Baby Boomer music.
This is one for the boys & girls with the Baby Boomer lyrics…
We know who we are. The infamous Baby Boomer Generation. Our Fathers returned from the War. Married. Had a whole lot of kids — Us! That’s our definition. The first boomers were born in 1946 — turning 77 in 2023.
Most of us grew up in the Fifties, we Early Boomers. Later Boomers grew up in the revolutionary Sixties. We loved our times. Especially our music!
Here’s my own Merry Memoir of those Baby Boomer Sacred Song-makers:
“A Song is a Short Story. It might have been my buddy Harlan Howard, a writer I met in Nashville in the sixties, who first said a song ain’t nothing but three chords and the truth.” Willie Nelson
We early Boomers grew up with the family radio nearly always on. Yes, playing the soundtrack of our young lives, or at least pleasant background music.
The first artists to blow the old stuff off the airways for me, who I was aware of as speaking directly to me about my own life, our own times, were the singer-songwriter folkies.
Gordon Lightfoot was my first superhero: he knew about where I came from. Sundown. Carefree Highway. Early Mornin’ Rain. Song For A Winter’s Night. Canadian Railroad Trilogy. “The green dark forest was too silent to be real…”
Rodeo rider (the real thing) Ian Tyson and his wife Sylvia. Buffy Sainte-Marie. Joni Mitchell. Neil Young. Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. At age 33, poet Leonard Cohen added music to his words.
Almost overnight, Rock hit:
Lennon & McCartney, of course, though I didn’t respond to their earliest stuff. Mick and Keith, from the first song (well, there’s that one song I never listen to [1]). Pete Townshend. Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings. Bruce Cockburn. Wondering Where The Lions Are. Rock Spirituals: Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar. Who are you? What have you sacrificed? Got to kick at the darkness ’til it bleeds daylight when you’re lovers in a dangerous time. I’ll get on my knees and pray We don’t get fooled again…
Then Rock lost its soul and the Country Outlaws picked up the torch: Waylon, Willie and the Boys. Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground. Ramblin’ Man. Are You Sure Hank Done It This A-way. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys. Write Your Own Songs. Why Me, Lord? Long Haired Country Boy. A Country Boy Can Survive. Fightin’ Side Of Me. I Got It Honest. This is the Last Cowboy Song. I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink.
Today, it’s still Country — old trailhands and new.
The times, of course, they just keep on a-changin’. Ghost Chickens In The Sky. It’s All Going To Pot. Where A Farm Used To Be. Today I’m Gonna Try And Change The World. We Were That Song. Bleed Country.
And Celtic Rock: The Rankin Family. Natalie MacMaster. Alan Doyle. Rita. A Working Man I Am. Flying On Your Own. Way-Hey-Hey It’s Just An Ordinary Day. Fare Thee Well Love. Rattlin’ Roarin’ Willie. Rant & Roar, there’s a great big sea on, boys! Black Rum And A Fiddle Tuned Right!
Though a fave is Jann Arden, with her crazy-arsed sense of humour and lyrics that tear your heart out. And our favourite love song is Bruce and Patti’s “If I Should Fall Behind.”
In Conclusion: There are exceptions, perhaps — Stephen King and Terry Pratchett and Octavia E Butler, just three — but I believe that the greatest writers of our Boomer Generation have been our Singer-Songwriters.
This is just my personal story. I’m a Country Boomer from a working family. Different vibe, maybe, from Burb Boomers and City Boomers, eh?
I never smoked that stinking stuff. Or nibbled/snorted the toxic dung. I drinks a bit — won’t say no to a cold Moosehead. Just one.
It’s my Mary Lee, our Family, John 13:34. And our Music, man.
So many songs — so much music from those incredible, creative, counterculture days. Betcha every Boomer has their own memories, faves and stories…
As good ol’ Ringo says, “Peace and Love, Baby!” And…
“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe
“Really nice Review, Brian. Thank you. And you even tracked down that I was born in Alaska. :)” – Alan Paul.
To See My Review of Alan Paul’s New Book, BROTHERS AND SISTERS: Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album that Defined the 70’s, CLICK HERE!
NOTE: Image of Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings at top of page is from website of music journalist and biographer Nicholas Jennings — see Music Feature: Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings – Reunite for Charity
[1] Sympathy For The Devil.
Baby Boomer Generation Singer-Songwriters: Our Music of the Sixties & Later.
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