Listening to the band Three Dog Night last night at Lancaster's American Music Theater was exhilarating, just remembering the love and life of the times. And depressing. Music sent all of us gray-hairs (or no-hairs) back a few years to the days of late 1960s.
Young people then were vigorously protesting the Vietnam War, fighting racism and sexism, watching the Space Race and the Cold War and preaching love-- sometimes simultaneously. All the time wearing tie-dye, bell bottoms and long, long hair that we all wish we could regrow.
It would be satisfying to think we made a difference, but I'm not so sure we did. Today, we're spread throughout the world fighting more questionable wars, women still don't have the Equal Rights Amendment, the Cold War has become mighty warm and racism? Well, what happened to Trayvon Martin in Florida should convince you that things aren't where they should be.
Was thinking about all this while TDN sang away for an hour or so. They 'finished' the show, waited for the obligatory standing ovation and returned to the stage to sing the band's biggest song that we all knew was coming. But first, they sang acappella Prayers of the Children. Listen from YouTube here, or read the lyrics here. The words are reminiscent of the type of song that went big in the 1960s and early 70s, all about love and life. It was beautifully done, with tender words that should bring at least one tear.
They finished with the upbeat "Joy to the World". We all sang along as one, huge chorus. We remembered the days of love, grass and rock 'n roll.
"If I were the king of the world
Tell you what I'd do
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and the war
Make sweet love to you
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls now
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me"
There was at least one person in the crowd below voting age, and probably dragged to the event by his grandmother. He knew the words too.
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