There’s a new anthem
I’m approaching three quarters of century. It is the music of the sixties, especially the of the folk era, that lives on in my head. A phrase like “Come gather ‘round people” triggers the outpouring of nearly all the lyrics of Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin.’” The strains of “We Shall Overcome” evokes vivid memories of campfires and heartfelt singing. Tunes like these were the anthems of my youth.
Music—and the poetry it carries—is a powerful memory tool and motivational device. Music can bring on tears, waves of nostalgia, determination, and joy. Many a generation harkens back to the music of its youth and pays only marginal attention the music of later artists. Who are the artists worth listening to in the present day? I have nary a clue.
A few days ago, though, Robert Hubbell in his Today’s Edition Newsletter (a great daily read) wrote that several readers had recommended “this article by Brian Hassett, Why I Love Joe Biden – Brianland.” That blog post by Hassett (a quirky, musically-minded Canadian) is a delightful romp through all the very positive reasons to support Biden and his administration. About halfway through Hassett’s post is an embedded YouTube clip from Miss Americana, a 2020 documentary of which I was entirely unaware. In the clip Taylor Swift is making her case to her father and others, midway through the Trump presidency in 2018, for coming out in opposition to the Trump regime and the candidacy of the very Republican Marsha Blackburn (candidate for U.S. Senate from Tennessee, Swift’s home state). Swift was then 28 years old and certainly famous, but also fully aware of the career damage The Dixie Chicks had suffered after they ventured into politics more than a decade previously by criticizing George W. Bush. The YouTube clip riveted my attention, led me to watch Miss Americana on Netflix (the part with the embedded clip comes up at around 1:00). The clip and the documentary humanized this young singer/songwriter for me and led me to a full appreciation of Swift’s single “Only the Young,” a lament, a chronicle, and a call to action for its (mostly) youthful listeners—an anthem. You can listen on YouTube (with subtitles) here. Even better, in 2020 “Swift allowed the usage of the song for the Biden/Harris campaign free-of-cost, marking the first time Swift has lent her music to be used in a political advertisement.” U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) posted this illustrated video version of “Only the Young.” I urge you to click, watch, and listen. It gave me goosebumps.
As I was writing this the right wing bloggers and talking heads were losing their minds spinning whacko conspiracy theories over Swift, her NFL boyfriend, and the upcoming Super Bowl—and Swift has not even endorsed Biden for re-election. (Of course, given her involvement in 2020 it seems very likely she will.)
Watch the video that I linked above posted by Rep. Swalwell and you will appreciate why the right wing is so spun-up that some are calling for a “holy war” against Swift. If there is to be a “holy war” I know which side I’ll be on.
I think I’m becoming a Swiftie.
Keep to the high ground,
Jerry
P.S. As if to confirm some of my musings the title of the prior article on Brian Hassett’s website is “Taylor Swift, the Grateful Dead and The Beat Generation.”
P.P.S. Wikipedia notes that Ms. Swift’s parents named her after singer/songwriter James Taylor, whose tunes and lyrics figure prominently in my 1960s musical memory.
P.P.S. Here are the lyrics to “Only the Young”:
It keeps me awake, the look on your face
The moment you heard the news
You’re screaming inside and frozen in time
You did all that you could do
The game was rigged, the ref got tricked
The wrong ones think they’re right
You were outnumbered this time
[Chorus]
But only the young, only the young
Only the young, only the young
Can run
Can run
So run, and run, and run
So every day now
You brace for the sound you’ve only heard on TV
You go to class, scared
Wondering where the best hiding spot would be
And the big bad man and his big bad clan
Their hands are stained with red
Oh, how quickly they forget
They aren’t gonna help us
Too busy helping themselves
They aren’t gonna change this
We gotta do it ourselves
They think that it’s over
But it’s just begun
[Chorus]
Only one thing can save us
Only the young (Only the young)
Only the young (Only the young)
Only the young (Only the young)
Only the young
Only the young (Only the young)
Only the young (Only the young)
Only the young (Only the young)
Only the young
Only the young (Only the young; Don’t say you’re too tired to fight)
Only the young (Only the young; It’s just a matter of time)
Only the young (Only the young; Up there’s the finish line)
Only the young
Can run
Don’t say you’re too tired to fight
It’s just a matter of time (Can run)
Up there’s the finish line (So run, and run, and run)
Don’t say you’re too tired to fight
It’s just a matter of time (So run)
Up there’s the finish line (And run, and run, and run)
Only the young
Only the young
Only the young