The lyrics have been lacking for many years. Cole Porter, the Gershin boys and The Great American Songbook is my speed. I picked up my appreciation for the music as a freshman. I traded all my rock n roll records at Haffa's for jazz and vocalists. I would hang out at CJs when Richard Syracuse would play.
Kind of a kindred soul here, giacomo. I have an XM radio in my car and for music I usually listen to the 50s Channel, which tends to focus on music from the late 50s into the early 60s. I occasionally go up a decade to the 60s channel or down to the 40s channel. Seldom venture into the 70s channel or beyond. My two older children, who were born in the '70s, hate anything musically or culturally that came out of that decade. I don't exactly understand why. My iPhone is filled with a variety of music from classical to pop to Christian to folk, and, of course, a lot of Civil War Era music.
In the latter category there is a song that has recently been rattling around in my brain. It's a strange song. It was written by Henry Clay Work, an abolitionist, who also wrote Kingdom Coming, Marching Through Georgia, and many years later, My Grandfather's Clock. But, the song, "Wake Nicodemus!" is so different. It's very deep and multilayered that you must listen to it repeatedly and immerse yourself in the culture of the day to appreciate its metaphysical significance.
For those interested, here's a recording of two of its four verses. It's hard to find all four verses recorded in one rendition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPw1hzS_HdY An African American group, called the Carolina Chocolate Drops, has done an interesting adaption of it it as well, but there are no links to an online recording.
Last Edited: 4/2/2016 11:27:38 AM by OhioCatFan