Where have all the poets gone?
In case you missed it, Sunday was a special celebration, a very special moment in television and music history. It began with a wonderfully written and perfectly delivered monolog by Steve Martin and was bookended by two of the greatest musical talents
OF…
All…
TIME…
They both share a name, Paul. I, for one, am more thankful for the music than the 50 years of comedy and the pulse of a nation that remains Saturday Night Live.
The songs, along with their creators took me back home to a place long lost to us, a country that still banded together in challenging times, music that was pure and meaningful, a faith in each other that has only echoes left, drowned out by empty slogans, insults, and division. Social media and AI are now atop the zeitgeist; meaningless fluff that leaves us less enlightened, less in love, far less intelligent, and far less compassionate than who, what, and where we used to call home.
But Sunday, the jokes, the laughs, and the music that we have so lovingly shared with each other over the last 50 years came back to us in what I can say was nothing short of inspiring.
From a January, 2019 post…
Music has been a steadfast companion all my life. I am fond of saying life is better with a soundtrack. But, music is so much more. It tells our stories. It gives us perspective. It stirs the adventure and curiosity in us all.
Bruce Springsteen introduced U2 into the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Two musical entities that have done just that; stir emotion, curiosity, and tell our story so well.
Bono, at one the 25th Anniversary Rock&Roll Hall Of Fame concerts, said this…
“I’m thinking here in Rock&Roll’s great cathedral, that is Madison Square Garden, thinking in this moment about all the pilgrims, all the pioneers that got us all here. The saints and the heretics, the poets and the punks, that now make up the hall of fame. Its a dangerous thing, this business of building idols. But at least Rock&Roll is not, at its best, about worshiping sacred cows. It’s about the thousands of voices gathered in one great unwashed congregation, like tonight. For alot of us here, Rock&Roll just means one word, liberation; political, sexual, spiritual. Liberation.”
To which Bruce Springsteen replied, “Let’s have some fun with that!”
And they began to sing together.
I like this quote because it isn’t just relevant to musicians. It is all of us. It’s life’s journey.
Plus, U2 and The Boss together is frickin awesome!
As I prepare for whatever God has planned next for me, this song reminds me that we are all searching. Perhaps, I’ll take a drive down Thunder Road, and see what lies ahead.
Where will you go? What will you look for?
Will you be kind along your journey?
I hope so. ■
Here are the songs that helped open and close the night for SNL’s 50th Anniversary Celebration along with some other versions with some other artists.
I wish you well on your journey back home. We’ll have the BBQ ready and the beer nice and cold when you arrive. I miss you.
#kindness #purposefulkindness #drivingawaydepression #WhatAWonderfulWorld #hope #peace #joy #love #streetlights #grace #TheKindnessClub #lifeisbetterwithasoundtrack #weareallconnected #findingjoy
#AllMyEmptySpaces
#snl50 #PaulSimon #PaulMcCartney #TheBeatles
StreetLights 
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