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“Perhaps better we not obscure the idea that happiness and misery, kindness and greed, and good works and bad deeds aer within the capacities of us all, not merely a select few.” – David P. Mikkelson
This week I had the fortune of flying from Los Angeles to Orlando and back in 36 hours. I will let you judge whether this is good or bad fortune.
One thing these trips allowed me to do was to spend some quality time with music. While my musical interests are quite broad, what struck me was how the lyrics of two songs from decades ago are so appropriate for today.
The economic condition we are globally facing today is generally acknowledged to have been driven by greed. Greed at all levels. Greed of mortgage companies, brokers, real estate agents, appraisers, title companies, real estate speculators, Wall Street investment banks, securities investors, and even naive CDO investors who should have known better. At the same time there was greed in many of the people who purchased far more that they could afford. “Living the Dream” that they had convinced themselves they could afford.
Roger Waters penned the lyrics to “Money” for the Dark Side of the Moon which was released in 1973. This song, written over 35 years ago, describes not only the greed of society, but the attitude of stepping on anyone who gets between them and the gold.
Money, get away.
Get a good job with good pay and youre okay.
Money, its a gas.
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.
New car, caviar, four star daydream,
Think Ill buy me a football team.Money, get back.
Im all right jack keep your hands off of my stack.
Money, its a hit.
Dont give me that do goody good bullshit.
Im in the high-fidelity first class traveling set
And I think I need a lear jet.Money, its a crime.
Share it fairly but dont take a slice of my pie.
Money, so they say
Is the root of all evil today.
But if you ask for a raise its no surprise that theyre
Giving none away.Huhuh! I was in the right!
Yes, absolutely in the right!
I certainly was in the right!
You was definitely in the right. that geezer was cruising for a
Bruising!
Yeah!
Why does anyone do anything?
I dont know, I was really drunk at the time!
I was just telling him, he couldnt get into number 2. he was asking
Why he wasnt coming up on freely, after I was yelling and
Screaming and telling him why he wasnt coming up on freely.
It came as a heavy blow, but we sorted the matter out
A few years later, Dennis DeYoung wrote “The Grand Illusion” which was released by Styx in 1977 (7/7/77). This 30+ year old song tells of the never ending quest to strive for more, keep up with your neighbors, and live lives that are beyond our means. Living “The Grand Illusion.”
Welcome to the Grand illusion
Come on in and see what’s happening
Pay the price, get your tickets for the show
The stage is set, the band starts playing
Suddenly your heart is pounding
Wishing secretly you were a star.But don’t be fooled by the radio
The TV or the magazines
They show you photographs of how your life should be
But they’re just someone else’s fantasy
So if you think your life is complete confusion
Because you never win the game
Just remember that it’s a Grand illusion
And deep inside we’re all the same.
We’re all the same…So if you think your life is complete confusion
Because your neighbors got it made
Just remember that it’s a Grand illusion
And deep inside we’re all the same.
We’re all the same…America spells competition, join us in our blind ambition
Get yourself a brand new motor car
Someday soon we’ll stop to ponder what on Earth’s this spell we’re under
We made the grade and still we wonder who the hell we are
Perhaps these songs have stood the test of time because they resonate deeply with people – a reflection of the human condition. It interesting that these songs written by a Brit and Yank over 30 years ago are poster songs for today’s global economic crisis.
Some things never change…
