Poetry From a Past Life - Part 3
Behind the Lyrics
For some reason, I remember so very clearly penning these lyrics. The long of the story is too long to tell here, but the short is simple. Music had become an addiction in my life. It was, without a doubt, my god. I loved performing live. The recording studio was a different matter. And the traveling, well . . . .
Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg
Leader of the Band - Dan Fogelberg
Dan Fogelberg shares my sentiments in his 1981 holiday classic, Same Old Lang Syne. He mentions the torture of life on the road in the sixth verse of this eight verse song.
On the same album, The Innocent Age, he portrays the stuffiness of hotel living in another of his classic songs, Leader of the Band. Strangely, he glorifies life on the road in another verse of the song.
As I was drawn to include these two videos, I noticed similarities between Fogelberg's writing and my ideas. I began to think that maybe I was unconsciously influenced by his songs. But then I realized, A Five O'clock Morning was written five years before Mr. Fogelberg wrote his. Maybe I influenced him? - I don't think so.
The band and I were traveling back from a show in Stroudsburg PA. As the time approached 5:00 a.m. I began to realize how empty I really was. Exhausted from a night of playing and now, another long trip, only to do it all again was quite wearing. My god (music) left me high and dry. The meaning of and to life still eluded me. But I knew what I had wasn't the answer. It was just Another Five O'clock Morning.
A Five O'clock Morning
It's a five o'clock morning -
Traveling down the road.
Thinking 'bout my touring,
And I'm tired, Lord knows.
Yesterday she wrote me.
Said won't you please come home.
I said I wish I could now,
but you're better off alone.
Party after party
Run together as one.
What I've come to call misery
Others see as fun.
Lights can only carry
A person just so far.
The rest is on his shoulders
To face the judgment bar.
The purpose has been shrouded,
If it exists at all.
It's not what's been touted,
Nor is it a call.
I've come to see the difference.
Glitter isn't gold.
Just a loss of innocence
That took my very soul.
Another five o'clock morning . . .
