against…

My Spotify turns up endless delights.  Tonight, my “Cat Stevens Radio” Spotify channel spit up an old Bob Seger classic that’s always been very meaningful to me (1). 

As I felt once again these lyrics in my soul, I thought perhaps most superficial fans missed the meaning of this song.  Sure, it’s about how tough life is, but there’s so much more.

Just like those catechism books that strove you to digest several lines of explanation for a single fragment of scripture, I ask that you bear with me my interpretation of Seger’s lyrics, my interpretations in italics.

It seems like yesterday
But it was long ago
Janey was lovely she was the queen of my nights
There in the darkness with the radio playing low, and
And the secrets that we shared
The mountains that we moved
Caught like a wildfire out of control
‘Til there was nothing left to burn and nothing left to prove
And I remember what she said to me
How she swore that it never would end
I remember how she held me oh-so-tight
Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then

My Rosie post-dated Bob’s Janey, but she was the queen of my nights, parked in the back roads by the airport.  “Night Moves (2)” is also highly apropos. Unlike Bob, I’m not so sure about my ignorance

Against the wind
We were runnin’ against the wind
We were young and strong, we were runnin’ against the wind

This was the way.  We thought we were on it, only to get blown back.

The years rolled slowly past
And I found myself alone
Surrounded by strangers I thought were my friends

Boy oh boy, does this happen!

I found myself further and further from my home, and I
Guess I lost my way
There were oh-so-many roads
I was living to run and running to live
Never worried about paying or even how much I owed
Moving eight miles a minute for months at a time
Breaking all of the rules that would bend
I began to find myself searching
Searching for shelter again and again

Was someone else going wild in the 90s? When that’s all gone, of course we’re searching for shelter.  If you’re fortunate (like me you have those who have been on the sidelines, ready to take you back.)

Against the wind
A little something against the wind
I found myself seeking shelter against the wind

Well those drifter’s days are past me now
I’ve got so much more to think about
Deadlines and commitments
What to leave in, what to leave out

Wild life leaves details to be addressed.

Against the wind
I’m still runnin’ against the wind
I’m older now but still runnin’ against the wind
Well I’m older now and still runnin’
Against the wind
Against the wind
Against the wind

And here come the Eagles

Still runnin’ (against the wind)
I’m still runnin’ against the wind
(Against the wind) I’m still runnin’
(Against the wind)
I’m still runnin’ against the wind
(Against the wind) still runnin’
(Against the wind)runnin’ against the wind, runnin’ against the wind
(Against the wind) see the young man run
(Against the wind) watch the young man run
(Against the wind) watch the young man runnin’
(Against the wind) he’ll be runnin’ against the wind
(Against the wind) let the cowboys ride
(Against the wind) aah
(Against the wind) let the cowboys ride
(Against the wind) they’ll be ridin’ against the wind
(Against the wind) against the wind
(Against the wind) ridin’ against the wind…

Good for Bob to mention those who will be joining him.  I’ll be there too.

Tear me away!  There’s a whole evening of Cat Steven’s radio ahead!

references

1. RETRO YO BAILE EN LOS 80s 90s.  Against the Wind.  YouTube.  https://youtu.be/DcZGU52WV9c?si=a0eyWtnv3ljWJfqB
2. Bob Seger.  Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – Night Moves (Official Video).  YouTube https://youtu.be/xH7cSSKnkL4?si=TzljiOF6YOgUfAyO