The first album I ever purchased was Dark Side of The Moon. I recall taking it out of its jacket and being awestruck by its glossy appearance. I carefully set it on the turntable and dropped the needle onto the first track. As 'Speak to Me' played, I turned the volume up to seven, completely captivated by the sound. I adored it. Next up was 'Breathe," which further drew me into this incredible work. When 'Run, Rabbit, Run!' started, I cranked the volume another notch higher. Following that was 'On The Run,' a truly psychedelic experience. Finally, 'Time' played my favorite track on the album.
{Lyrics Below}
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say
Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
And when I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away, across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spell
I can only express my amazement. The lyrics of "Time" completely astonished my impressionable teenage mind. "The Great Gig in the Sky" is another remarkable track with incredible vocals. Clare Torry's voice is outstanding. Following that is "Money," a commercial hit. Then we have "Us and Them" and "Any Color You Like.." We can't forget "Brain Damage," another personal favorite.
{Lyrics Below}
The lunatic is on the grass
The lunatic is on the grass
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs
Got to keep the loonies on the path
The lunatic is in the hall
The lunatics are in my hall
The paper holds their folded faces to the floor
And every day the paper boy brings more
And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon
The lunatic is in my head
The lunatic is in my head
You raise the blade, you make the change
You re-arrange me 'til I'm sane
You lock the door and throw away the key
There's someone in my head but it's not me.
And if the cloud bursts thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear
And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon
I can't think of anything to say except...
I think it's marvelous! Ha, ha, ha!
Finally, with the volume cranked up to ten, I heard a crackle. Unfortunately, I missed the last song because my dad came home just in time to discover that I'd blown his thousand-dollar speakers. I'm grounded for two weeks, but before I'm sent to my room, he hands me my record. I have to say, my dad was such a cool guy!
“Because a song can take you back instantly to a moment, a place, or even a person. No matter what else has changed in you or the world, that one song stays the same, just like that moment. Which is pretty amazing, when you actually think about it.”
— Sarah Dessen, Listen