I usually dare not openly mention my love of that band, Gentle Giant.
I already scare away too many people with my affection for bluegrass music, the pickin' an' the grinnin', or my commitment to Irish folk, the speedy reels and the melancholy ballads, or even my long affair with progressive rock, the virtuoso noodling and the lyrical pomposity.
No, Gentle Giant were a world unto themselves. A Deadhead might understand, or maybe a Phishhead, but it isn't quite the same. These guys were entirely their own thing, admired by a few, confusing to very many.
A fellow recently asked me to tell him what I honestly thought about contemporary politics, whether from the right or from the left. I hooked him up with this song.
He hasn't spoken to me since.
Gentle Giant, "Proclamation" from The Power and the Glory (1974)
You may not have all you want or you need
All that you have has been due to my hand,
It can change, it can stay the same,
Who can say, who can make their claim
All that you have has been due to my hand,
It can change, it can stay the same,
Who can say, who can make their claim
The situation we are in at this time
Neither a good one, nor is it so unblest
It can change, it can stay the same,
I can say, I can make my claim.
Neither a good one, nor is it so unblest
It can change, it can stay the same,
I can say, I can make my claim.
Hail ... Hail ... Hail
Unity's strength and all must be as one,
Confidence in you hope will reflect in me
I think everyone not as my nation for
You are my people and there must be no change
It can change, it can stay the same
I will say, I will make my claim
Confidence in you hope will reflect in me
I think everyone not as my nation for
You are my people and there must be no change
It can change, it can stay the same
I will say, I will make my claim
Hail ... Hail ... Hail
Hail to Power and to Glory's way
Hail to Power and to Glory's way
Hail to Power and to Glory's way
Hail to Power and to Glory's way
Hail to Power and to Glory's way
Hail to Power and to Glory's way
Hail to Power and to Glory's way
Day by day.
7/1994
* * * * *
And it all comes around again.
Fans of Gentle Giant just put together a new video recording of this song for 2020, complete with original contributions by dozens of musicians, both amateur and professional. Somehow, against the odds, the six surviving former members of the band took part.
All I can think is that all of these people are somehow my friends, even if we end up disagreeing on this or that. I would love to meet every person who appears in the video, as they reflect everything that is good in music, and everything that is good in life.
—bsc
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