Sparks fly!  I think that I’ve learned as much of life from Rock n Roll as I have from philosophy.  The distinction is a false one.  The discipline of reflection on the contents of the mind, and attending to the lyrics and tune composed by another, are complementary.  Its as if wisdom rises up,  rising from lyrics and tune, like a offering to a god.

This morning I offer for your enjoyment, and your mindful consideration a great love song.   The Best Of My Love was written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and J. D. Souther and first performed by the Eagles in 1974, with Henley singing lead vocals.  Song lyrics and tune are derived from the experience of community.

Glenn Frey recalled: “I was playing acoustic guitar one afternoon in Laurel Canyon, and I was trying to figure out a tuning that Joni Mitchell had shown me a couple of days earlier. I got lost and ended up with the guitar tuning for what would later turn out to be ‘The Best of My Love.’   According to Henley, much of the lyrics was written while in a booth in Dan Tana’s Restaurant close to the Troubador. The maitre d’ of Dan Tana, Guido, was thanked in the liner notes of the album.   –Wikipedia

That is where lyric and tune come from and also the source of what we call “my life.”

In retrospect, with the passage of time, one is able to look back to trace the outlines of where one went wrong

To me this is more than another love song.  Its a parable, a extended metaphor of how relationships fall apart.  This is applicable to lovers and to larger groups, such as a whole society.   I particularly like the lines:

Beautiful faces and loud, empty places
Look at the way that we live
Wastin’ our time on cheap talk and wine
Left us so little to give

Yes we have the right, the freedom to amuse ourselves to death.  The offerings are endless.   We can ensconce ourselves in a bubble of comfort, superficial small talk with ego stroking companions, technology, and even religion.  The price that we will pay, is go grow apart from others upon whom we inextricably depend.  (By technology I have in mind social media)  There is no substitute for face to face exchange of words, mindful listening to what others have to say.  One must wrestle with different points of view.  Of course its painful, stressful, demanding, catalyzing change within oneself.  But if we are to have a future that is the way it must be.

Perhaps what I’ve attempted to say is nonsense.  Perhaps with your feedback I can try again?  In any case here is the song.  Enjoy!  Enjoy it more than once.

Yes, I know this is a cover.  I think it is extraordinary, capturing the spirit of the piece.

The Best Of My Love”

Every night I’m lyin’ in bed
Holdin’ you close in my dreams
Thinkin’ about all the things that we said
And comin’ apart at the seams
We try to talk it over
But the words come out too rough
I know you were tryin’
to give me the best of your love

Beautiful faces and loud, empty places
Look at the way that we live
Wastin’ our time on cheap talk and wine
Left us so little to give
That same old crowd
Was like a cold dark cloud
That we could never rise above
But here in my heart I give you the best of my love
Oh sweet darlin’ you get the best of my love, oh
Sweet darlin’, you get the best of my love

I’m goin’ back in time
And it’s a sweet dream
It was a quiet night
And I would be all right
If i could go on sleepin’
But every mornin’
I wake up and worry
What’s gonna happen today
You see it your way
And I see it mine
But we both see it slippin’ away

You know we always had each other baby
I guess that wasn’t enough
Oh, but here in my heart
I give you the best of my love
Oh, sweet darlin’
You get the best of my love
Oh, sweet darlin’
You get the best of my love
Every night and day,
You get the best of my love
Oh, sweet darlin’ you get the best of my love
Oh, sweet darlin’ you get the best of my love..