• From: Hendersonville, NC USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,521

Topic: I Hear America Singing Today

I wrote this a couple of years ago after reading a poem by Walt Whitman of similar name. Made me think of what America used to be and is today. Short simple song  - uploaded to soundcloud too: https://soundcloud.com/jets60/i-hear-am … ging-today

I Hear America Singing TodayJeff Gilpin


1 Oct 2017


/\/\


[C]-[D]-[A]


/\/\


[Em]I hear America singing today.


[Em]So different from times long ago


[G]When the goal was merely survival


All the while [G]building from the good that we know.


[Em]Society less intermingled, and


[Em]Equality nowhere in sight.


[G]The hopes for all were for betterment,


[G]And to improve whatever our plight.


/\/\


[C]-[D]-[A]


/\/\


[Em]Oh but today, it’s a life of emotions


[Em]That stretch us from laughter to tears.


[G]One day on the steps of greatness,


[G]And the next it’s the worse of our fears.



[Em]Hate seems to spread like a wildfire that


[Em]Makes gulfs that are wide and are deep,


[G]And that quenches all hope of achieving


[G]Any tomorrow we’re hoping to seek.


/\/\


[C]-[D]-[A]


/\/\


[Em]I can’t change the views of the people


[Em]Who refuse to let their views change.


[G]I’m doing well if I only manage


[G]To keep away from all this strange


[Em]Behavior infecting so many and that


[Em]Drives them to strike out in rage,


[G]Like the book you want to stop reading because you’re


[G]Afraid of what’s on the next page.


/\/\


[C]-[D]-[A]



 

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

jets60's Website

  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2016-02-07
  • Posts: 923

Re: I Hear America Singing Today

Nice words and you did a great job singing on it too.  I  think most our governments are as great as we can make them and then you read of someone who shot somebody else over a parking space.     

Music is what feelings sound like.
Music is life, that why our hearts have beats.

3 Reply by TIGLJK (edited by TIGLJK 2019-10-27 12:08:44)

  • TIGLJK
  • Honoured Member
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  • Registered: 2010-05-11
  • Posts: 3,221

Re: I Hear America Singing Today

Jeff

Impressive !

It's too bad we have such a cynical view of the world.  The media sensationalizes everything that is wrong and basically ignores good people and good things.
Your lyrics capture that exactly - I love your last two lines - they are spot on!
Your song sounds great !
It reminds of a lute player playing for the court in the Renaissance - updating the king on the news!

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.
Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke
  • From: Hendersonville, NC USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,521

Re: I Hear America Singing Today

Thanks you two.     

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

jets60's Website

  • From: The Land Of Song
  • Registered: 2007-12-10
  • Posts: 5,704

Re: I Hear America Singing Today

WOW, between you and Jim we are blessed with some phenomenal writers. I don't mean to leave out our antipodean friends, or my countrymen in that statement, I feel humbled at your talents.     

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Phill Williams's Website

  • From: Hendersonville, NC USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,521

Re: I Hear America Singing Today

Thanks Phill. I love Jim's writing too; it is wonderful. Your's as well, and don't forget the great songs Russ has shared with us.     

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

jets60's Website