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stories and thoughts behind the music...
HAWKS AND DOVES
Right around the time that I wrote this song, America was gearing up for a new election. In the midst of the war
in Iraq and the increasing spotlight on this country's political figures, I found myself questioning the motives
behind our foreign and domestic policies.
As I was doing a lot of reading on the subject, I kept coming across the terms, hawks and doves in regards to the
political arena. This evoked quite a bit of imagery for me. The hawk, being a symbol of predatory behavior and
relentless domination, and the dove, being the symbol of peace, beauty and compassion.
Who are these political hawks and doves?
From that question I derived this song. We often feel helpless when it comes to making a genuine difference in
this world. As a result, apathy replaces empathy and the vicious cycle continues.
There are far too many walls between us. Until we realize that every action we take and every intention we set,
resonates within us all, we will continue to be subject to our own shortcomings. Hate and Love. It's a choice we
make.
SWEETLAND
This song is a culmination of thoughts on California. The lyric goes, "Many friends of mine have traveled. Some
are fine and some unraveled." This pretty much sums up the dichotomy of the state of California.
A few years ago, my girlfriend and I went out to San Francisco to visit some friends. I was immediately taken by
the energy of northern California. Driving along the coast, walking amongst the redwood trees and "standing high
on the mountain, looking down upon the ocean." Breathing the sweet dewy air of northern California, I was
overwhelmed by the beauty of this land. It was in many ways a spiritual moment for me.
If San Francisco is the holy land, then L.A. is the Lions Den. Manifest destiny and the dreams of millions have
drove countless people to the west coast.
In my last year of college, I worked as an intern at Universal Music Distribution in Massachusetts for an Artist
Development Representative named Joe Kara. During this time, I had the good fortune of working on behalf of
Elliot Smith. I had never heard of him before, but upon listening to his music and seeing him perform I was
converted to a true fan.
When I heard of his death, my heart sunk so deep in my stomach I could hardly speak. I was so overwhelmed with
sadness. I started writing this song the night I heard Elliot Smith had died. The brutality and harsh poetic
nature of his suicide weighed heavy on my mind.
A short time later, I read an article in Rolling Stone Magazine about Elliot's death. There was a section where a
close friend of his was saying that before moving out to L.A., Elliot had been living in Brooklyn, NY. It was
said, that this was the happiest he had ever known Elliot, and when he moved out to L.A. he fell further into
drugs and depression. "It's lonely out there. Where everyone sees you, but nobody hears you."
I have a number of friends who have moved to California. For all of them, the experience has been different.
Heaven and Hell under the same sky.
RIDING THE WAVES
This song is particularly meaningful to me. It was written in response to the loss of loved ones in my life and
of those around me. During this period I was laden with introspective thought on the subject of life and the very
tangible purpose to our existence.
I began to review and assess my experiences so far in life and weigh the importance of my relationships and my
actions. It became clear to me after a while just how influential some of the people in my life have been.
My grandparents on my mothers side, were both blind. My grandfather made a living as a subway musician playing
the saxophone. He and his other blind musician friends would have jam sessions at my grandparents apartment in
Brooklyn when my mother was just a little girl. She still has recordings of their parties.
My grandmother made a living doing odd jobs and working in factories. She was an amazing home maker and could
cook like it was nobody's business. If there was a fire in the kitchen, my grandmother knew how to put it out.
She had some burn marks to prove it.
Together these two blind people forged a life for themselves in Brooklyn, New York. They raised a sighted child
and together they had one of the closest and most interdependent relationships I've ever seen.
I loved my grandparents very much. They taught me so much about love, compassion, and understanding. They were my
heroes.
My grandfather used to say, "Jon my boy!", and then we would zerburt each other like they did on "The Cosby
Show." I miss his scratchy face.
It has become very apparent to me that we need to recognize the importance of multi-generational influence on us
as a people and as a society. What we learn from our past, shapes our future.
The purpose of our time here is to love. To share it and to spread it. There is nothing more important than
cultivating love and compassion. Without it, we will certainly miss the boat.
MATTHEW
I was sitting in my backyard at my parents house one weekend afternoon and my little brother, Matthew, was asking
me to chase him around the pool. I had just sat down with my guitar on the deck and was intent on playing it.
Matthew persisted and finally won me over and I began chasing him around the pool. So here we are running around
the pool. Matthew laughing and singing to himself asks me to sing "Happy Birthday" while chasing him. For those
of us who know my brother, this is totally normal behavior.
This would be a good time to tell you a little bit about Matthew.
Matthew is special needs and has a condition called, "Fragile X Syndrome." It is very similar to autism, yet
Matthew is much more social and aware than some. For Matthew, an ideal day is laying around in his pajamas
watching Disney movies and singing along with all his favorite songs. (Sounds like a pretty good day to me)
Another jewel in the crown of Matthew Neufeld is having someone, usually me, sing "Happy Birthday." It doesn't
matter what time of year or how long it has been since his actual birthday. No, it is just the pure excitement
and adrenaline of the song that makes it feel like his birthday everyday of the year.
So back to the story. Here I am jogging around the pool, pretending to chase my brother and singing "Happy
Birthday" to a chorus of laughter coming from Matthew. At this point I am alternating between chasing Matthew and
singing "Happy Birthday" and playing guitar. During this exchange, I began writing this song. Our dogs Maggie and
Emily were playing in the grass and rolling around in it. I couldn't help but appreciate this moment and
recognize all that I receive from being Matthew's brother.
This song practically wrote itself. The story is right there in the lyrics and it all happened as I put it to
paper. It is perhaps the most honest song I have ever written.
WHO ARE YOU
"I'd like to take communion with the trees and live outside. Regardless of the stigmas that are drawn, I'd feel
alive. Because life within the confines of a wall could scarce be called a way to live at all."
Growing up in New York, I've always had a longing for a deeper connection to nature. As I've gotten older and
have had the opportunity to travel, I've had the great pleasure of seeing some of the worlds most beautiful
natural landscapes.
I often think about our growing disconnection to nature as a society and to our true selves as human beings. We
live in a compartmentalized world of work, work relationships, business clothes, business etiquette, politically
correct terminology and socio/political/religious dogma.
We are constantly bombarded with external influences. Television and radio, movies, magazines, as well as
political and religious leaders guiding our thought and belief systems. It is no wonder our world is in such
disarray. The external world directly mirrors the internal world. As long as we are conflicted inside, we will
see conflict on the outside.
So many of us are living in conflict with ourselves. We are moving towards progress and yet it doesn't seem to
make things any easier. The emphasis on social, professional and monetary gain often overshadows the importance
of just being alive. The opportunities to share with one another and to drink in this beautiful world and these
beautiful people are few and fleeting.
So. Who are you, anyway?
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