It is strange to find myself more than fifty years on from the day I first heard the Beatles. I was fourteen in my mate Tony Hums bedroom. He played the Please Please Me album to me on the day of its release. I was knocked out by I Saw Her Standing There. It changed my life. It was also instrumental in changing the world. The Beatles were huge in Russia, Japan and all round the world. They turned people on to a youth solidarity that brought the world together. The helped bring the cold war to an end.
We need another one of those unifying forces to break down all these barriers and divisions in the world and to give us hope.
It is strange now, talking to young people – they do not realise the impact it all had. Rock Music was a universal culture of young people right across the globe. It brought us all together with a shared philosophy of peace and harmony. It was anti-war, anti-racism, environmentalist, spiritual and unifying. Music was our religion and politics.
Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.
You never know what is just around the corner. You carry on and things happen that you didn’t plan – some good – some bad.
If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace.
Apathy rules. Too many people are bewitched by propaganda, trite TV, popular trash, celebrity and pop. They are kept shallow and uninvolved. The establishment like them distracted and stupid.
If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that’s his problem. Love and peace are eternal.
Think about it.
Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.
It went on to talk about doing away with nations and religion. Sounds good to me.
A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.
There are millions of us who want an end to war, poverty and environmental destruction. Sooner or later they have to listen. The internet brings us together.
Music is everybody’s possession. It’s only publishers who think that people own it.
Music is universal. It is the spirit of humanity.
You don’t need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are!
We are all equally important. We are one people in a lifeboat called planet Earth. We need to stop chucking people and creatures over the side.
The more I see the less I know for sure.
There are no facts – only questions and wonder.
If you would like to purchase my books on Rock Music here’s a few:
In the UK:
In the USA –
Well, I have the same initials… JL
Initially that a good first step. You also have great taste in music and are plugged in. That a good second and third step.
You don’t need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are!
I hear echoes of Plato (the Younger) in that! LOL
Right on Cheryl! I hear it too!
It really was our religion and politics. It brought our whole generation together. We thought we would change the world, and I think we did in a big way, but you are right other generations didn’t get the whole music aspect. Great post, Opher!
Thanks Mary. Good to hear from you. Hope you are good.
His message still lives and influences us. One of the most spiritual and intelligent beings to ever hit planet earth. One of my personal heroes (although I suspect the man himself would object to that.)