As I was recently listening to the song Drift Away, the line “Gimmie the beat boys and soothe my soul, I wanna’ get lost in your rock n’ roll and drift away,” inspired an Aha moment. I had been writing about Fleetwood Mac’s “On With the Show” concert I recently experienced, and was attempting to articulate what their music meant to me. I especially enjoyed the concert from an older perspective, and making new memories with my cousin. The timelessness of the band’s musicality was amazing, and no doubt the reunion of all five original members played in to the beauty of their mature, yet immutable performance. Each and every one of their 24 songs, from Dreams to World Turning, was played with a seamless flow of artful inflection. And while many people appreciate the musicality and/or tune of their songs, it’s often the words that resonate with me most.
Back in the 70’s, after my parents divorced, I was going through a difficult time and often escaped in to music via headphones (way too loudJ). The soundtrack of Rumors alluded to Dreams of better days and tomorrows of unbroken Chains. I remember contemplating the complexities of my adolescence when the song “Don’t Stop” became my muse. It inspired a poem that I wrote, part of which ended up as the caption under my senior yearbook photo: Keep lookin’ in the future/instead of living in the past/Make good of what you have/and you’ll make your strange life last.
Looking through old photos, I recently found an especially poignant picture. It was taken during a party at my house that was attended by many of my 9th grade classmates, most of whom I thought were much more popular than me. Though my eyes are closed, I look content in this picture. I was living through some very dark days, but I was extremely happy that night, listening to some very cool tunes and surrounded by so many friends, many of whom I am still connected with today.
Throwback to 15 years old.
It’s nice to experience the music of a band that turns back the hands of time. For some, the songs of Fleetwood Mac remind us of a time of carefree days. For others it was a time when their music helped lift us to another place. I am in the process of writing a memoir for my Masters in Creative Writing, and I often find that listening to the music of our time provides inspiration; my project is at times, both difficult and cathartic. But the music from artists like Fleetwood Mac and Dobie Gray, always inspires. Here’s World Turning by Fleetwood Mac. Enjoy the videoJ
