| The Offspring – The Kids Aren't Alright Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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I think 75% (if not all of us) can relate to this song. We grew up in crummy neighborhoods (some of us actually grew up in nice neighborhoods but we did not see them that way). All the while our fresh, optimistic minds just knew we would succeed in life and escape our private hells (hells either real or just perceived to exist by us). The lyrics outlines the reality that occurred to many of us. I know people who died by murder, OD, or suicide. I knew people who had a shot at fame and fortune and they messed it up with one stupid mistake like teen pregnancy, drugs, dropping out of school, getting involved with criminals, or succumbing to laziness for example. Many times we were and still are our worst enemies. The worst part is that many of us had someone warning us that we were running straight into this and we, as know it all's, could not be told anything. We knew we were smarter than the person warning us and that we would not fail and fall into those traps. We felt you were either jealous we were going to succeed, or hated us. Now looking back from the prospective of a 57 year old man... I wish I could go back and redo everything. Too late I realize they were not jealous A holes but actually were trying to look out for me. The really sad thing is that I talk to the rare individual that really did succeed and escape the neighborhood and avoided the landmines of life only to be told by them that their life looks fun from my vantage point but it is still a hell or a prison... just a gold plated one. Growing up in and around Hollywood, I saw many things in my day and this song manages to cover all the points in a compact song. |
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| Harry Chapin – W*O*L*D Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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Very telling lyrics. I know people that are DJ's. Their work is so unstable. Your job depends on ratings and the public can be very fickle. What was hot yesterday can be todays dog. One day your show is the top rated show in your market. Offers are coming from every one. Then new numbers come out and someone else is the top dog. You get dropped with little to no warning. Many times you don't get the chance to thank your listeners and say goodbye (management has had a few DJ's go off on air before... at least that's there rationalization). One day you turn on the radio and a new voice is there. Sure, there are some DJ's who have seemed to be on the radio forever and others that are gone in a week. This happens to radio stations too. I can't tell you how many stations in Los Angeles (my home) that have changed formats or call letters. The live version of this song was recorded in Los Angeles, hence the change of lyrics from WOLD to KHJ. Back in the 60's KHJ (AM station) hence the lyrics "I am the morning DJ at K*H*J" and the station had a format called "Boss Radio" and it was a big deal when I was a kid, hence the reference in Harrys lyrics "It was two kids and I was into AM rock". I have friends and acquaintances that have been all over the country because of the fickle nature of radio. Now with many of the stations being owned by the few large communication corporations, costs are being cut. DJ's are being canned. Especially the older, well known air talent... regardless of their excellent ratings. Many are try to make the stations look more profitable so they can sell them for a profit because terrestrial radio is losing ground to satellite and internet radio and podcast. This will come to bite the corps on the rear if they can't sell the stations quickly. Without the talent, many listeners will drift away and the numbers will fall. As numbers fall, the price they can charge for airtime to advertisers will also drop and affect the bottom line. I do not envy anyone wanting to be a DJ. Sure there are guys that make millions but that is not common. Many make an excellent living (especially if they work in a large market) but the people that work in little towns at low power stations often have other sources of income as they wait to be discovered and recruited for a bigger station, syndication, movies, or something else lucrative. |
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| Harry Chapin – Sequel Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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Great song. Reminds me of the saying that; "You should be careful of what you wish for, because you just might get it" Also reminds me of the lines spoken by Leonard Nimoy (as Spock); “After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but is often true". Many times we really do not know what we want or more importantly need. |
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| Harry Chapin – Mr. Tanner Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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Although Mr. Tanner did not make his living singing, he basically lived to sing. In his small town apparently he was considered great, compared to the other local talent ( A case of a big fish in a small pond). After he was goaded into having professionals in the big city critique his performance, he was brought back down to earth in a rather cruel way. He thus felt that if the public thought he was not professional enough, he would no longer sing for them. He would sing for himself when he was alone, for the pure joy of singing. I live in Hollywood and have a few friends that are professional musicians. Some are famous, others are session, or studio musicians, or back up musicians (some famous, some not). I was a musician myself but realized early on that I did not have the passion, fire, drive, and belief in myself to make it. Fortunately I realized what was lacking and saved myself from a career of either being told "no" or getting really bad and/or low or no pay gigs and the heartbreak that goes with it. I used to see the "big fishes" come into town looking to grab the world by the tail. Some make it. Some get famous, some just eke out a living playing dives, doing sound tracks, playing small parties and get togethers and so on and others wind up with real jobs and are musicians at night or on the weekends. Some give up on music completely, some get jobs in the music industry (just inches from fame) and many go back home (or elsewhere if they are too embarrassed to go home) beaten, or broken, or jaded, or with their tails between their legs. Some go home and never speak of the experience. This song covers many of the emotions musicians, singers, actors (or any kind of artist or performer) faces everyday. They are braver souls than I. I could not put myself before the public and be faced with their judgment of me (even though I am a harsh self critic) plus I know no one wants to pay to see or hear anything I have to say. I truly miss Harry Chapin and wonder what he would have written and if he would have gained a large following. I often wonder why his brothers and band members did not keep performing. I am sure many people would have gone to the shows (even though no one could replace Harry). |
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