Ash Joie-Lee

I like using music to set a mood when I write. Years ago, I was addicted to listening to Bob Dylan, especially while working on one particular story. I guess Dylan’s ’story’ style of writing in his music allowed me to feel situations and the emotions that went with them. Was great for getting ideas for stories.
So, yesterday I was working on a scene where a character finds her old guitar and another character picks it up and starts playing it. I was using a Gary Jules Pandora station for my ‘writing music’ and was listening for a good song that the character could play. One thing led to another and I got to thinking about the first song I taught myself to play on the piano.(well the first song beyond Heart & Soul!)
I was in the 6th or 7th grade and was pretty much self-taught. I got the sheet music for One Tin Soldier and learned to play it. I played that song over and over and over!
One Tin Soldier is a ‘60s era anti-war song written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. The Canadian pop group Original Caste first recorded the song in 1969. The track briefly reached limited popularity locally and reached Number 34 on the American pop charts in early 1970.
I went over to You Tube and looked for One Tin Soldier. I actually don’t recall ever hearing it being performed by the original group that did it. I knew about the song because a friend of mine, who was a few years older than me and could play the piano like nobody’s business, played it and I really liked it.
It was weird to listen to the original. The song is too fast in my opinion. One You Tube video put war images with it, funny how appropriate the Vietnam song is for the situation today?
I wish someone else had redone the song…a slower acoustic/Jack Johnson style.
Here is the original song:

But this got me to thinking about the other things I remember the most from that time. The two I recall the most are: Cheech and Chong’s Sister Mary Elephant. Here is the link to a great YouTube video of someone lip syncing the skit.
Boy, the things we found funny at that age! LOL
The next song that comes to mind was Lovin’You by Minnie Riperton. This song was recently redone and boy, did it bring back memories - all of us girls trying to hit those high notes!
Here is the original-

I found myself stuck in You Tube for a few hours last night playing videos of the songs I liked back then…Seasons in the Sun, Billy Don’t Be a Hero…weird how they are all related to war! Not sure what that is about!
What song do you recall from your Jr High days?