At Least They're Committed

I was sitting on the bus lamenting that America’s Sister Golden Hair had disappeared from my iPod and it got me thinking about the song’s lyrics and it suddenly struck me that they — like many from 20, 30, 40 years ago — might actually not have (gasp) withstood the Test of Time!

(Example 1, “Well she always knows her place. She’s got style, she’s got grace, She’s a winner.” wtf Tom Jones???)

So I sang it out-loud and under my breath, much to the chagrin of my fellow bus travelers: “I’ve been one poor correspondent; I’ve been too, too hard to find. But it doesn’t mean you ain’t been on my mind.” Bad grammar aside, when the song came out in 1975 that line might be considered an acceptable apology from someone who was, by his own admission, depressed and going through emotional upheaval. 

(Example 2, “That’s why the lady is a tramp” Sinatra and 1,000 others. Really . . . yikes!)

I pondered, though. Nowadays, if you can’t find any way to text, call from a cell phone, a work phone, an emergency phone, the prison phone, send flowers, an e-mail, snail mail, Twitter, facebook, or say ‘hi’ through a friend of a friend, it just isn’t likely that such an apology would warrant much or any merit.

(Example 3, “Hey you! Good lookin’ female! Come here!” or “If that chick don’t want to know, forget her . . . ” or myriad other songs by Thin Lizzy)

Sad, sad when classic lyrics fail the proverbial Test o’ Time. While I never, never tire of listening to Sister Golden Hair, I fear “will you meet me in the middle; will you meet me in the air? Will you love me just a little, just enough to show you care?” probably would now be met with a resounding “No!” Unless of course if it were being sung by Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell — lilting, passionate, desperate, sincere — sigh. Then, no doubt, all’s forgiven!! C’mon! Even straight guys couldn’t resist that!