Thursday, January 27, 2011

Poem and Music: In the Line of a Song


In the Line of a Song

The Spinners wrote the song, “Games People Play” (also known as They Just Can’t Stop It) in 1975 and it still resonates today.  It was a crossover success at the time hitting #1 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

There are songs that define certain times in our lives - no matter when we hear them, they take us right back.  In 1975, I had just graduated from Indiana University and was feeling a certain amount of angst about my future.  This song still gets to me every time I hear it - I’m right back to being a 22 year old pondering the great unknowns of life.  Come to think of it, I’m still doing that. 

 In the Line of a Song

There’s a lyrical life
In the line of a song,
It lifts and then floats
Bringing us right along,

Sing me a song
That touches my heart,
Sing me a song
Of a raw, tender sort,

A song about love,
A song about loss,
A song about hope
Or dreams
I might toss,

You know that low feeling
When dreams lose their air,
You can’t find your way,
You start to despair,

So toss them aside,
Start out anew,
Forge a new path,

But what will you do?

Don’t let the memories
Get in the way,
Catch the next train
 Then call it a day,

Let the song lift your soul,
Keep you on track,
Remember the past,
But no turning back.




2 comments:

  1. I think this may be the first time I've heard this song. Your brother and I were in African in 1975. We missed most of what was happening at home then. No internet. No phones really. That is seeming a long time ago, but I'm sure the song brings it all back. Old favorite songs do that for me, too.

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  2. It seems like a long time ago, but the music can put you right back in that place and time.

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