I popped one of my fave CDs into the player, picked up my book and went outside to read and lounge in the warm sun. A quiet day, perfect for relaxing. The music started …
Love is but the song we sing,
And fear's the way we die …
Ahhhh, The Youngbloods, singing what I sometimes consider my anthem.
C’mon people, now
Smile on each other
Everybody get together
Try and love one another right now
The cultural phenomenon of the 60s is generally considered to be from 1963 to 1973. If you had any part in the 60s, you’d love this CD, Summer of Love, The Sound of 1967. Songs like Whiter Shade of Pale (Procol Harum), Daydream Believer (The Monkees), Groovin’ (The Rascals); bands like The Mamas & The Papas, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Grass Roots. Great music.
Everything just felt so perfect, listening to the music, easing into a Sunday afternoon reverie. I laid down my book and closed my eyes … the music sparking memories, floating through my thoughts …
- Inna Gadda Da Vida playing at the junior high dance; the school auditorium’s screen pulled down; colored gels on the glass of the overhead projector creating a psychedelic light show
- my comfy moccasins, dark brown suede, no fringe
- wearing feathers on a length of leather thong, tied in my long hair
- the British Invasion: music, clothing, make-up styles; hot pants, mini-skirts, halter tops made from Indian cloth; Twiggy’s painted-on lashes that I tried so carefully to emulate
- Love’s Baby Soft: “Wear your love like heaven …” (Donovan)
- Innocent love: Johnny Angel (How I Love Him)
- Casio keyboards
- Lovely, gentle, happy hippies; the Peace Movement; wearing flowers in my hair; Mom calling me Joan Baez as I sat cross-legged on the family room floor, playing my guitar (Wake up, Maggie, I think I’ve got something to say to you …)
- John F. Kennedy. My mom campaigned for his election and we spent many hours stuffing and licking envelopes as little kids. JFK was the first president I was truly aware of and, as such, he set the bar for what I feel a president should be. I’ve not known another president to come close to the stature and greatness that I perceived in this man.
- The Space Program. Civil Rights. Women’s Rights. The end of Jim Crow laws. Vietnam. Sit-ins. Freedom. Counter culture and social revolution. The Peace Corps. The assassinations. Has anybody here seen my old friend Bobby? Can you tell me where he’s gone?
I was just growing up and all of this social upheaval around the world became part of my childhood experience; this was my normal. The world did a profound shift and I shifted with it. It still seems like such a golden time, the music integral to the experience. Images continued to float through my mind as I lounged in the sun, enjoying my quiet Sunday afternoon.
What makes you think love will end
when you know that my whole life depends … on you …
The Association - Never My Love by epb21
4 comments:
Great post! What a tumultuous time of social and cultural change that decade was! During that period, I ranged in age from 6 to 16 so, like you, it kind of made me who I am today in many, many ways. I love all that music too. We had such hope for change then, which has never been as strong since.
I was so little, born in 65, but my mother used to always tell me I was born a little late, that I was a true flower child...I remember a lot of this music though, and because my cousins and siblings were older, I kind of got glimpses of this wild and free world of love and peace that these musicians were trying to envision an activists were working hard to create.
I think it is still possible, one person at a time, connecting with another and then another and so on... to bring more peace into the world Rose, I really do.
Dear Rose,
Wonderful memories of the 60's. I grew up in the 50's and was raising babies in the 60's. LOL
Love you,
Connie
This was delightful! I was a child of the 60's but everyone tells me that I was born a decade too late ... and a "flower child" at heart. I can envision you sitting there, soaking up the memories and the music... :)
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