Monday morning, mid summer, the day promises to be hot.  The front page of the NY Times offers nothing that is encouraging.  On the cusp of Brexit a mega public works subway construction project in London is unlikely to be completed.  Brexit means disruption socially and financially for Brits and the continental member countries.  The consequences will be concrete.  Business as usual?  Forget about it.  Then there is the expulsion of seven hundred plus employees of the American diplomatic corps from Russia.  That is “tit for tat.” Sanction us and you will do with less help in Russia, from Putin’s point of view.  There is a dark regressive logic in this a 21st century edition of a cold war.

Summer is proving to be hot and wet, a season of extremes.  Yet, I want to write about a song that I heard covered by a local band, Infinity, at the Lake County Fair.  I was reminded of ancient Greek tragedy by the subject matter of the lyric,  and the rhythm of the words.  It is a sad yet hopeful break-up song, because life is life and not death.  Life does go on–somehow.  Greek tragedy is a dramatic art form originating from and retaining elements  of the ancient Dionysian rites.  (Dionysus was the god of wine and ecstasy)

Foreplay/Long Time introduces it’s lyric with a extended keyboard solo, capturing the existential tension, the psychological stress vectors of human experience.  Life in essence is about relationships.  Emotional intimacy is about the contradiction between different histories and personality types.  With the keyboard solo the tension builds and builds, and then subsides in preparation for the presentation of the vocalist’s lyric.  Call me crazy, but were the spirits of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides seated with me at the Fair when this song was covered?

These two photo’s were captured of Infinity members as they covered this anthem from Boston.  I’ll say no more but post this stunning youtube of Boston performing their song.  The lyrics are below.

Foreplay / Long Time

It’s been such a long time
I think I should be goin’, yeah
And time doesn’t wait for me, it keeps on rollin’
Sail on, on a distant highway
I’ve got to keep on chasin’ a dream
I’ve gotta be on my way
Wish there was something I could say

Well I’m takin’ my time, I’m just movin’ on
You’ll forget about me after I’ve been gone
And I take what I find, I don’t want no more
It’s just outside of your front door

It’s been such a long time. It’s been such a long time

Well I get so lonely when I am without you
But in my mind, deep in my mind
I can’t forget about you
Good times, and faces that remind me
I’m tryin’ to forget your name and leave it all behind me
You’re comin’ back to find me

Well I’m takin’ my time, I’m just movin’ on
You’ll forget about me after I’ve been gone
And I take what I find, I don’t want no more
It’s just outside of your front door

It’s been such a long time. It’s been such a long time

Yeah. It’s been such a long time, I think I should be goin’, yeah
And time doesn’t wait for me, it keeps on rollin’
There’s a long road, I’ve gotta stay in time with
I’ve got to keep on chasin’ that dream, though I may never find it
I’m always just behind it

Well I’m takin’ my time, I’m just movin’ along
Takin’ my time, just movin’ along
Takin’ my time, takin’ my time…