Gregorian - Hymn (Barclay James Harvest)

There are days when the music stage in my mind wants to play nothing but angry or sad songs. Sometimes that's just fine with me. Right now, however, considering the root of my anger and sadness, I seek a calming balm to ground myself again. 

One song that has long had the ability to ease my mind is "Hymn", for tonight performed by Gregorian. The song was originally performed by Barclay James Harvest and released in 1977 in the album "Gone to Earth". Reading about it I was astonished to learn that "the song is primarily about the dangers of drug abuse, contrasting their illicit thrill with the spiritual 'high' of Christianity."

Hymn

Valley's deep and the mountain's so high
If you want to see God you've got to move on the other side
You stand up there with your head in the clouds
Don't try to fly you know you might not come down
Don't try to fly, dear God, you might not come down

Roger Waters - Amused To Death

Strolling through the magical forests of the internet I stumbled over an article by Rina Marie Doctor in Tech Times which contemplated establishing a new geological epoch marked by the impact of human activity, the Anthropocene.

Fascinating! Have humanity’s footprints on our planet become so big that the instigated environmental changes exceed the natural development? I’m not a geologist so I’m uncomfortable to comment one way or another on the concept. It just made me wonder –again- about the carbon dioxide emissions which are increased thanks to humanity, and the eventual demise of our world: being swallowed by the sun when it is in its red giant stage.

Humanity will have left the stage long before that time and, perhaps, some alien anthropologists will have had the opportunity to investigate the remnants of our cultures …

Amused to Death
Roger Waters

Doctor Doctor what is wrong with me
This supermarket life is getting long
What is the heart life of a colour TV
What is the shelf life of a teenage queen

Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) - Peace Train

I've been smiling lately dreaming about the world as one and I believe it could be
Something good's bound to come ...

Peace to the world ...

Joe Cocker - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

Some songs never grow old; some voices get better the longer you listen ... It's hard to believe that "Don't let me be misunderstood" was originally released in 1964 (!!!) by the unforgettable, incomparable Nina Simone. So many groups and artists have covered the song and made it theirs in one way or another. It's hard to put a finger to the why ~ perhaps it is because I had the privilege of seeing/hearing him perform it live ~ Joe Cocker's version remains my favorite ...

Ólafur Arnalds - So Close (feat. Arnór Dan)

At first it was the rhythm that drew me in ~ as so often is the case. Then it was the haunting quality of Arnór Dan's voice, the searching, the reaching for something just out of grasp. So close, it seems, and jet so far. Ólafur Arnalds' music frequently has a drifting dreamlike quality to it that makes it perfect for a dreary time ...

Runrig - Abhainn an t-sluaigh

The week has passed its prime and the weekend peeks over the horizon with its promise of time to get away from the crowded streets ...

"Abhainn an t-sluaigh" (The Crowded River) by Runrig is about the need to get out of the big city. When I close my eyes, listening to this song I can feel the river ebbing and flowing out of the city into the marches and heading for the sea. I hope you enjoy ...

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Fault Line

A voice, a guitar, and a harmonica - sometimes that's all it takes. It certainly is when it comes to 'Fault Line' by 'Black Rebel Motorcycle Club' or 'BRMC'...

Fault Line

I've been waiting on the fault line
Living evil take me on
I'll be standing with my dying bed
If you care to come along