The last Moody Blues thread featured the album ‘To Children’s Children’s Children’ and it took an extraverted approach to Individuation
In contrast, the ‘Seventh Sojourn’ takes an introverted approach to individuation.
Several tracks were hits during the seventies, but they were played individually and lost their message.
My take on the ‘Seventh Sojourn’
Track 1 Lost in a Lost World
This opening song sets the stage and reflects the inner turmoil of the narrator.
I woke up today, I was crying,
Lost in a lost world,
So many people are dying,
Lost in a lost world.
Some of them are living an illusion,
Bounded by the darkness of their minds,
In their eyes, it's nation against nation,
With racial pride, sad hearts they hide
Thinking only of themselves, they shun
The light. They think they're right
Living in their empty shells.
Oh can you see their world is crashing
Crashing down around their feet
And angry people in the street,
Are telling them they've had their fill
Of politics that wound and kill
Grow, the seeds of evolution
Revolution never won
It's just another form of gun
To do again what they have done
With all our brothers' youngest sons.
Everywhere you go you'll see them searching
Everywhere you turn you'll feel the pain
Everyone is looking for the answer
We'll look again, come on my friend
Love will find them in the end
Come on my friend we've got to bend
On our knees and say a prayer.
Oh can you feel the world is pining
Pining for someone who really cares,
Enough to share his love,
With all of us. So we can be
An ever loving family.
Have you forgotten we're all children
Children from a family tree
That's longer than a centipede
And started long ago when you
And I were only love-
I woke up today, I was crying,
Lost in a lost world,
So many people are dying,
Lost in a lost world.
Track 2 New Horizons
This track tells us the narrator is determined to work towards the goal of individuation and find peace of mind.
I've had dreams enough for one
And I've got love enough for three
I have my hopes to comfort me
I've got my new horizons out to sea
CHORUS
But I'm never gonna lose your precious gift
It will always be that way
And I know I'm gonna find my own peace of mind
Someday, someway.
Where is this place that we have found
Nobody knows where we are bound
I long to hear, I need to see
I've shed tears too many for me.
CHORUS
On the wind, soaring free,
Spread your wings, I'm beginning to see
Out of mind, far from view
Beyond the reach, of the nightmare come true.
Track 3 For My Lady
This sad sounding track was played as a love song. There is however a hint that the love is directed towards a greater goal than a single person.
My lady seems to be code for the Devine and in this case a feminine entity as suggested in the final paragraph.
My boat sails stormy seas
Battles oceans filled with tears
At last my port's in view
Now that I've discovered you
CHORUS
Oh I'd give my life so lightly
For my gentle lady
Give it freely and completely
To my lady
As life goes drifting by
Like a breeze she'll gently sigh
And slowly bow her head
Then you'll hear her softly cry.
CHORUS
Words that you say when we're alone
Though actions speak louder than words
But all I can say is I love you so
To drive away all my hurt
CHORUS
Set sail towards the sun
Feel the warmth that's just begun
Share each and every dream
They belong to everyone
Track 5 You and Me
This track reconciles the philosophies of the East and West. A mention of Buddha and Christ is made
It stresses the importance of personal development and our inner work and responsibility rests with us alone
There's a leafless tree in Asia
Under the sun there's a homeless man,
There's a forest fire in the valley,
Where the story all began.
What will be our last thought
Do you think it's coming soon
Will it be of comfort,
Or the pain of a burning wound.
CHORUS
All we are trying to say is
We are all we've got
You and me just cannot fail
If we never never stop.
Ah! Never stop.
You're an ocean full of faces,
And you know that we believe
We're just a wave that drifts around you,
Singing all our hopes and dreams.
We look around in wonder
At the work that has been done,
By the vision of our father,
Touched by his loving son.
Track 6 The Land of Make-Believe
This track suggests we are not seeing reality and have constructed our own make-believe lives.
We're living in the land of make-believe
And trying not to let it show
Maybe in that land of make-believe
Heartaches can turn into joy.
We're breathing in the smoke of high and low
We're taking up a lot of room
Somewhere in the dark and silent night
Our prayer will be heard, make it soon.
Chorus
So fly little bird
Up into the clear blue sky
And carry the word
Love's the only reason why, why.
Open up the shutters on your windows
Unlock all the locks upon your doors
Brush away the cobwebs from your day-dreams
No secrets come between us any more
Oh say it's true
Only love will see you through
You know what love can do to you.
We're living in a land of make-believe
And trying not to let it show
Maybe in that land of make-believe
Heartaches can turn into joy.
We're breathing in the smoke of high and low
We're taking up a lot of room
Somewhere in the dark and lonely night
Our prayer will be heard, make it soon.
Chorus
Open up the shutters on your windows
Unlock all the locks upon your doors
Brush away the cobwebs from your day-dreams
No secrets come between us any more
Oh say it's true
Only love will see you through
You know what love can do to you.
Track 8 I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band
This song became the greatest hit from this album and was often played, but it needs to be listened to after the series of lyrics in each song is heard.
This tracks suggests the narrator has not achieved his goal of individuation and continues to feel agitated about the state of the world.
The song points towards political turmoil and criticizes the individuals who are ‘Star-Strucking’ the World?
I'm just a wandering on the face of this earth
Meeting so many people
Who are trying to be free
And while I'm travelling I hear so many words
Language barriers broken
Now we've found the key
And if you want the wind of change
To blow about you
And you're the only other person to know, don't tell me
I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band.
A thousand pictures can be drawn from one word
Only who is the artist
We got to agree
A thousand miles can lead so many ways
Just to know who is driving
What a help it would be
So if you want this world of yours
To turn about you
And you can see exactly what to do
Please tell me
I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band.
How can we understand
Riots by the people for the people
Who are only destroying themselves
And when you see a frightened
Person who is frightened by the
People who are star star-strucking this earth.
Music is the traveller crossing our world
Meeting so many people bridging the seas
We're just the singers in a rock and roll band.
Comments
This album reflected the state of the world at the time and almost 50 years later it is still relevant.
Who is currently ‘Star-Stucking’ the world?
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