I was going to post something completely different, but then I found this video of one of my favorite songs by Jefferson Airplane, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to share it. In my opinion, this is the best song they ever recorded.
Marty Balin, at his best, was a lyricist in the same league as Gene Clark and Bob Dylan, and like Clark, he had a gift for spinning a haunting melody. For some reason, the first verse is my favorite.
And before anyone else says it, yes, I do love ballads.
The summer had inhaled
And held its breath too long.
The winter looked the same,
As if it had never gone,
And through an open window,
Where no curtain hung,
I saw you, I saw you,
Coming back to me.
One begins to read between
The pages of a look.
The sound of sleepy music,
And suddenly, you’re hooked.
And through the rain upon the trees
That kisses on the run
I saw you, I saw you,
Coming back to me.
You came to stay and live my way,
Scatter my love like leaves in the wind.
You always say that you won’t go away,
But I know what it always has been,
It always has been.
A transparent dream
Beneath an occasional sigh…
Most of the time,
I just let it go by.
Now I wish it hadn’t begun.
I saw you, I saw you,
Coming back to me.
Strolling the hill,
Overlooking the shore,
I realize I’ve been here before.
The shadow in the mist
Could have been anyone–
I saw you, I saw you,
Coming back to me.
Small things like reasons
Are put in a jar.
Whatever happened to wishes,
Wished on a star?
Was it just something
That I made up for fun?
I saw you, I saw you,
Coming back to me.
-Marty Balin
Me likes verse number one the best too. It is ‘disturbingly beautiful’…….
The line about the window where no curtain hung always gets me, for some reason.
Strange really. Listening to this song I remember how I used to soak up songs like these, how I could sit for hours and hours in my room listening to sad songs with even sadder music. I am also surprised how far away that feels now. And how blessed that makes me.
Songs, and particularly lyrics, like these just strike a chord with me for some reason.
Am back safe. Now I have some laundry to do (surprisingly little, me likes traveling in a convertible
). Will get to my 500 photos some time soon……
I’ll look forward to seeing them.
Have a summery day.
Am in the process of doing same.
I still have this record on vinyl. That song was always a favorite. I probably have about 300 vinyl records from the 60’s and early 70’s. I just don’t have a record player anymore. Great song!!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s a great song.
Record players can still be had; you just have look a little. There’s a website called NeedleDoctor.com which seems pretty good. I checked them out online, and they seem to have a pretty good reputation. I’m sure you can find others with a little digging.
Never heard this before… the voices are humble and solemn… beautiful lyrics and melody. Thanks for sharing
My pleasure. And yes, it is an amazing song. The lyrics are poetry in and of themselves, and the music fits them perfectly. One of my favorite songs. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Damn, I haven’t heard that song in quite some time. It is a very haunting tune. Along with the ubiquitous “White Rabbit” one of my favorite Airplane songs. They got a little too poppish for me when they became Jefferson Starship.
Hey, Ozy! Thanks for stopping by! It seems as though we’re in complete agreement on this one.
Good choice of music Steve. I am very fond of this song also and it surely brings back some great memories of my earlier years and good times. Yes, I also love ballads more than anything else. As a matter of fact my partner Nancy came home with this CD just a couple days ago, I happen to still have it on vinyl, the best medium ever devised!!
Hey, Andy! Thanks for stopping by! Nice to see great minds think alike!