “Yesterday”. A time when all my troubles seemed so far away.. my mind glided back in time. I knew the song was about Heroin, but Heroin was the drug of Rock Stars.
I recalled spinning the Beatles Discography for hours in my bedroom. Yes I knew that drug references laced The Beatles repotoire of tunes. I was sixteen and completely did not care. In fact I thought it was great my parents and other old folks were upset by those Beatles.
This was typical 1970s teen angst displayed by a typical suburban kid. Pretty tame in contrast to today’s standards.
The 1980s and 90s brought a parade of death and destruction to my “Rock Stars”. Life moved on…yet I was far removed. I was in love and beginning my young family and galaxies away from the death and depravity of Hollywood and Rock n Roll.
I was the suburban dad and I loved my new wife and baby son. I would do my best to “raise him right”.
Years later the game changed and this galaxy came crashing down. The day the music died was the day I admitted to myself that my own child was hooked on Heroin. Happiness is a warm gun?
Much has happened since that day and I have learned that life moves on. Errands need to be completed, thus I got back in the car a few hours later, off to tackle yet another Saturday task.
I flipped on my yellow Sponge Bob Sunglasses, revved the engine, and turned on the radio yet again. ” Miley Cyrus..NOPE, click, Back Street Boys? NOPE!,.. click…I searched for some music ” Finally the car hit radio found one of today’s big hits by Wiz Khalifa – ( who? )
The lyrics again bounced within the confines of my car :
Yea, roll one, smoke one
When you live like this you’re supposed to party
Roll one, smoke one, and we all just having fun
So we just, roll one, smoke one
When you live like this you’re supposed to party
Roll one, smoke one, and we all just having fun[ All - Chorus]
So what we get drunk
So what we don’t sleep (smoke weed)
We’re just having fun
We don’t care who sees
So what we go out
That’s how its supposed to be
Living young and wild and free
I listened, reflected and prayed for today’s youth and the parents that are putting PAMPERS on their child today. These are new parents living in a war zone, yet completely aware. This song is part of a today’s teens life just like my Beatles were to me. This post is not a Tipper Gore diatribe on Rock n Roll but merely and observation of the world our kids live in. Today world is a far cry from Lucy in the Sky.
peace and much strength. ( we are going to need it)
Categorised as: Journal Entries
I don’t think you become aware of the war zone until you actually enter it…….
When I first heard the song you are speaking of I kind of liked it the beat, etc., until I actually listened to the words and I too was like Dear God this is what it has come to?
One of your best posts!!! So true, how the songs of our beloved rock stars were rough but hidden in poetry and metaphor. Today, it is in your face. My young 16 year old son loves Wiz Khalifa. I always act like I don’t remember his name and say things like, “Are you listening to Queen Latifa?”…just to irritate him.
P of A, I so appreciate your posts, your "reflections". Yes, I have heard this same song as well as many others that make me go "what the?". Yep, peace and strength alright, for THEM too!