As Time Goes By

"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" was one of Chicago's first great songs.  Music and Time are tightly intertwined.  Often, when you hear an old song on the radio, or on your iPod, you are immediately transported back to WHEN you first heard it.

Continuing the theme of "Who-What-When-Where-Why-and How", today we will consider WHEN. 

Music marks the times of our lives.  Chances are, you may not be listening to the same type of music you did WHEN you were a child.  Sometimes those songs are fun to revisit.  Sometimes you get a legitimate opportunity to revisit them.  For instance, despite the fact that there are many great artists producing Children's Songs these days (e.g. Laurie Berkner, The Wiggles, Lisa Loeb and even Barenaked Ladies), one of the best of that genre is Raffi.  Listen to the words of Raffi's "The More We Get Together" which proclaim "...your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends; the more we get together, the happier we'll be."  If the whole world would just embrace that sentiment, what a wonderful world this would be.  My reason for mentioning it is that my daughter and I listened to Raffi when she was a child, and now we are listening to Raffi again with her child.  Music connects us through the ages.

"WHEN You Wish Upon A Star", sung by Jiminy Cricket, is a hopeful song, but it is a sad song for me because that tune was played for some inexplicable reason at my grandfather's funeral.  I was young and I loved my grandfather very much and did not understand why he had to go away.  To this day, when I hear that beautiful song, I am instantly sad.

When will I be happy?  "When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)", sang Judy Garland and many others.  "When Doves Cry", said Prince.  "When I Paint My Masterpiece", said Bob Dylan. "When Grandma Played the Banjo", said Roy Wood.  "When I'm Sixty-four", said Lennon & McCartney.  "When Big Joan Sets Up", said Captain Beefheart.  "When I Come Around", said Green Day.  "When Love Comes To Town", said U2.

When will I be sad?  "When the Levee Breaks", said Led Zeppelin. And especially, "When the Music's Over", said the Doors.

"Remember When?", asked Alan Jackson. I remember it like it was today.  "Time Has Come Today", said the Chambers Brothers. "He Stopped Loving Her Today", said George Jones.  "I Saw God Today", said George Strait. "Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World", yelled the Ramones.  When will it happen? I hope it's now.  "How Soon Is Now?", asked the Smiths. "Sooner or Later", said the Grass Roots.

For now, it's "Closing Time", said Lyle Lovett.

Willie chimes in..."Ain't It Funny, How Time Slips Away".