Message in the Music

[southernhybrid]

https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/8193946/Cloud+Nine#google_vignette

The Temptations had a big hit in 1968 with "Cloud Nine" It was one of the early hits from the genre known as psychedelic soul.

Childhood part of my life, it wasn't very pretty.
You see, I was born and raised in the slums of the city,
It was a one room shack that slept ten other children besides me.
We hardly had enough food or room to sleep.
It was hard times,
Needed something to ease my troubled mind.
Listen! my father didn't know the meaning of work,
He disrespected mama, and treated us like dirt.
I left home, seekin' a job that I never did find,
Depressed and downhearted I took to cloud nine,
I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine.
Listen one more time I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine.
Folks down there tell me,
They say, "give yourself a chance son, don't let life pass you by".
But the world of reality is a rat race where only the strongest survive,
It's a dog eat dog world, and that ain't no lie.
Listen! it ain't even safe no more to walk the streets at night,
I'm doin' fine, on cloud nine.
Let me tell you about cloud nine.

Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
(cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility,
And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free
(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
I wanna say I love the life I live,
And I'm gonna live the life I love up here on cloud nine.
I'm riding high
On cloud nine, you're as free as a bird in flight
(cloud nine) there's no diff'rence between day and night
(cloud nine) it's a world of love and harmony
(cloud nine) you're a million miles from reality.

Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
Cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility,
And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free
(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
(cloud nine) (cloud nine) (cloud nine)

 

[southernhybrid]

https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/999029/Ray+Charles/One+Drop+of+Love

Another one of my favorite upbeat songs from Ray Charles is

"One drop of Love". Sure, it's very idealistic, but I love the piece and songs like this bring me up a bit. It's another old song and sadly we still haven't gotten that drop of love to change things.

Alright
Yeah

Look at all the people, livin' on the street
It don't seem they got nothin' to eat
Children play with guns and they ain't toys
What will become of all my girls and boys?

It don't take brains to figure it out
Everyday the newspaper headlines shout
It's gonna take a miracle from above
Either that just one drop of love

(One drop of love)
One drop of love will make the world alright
(One drop of love)
One drop of love will unite black and white
(One drop of love)
One drop of love to make a new start
(One)
One drop of love everyone's heart

I know
I know
I know

It's getting harder everyday to make ends meet
When you do, it's hard to stay on your feet
Who are your real friends? You can't keep track
While you're wathin' you front, you're gettin' stapped in the bag

I ain't no genius but I know
There's only one way to make this hatred go
People, I tried it, now I'm beggin' you
(Just)
Reach in your heart and give up one drop too

(One drop of love)
One drop of love will make the world alright
(One drop of love)
One drop of love will unite black and white
(One drop of love)
One drop of love to make a new start
(One)
One drop of love everyone's heart

One drop of love, will plant a seed
Maybe everyone will follow our lead
Then they'll see, one drop can grow
'Cause wilt enough drops a whole river flows
A whole river flows from one drop of love

(One drop of love)
Yeah
(One drop of love)
Hmm
(One drop of love)
Ye, one drop, aha

I ain't no genius but I know
There's only one way to make this hatred go
People, I tried it, now I'm beggin' you
(Just)
Reach in your heart and give up one drop too

(One drop of love)
One drop of love will make the world alright
(One drop of love)
One drop of love will unite black and white
(One drop of love)
One drop of love to make a new start
(One)
One drop of love everyone's heart

(One drop of love)
One drop of love will make the world alright
(One drop of love)
One drop of love will unite black and white
(One drop of love)
One drop of love to make a new start
(One)
One drop of love everyone's heart

One drop of love, one drop of love

 

[TV and credit cards]

Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)
by Kate Bush

It doesn't hurt me (yeah, yeah, yo)
Do you wanna feel how it feels? (Yeah, yeah, yo)
Do you wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me? (Yeah, yeah, yo)
Do you wanna hear about the deal that I'm making? (Yeah, yeah, yo)
You
It's you and me
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get Him to swap our places
Be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
Be runnin' up that building
Say, if I only could, oh
You don't wanna hurt me (yeah, yeah, yo)
But see how deep the bullet lies (yeah, yeah, yo)
Unaware I'm tearin' you asunder (yeah, yeah, yo)
Oh, there is thunder in our hearts (yeah, yeah, yo)
Is there so much hate for the ones we love? (Yeah, yeah, yo)
Oh, tell me, we both matter, don't we? (Yeah, yeah, yo)
You
It's you and me
It's you and me
Won't be unhappy
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get Him to swap our places
Be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
Be runnin' up that building (yo)
Say, if I only could, oh
You (yeah, yeah, yo)
It's you and me
It's you and me
Won't be unhappy (yeah, yeah, yo)
Oh, come on, baby (yeah)
Oh, come on, darlin' (yo)
Let me steal this moment from you now
Oh, come on, angel
Come on, come on, darlin'
Let's exchange the experience (yo), oh, ooh, ooh
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get Him to swap our places
I'd be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
With no problems
Say, if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get Him to swap our places
I'd be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
With no problems
Say, if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get Him to swap our places
I'd be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
With no problems
Say, if I only could
I'd be runnin' up that hill
With no problems

 

[southernhybrid]

https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2413849/The O'Jays/Love Train

We really do need a "Love Train" right about now. Too much hatred in the world. I'm watching a DVD concert by the O'jays, which reminded me of this song. If only.....

People all over the world (everybody)
Join hands (join)
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world (all the world, now)
Join hands (love ride)
Start a love train (love ride), love train

The next stop that we make will be soon
Tell all the folks in Russia, and China, too
Don't you know that it's time to get on board
And let this train keep on riding, riding on through
Well, well

People all over the world (you don't need no money)
Join hands (come on)
Start a love train, love train (don't need no ticket, come on)
People all over the world (Join in, ride this train)
Join in (Ride this train, y'all)
Start a love train (Come on, train), love train

All of you brothers over in Africa
Tell all the folks in Egypt, and Israel, too
Please don't miss this train at the station
'Cause if you miss it, I feel sorry, sorry for you
Well

People all over the world (Sisters and brothers)
Join hands (join, come on)
Start a love train (ride this train, y'all), love train (Come on)
People all over the world (Don't need no tickets)
Join hands (come on, ride)
Start a love train, love train
Ride, let it ride
Let it ride
Let it ride
People, ain't no war

People all over the world (on this train)
Join in (ride the train)
Start a love train, love train (ride the train, y'all)
People all over the world (come on)
Join hands (you can ride or stand, yeah)
Start a love train, love train (makin' love)
People all over the world ('round the world, y'all)
Join hands (come on)
Start a love train, love train

 

[southernhybrid]

In 1971 Marvin Gaye had a big hit with a song about the environment. "Mercy Mercy Me'.

https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/6823799/marvin+gaye/mercy+mercy+me

Ah, mercy, mercy me,
Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no.
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east.

Mercy, mercy me,
Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no.
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon
Our seas fish full of mercury,

Oh, mercy, mercy me.
Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no, no.
Radiation underground and in the sky;
Animals and birds who live near by are dying.

Oh, mercy, mercy me.
Ah, things ain't what they used to be.
What about this over crowded land?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?

 

[southernhybrid]

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/johnlennon/imagine.html

How could I forget what is considered one of the most played songs in the 20th Century? I Once heard a Christian say she liked the song, but didn't understand the part "imagine no religion". I guess she didn't realize that more wars were started over religion than anything else. Sadly, this will always just be something to imagine.

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today... Aha-ah...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace... You...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world... You...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

 

[Tharmas]

When the Vietnam riots hit my university, in the Spring of 1969, there were demonstrations daily in the central quad. One evening a large screen was erected on one of the buildings and silent footage from the police riot at the Democratic Convention in Chicago the previous summer was shown. I don’t remember if it was real-time or slo-mo. For the soundtrack they played “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield.

[Verse 1]
There's something happening here
But what it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
A-telling me I got to beware

[Chorus]
I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down

[Verse 2]
There's battle lines being drawn
And nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Are gettin' so much resistance from behind

[Chorus]
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down

[Verse 3]
What a field day for the heat (Ooh-ooh-ooh)
A thousand people in the street (Ooh-ooh-ooh)
Singing songs and a-carryin' signs (Ooh-ooh-ooh)
Mostly say, "Hooray for our side" (Ooh-ooh-ooh)

[Chorus]
It's time we stopped
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down

[Verse 4]
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life, it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the man come and take you away

[Chorus]
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going
We better stop
Now, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going
We better stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down

Steven Stills and Neil Young graduated from Buffalo Springfield into Crosby Stills Nash and Young, and in reaction to the Kent State shootings of 1970, produced the song “Ohio” (written by Young):

Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'
We're finally on our own
This summer I hear the drummin'
Four dead in Ohio

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago
What if you knew her and
Found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?

Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago
What if you knew her and
Found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'
We're finally on our own
This summer I hear the drummin'
Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio (four dead)
Four dead in Ohio (four)
Four dead in Ohio (how many?)
Four dead in Ohio (how many more?)

Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (oh)
Four dead in Ohio (four)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)

Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio
Four dead in Ohio