TASHY HEARS

GOIN BACK

Someone asked me once where did I get the little quote I have on my twitter account about living my days not counting my years. The answer is that it came from a song written by Goffin and King (Gerry and Carole to me). I first heard the song back in 1968, sung by The Byrds, and I really liked it and bought it. Then, later, I heard the version by Dusty Springfield. The weird difference is that The Byrds version didn’t include the very line which I used as that quote.

This then is Dusty's version and the line comes about 2 minutes into the song. Why do I like it? If you knew me well, it would be obvious. “Thinking young and growing older is no sin, and I can play the game of life to win” would be a sufficient reason for me to identify with the song but the idea of looking back to that freedom we all SHOULD have had as children while understanding the way our freedom actually disappears as we grow older is beautiful. While we are young we always feel under someone else’s control, be it parents, teachers, whatever, but once we become adults, the responsibility that brings actually lessens some freedoms. We do have more than our skipping rope to lend.

We all like different music and so we should but, not only that, we all interpret a lyric in a different way too. I am sure that the writers of some of these songs didn’t have in mind the meaning I may have taken from the song. In one case I am actually certain they didn’t but more of that later. For me, and I suppose as a writer this isn’t a surprise, the lyrics are so important and, when matched to a melody that complements or portrays them well, you have the very best. As in this case. Enjoy it.