Melody into Twilight

My love song to the 60s and its turbulent times which now reveal how prescient a decade it truly was. It is my hope this and future generations do not forget its art and music that aspired us.

Melody into Twilight

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

The American dream is gone

Drifting away like an old 60's song

Like a Rockwell painting 

Reminisced and fading 

Our minds ambivalent 

With hearts recalcitrant 

"Paint it black"

Into "The sound of silence" 

"I heard it through the grapevine"

That we believed...in a dream 

As we looked towards "Yesterday"

"Take another little piece of my heart now, baby"

But "the times they are a changing"

As we stare "All along the watchtower" 

"Dazed and confused" 

In our "house of the rising sun"

With our innocence long since gone

Enraging in our engaging 

A false sense of revelry 

In self righteous indignation 

This broken nation, in catastrophe 

Despite our contempt 

Of "My generation"

Our lost virtues in condemnation 

While singing "feeling good"

As we pass by "strange fruit" 

hanging from a tree with rotted root.

You can have your precious "Nights in white satin"

Encourage false hope and adored lovers passion

But "A whiter shade of pale" 

will always prevail..

from the lies we tell ourselves.

But there is a sweeter sound that's coming

Profound this sound I'm humming.

"Sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin time..."

 

Author's Note

Thank you for taking the time to read this poem. This was probably one of my more ambitious writings because it touches on a few themes. But it can probably also be a bit ambiguous. Though many of the songs reflect the era they came from I hope those of a newer generation takes the time to listen to these truly classical songs. Feel free to leave any thoughts or comments I truly appreciate your time taken in reading this work.

Reviews

[Nulla]

I only heard some of those songs, and it's an interesting way of combining them nice.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for your thoughts. I grew up in those times where people listened to music on record players and old vinyl. Music had so much meaning, feeling, and life to it back then. So did poetry. It truly was an era of the peaceful revolution. And the songs back then reflected it. I feel this new generation needs its revolution of peace as well. In both music and artful poetry.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

This was delightful. I love the way you've strung the song titles together to form a coherent train of poetry and thought. Well done!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Fabian. Those songs along with many from the 60's are just so inspirational. It's what this new generation is at a loss of. Art at its purist and truth. The music back then sang for a more hopeful revolution, beckoning for our better humanity and love. The great beat poets of that era dared us to aspire toward a great diverse society and union. Warned us of our failings, yet gave hope toward the long road forward. We are in great need of another revolution of peace. Thank you again.

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

This is such a creative write. To come up with a different idea than others and to carry it out originally is how a good writing day starts, and you've done that here. I knew a few of the songs and I liked the overall theme and how you carried it out. Good write. Tyfs

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much Cyprian for your thoughts on this piece. It is the power of music and poetic art of an era lost in time but never forgotten. The remarkable art we strive for in our little cafe world wide is the culmination of those artists that came before us. The beat poets of yesterday and magical music of those ages. They cried for us and decades past we still hear those beautiful words. We are haunted by them, for they knew us well. Even as we had forgotten, but never the hope of their message. We can still hear in the words you write, along with all the talented artists in our community. I thank them for those little blessings.

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

Yes, wonderfully said. Their message was so clear. I actually know a lot of songs from before I was born. Thank you again for sharing your tribute to them in your artistic words.

[andrew mitchell]

Thank goodness the music still lives on. Nice work as always Carlos.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I hear you there Andrew. I hold a strong fondness to the music of the 60's and early 70's. It is something today's music is very much lacking. Today's sound has no life and vibrancy to it. No originality or emotional impact. What I wouldn't give to go back and hear the song Eleanor Rigby the day it first came out. In the days the music changed. And the world with it. Thank you Andrew for your kind thoughts on this piece.

[andrew mitchell]

I'm a steely Dan, pink Floyd, led zep, Yes, ELP, Neil Young, David Crosby, Beatles sort of guy .😃

[.]

Though I am not familiar with these songs( unfortunately), I can feel them.Also these songs represents a long lost era that an entire generation adored! It's a beautiful feeling...as this world ( not only a particular country) is going through so much turmoil and not a bit of togetherness!Nostalgia emerges when we are not happy with our current state of affairs!

It's a beautifully penned poem

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Dreamer Sima for your kind comment. For many of us of a certain generation the 60's were a wonderful time not just in music but in poetry as well. They were turbulent times that echo some what our current here in the US. But despite the times they held hopeful optimism that was reflected in the art. They railed against the Vietnam War, and the fight for Civil rights, and equality. Great bands that changed the face of music like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Led Zeppelin, Simon and Garfunkel, the Beachboys, and many others. The British invasion in music really had a profound effect in both culture and fashion. But the words were poetry to the soul and asked of that generation to be better. It asked for revolution in order to fight for the soul of a nation. Now over 50 years later we are still fighting for those values with the ghost of those songs reminding us of that fight and promise to be better human beings. Thank you so much again my friend.

[.]

Everything you said is so true...I have immense respect for that era and their values! Thank you so much for this information - rich comment....

[John the Baptist]

Not your basic upper, this one. The songs of the 60's are recalled, but in an ironic way, each contrasted with the disillusionment the speaker is feeling about the current state of the country. Perhaps the generation that came of age in the 60's, because it had not known the desperation of the depression or the trauma of WW2, saw the world as its oyster. It would set things straight. But Viet Nam, Watergate and now the pandemic and the polarization have caused a demoralization to descend upon the land. But like all else, this too will pass.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

it will indeed pass but what will rise from the ashes is truly the question we should be asking ourselves. The 60's were a turbulent time but the had their great beat poets, writers, and incredible generational changing music.the same kind of artistic revolution is needed for these times unfortunately there is no Lennon and McCarthy, Plant and Page, Jagger and Richards, Simon and Garfunkel. And no great beat poets of the 60's as well. This society and the world needs an art renaissance which inspires hope, and optimism as well. After 2 long wars, a pandemic, a rotten to the core single term administration, and the reawakening of hatred we are in dire need of unifying voices of truth. Not the divisive social media that is destroying us from the inside. Thank you my friend for your thoughts. I truly appreciate it.

[Fran Marie]

well you certainty didn't waste
your time writing this well crafted
piece ..the chosen song titles written
in good placement..its a chaotic world
in which we live today..the times they
are a changin' and here we are in a
sad state of affairs..you've taken
us on a trip down memory lane when
life was a tad more pleasant than what
today offers..

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Fran for your thoughts on this poem. These songs and many of that era are timeless. It was important for me to take the reader on a musical journey that in ways echoed our turbulent times as well. Back then was an optimistic hope towards the future, while now we find ourselves in more dire straight. I think what is missing from our current situation as opposed to the 60's is the fact there are no great beat poets and actual musicians and music to provide the hope so greatly needed to this current generation. A relatable voice of understanding, empathy, and aspiration towards hope. A John and Paul, Simon and Garfunkel, Plant and Page, Jagger and Richards. We need a music renaissance as well as poetry one. Children need to be inspired again.

[Fran Marie]

you're s o welcome;

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for taking me on a nostalgic journey Carlos. So many wonderful song titles that I used to sing along and dance too in my youth. You brought me some happy memories until I found myself back in the present time wondering where have the years gone.

Chris

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Believe me writing this took me on that journey and a bit of self discovery in the process. The music back then had a vibrancy and life to it. It extolled meaningful messages to society that are relevant to today. For example the Beatles Eleanor Rigby. A pure classic gem of emotive angst and sadness over its theme of solitude. The melody and words made you feel that song to your core. Something today's music is very much lacking. Despite that sad song it had a color of blue you felt within its depth on a human level because of its relatability. This poem took me back to that time of the beat poets, writers, and music of an era that shaped generations. It is a ghost of an era I will never forget. After writing this poem I even started whistling Sittin on the dock of the bay. This is how powerful that music is to me. Thank you again Chris for your kind thoughts on this era of music we both are fond of.

[Chris Shaw]

I was fortunate enough to be young in the sixties. An incredible time for music.

[Cherrie Palmer]

What a fun use of those old songs. Most of which are still on my hit parade.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for the comment Cherrie I really appreciate it. I simply love the music of the 60's. It truly was a decade of change that reflected so because of its music and poetry I feel. I also believe we need the same thing to happen now. We need an artistic revolution to push us toward a greater empathetic society. We need the beat poets of yesterday and rock bands of that era that sang in against inequality and the failures of established government in their pursuit of war. You could literally feel the songs of that time emotionally. Something that is lacking in today's sound where it is overly dubbed and mechanical with out emotion. I can only hope for those things now unfortunately.

[Unspoken poet]

EXCELLENT write here, I was singing along with sittinn' on the dock of the bay..

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I know right? When I finished writing this poem I literally started whistling the song. It is just so addictively catchy a tune and was a perfect end to the poem. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this piece and your love for old 60's music.

[Unspoken poet]

i love 60's music