In recognition of Harriet's knowledge of the Canadian rock band, Don's Basement has contributed 25 dollars (US) to the Illinois ACLU.
Thank you for your support of the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois. Your gift enables us to remain vigilant in a year of high stakes activity surrounding civil liberties and civil rights. Your support ensures that we can continue to stand firmly for what we believe in, as we always have.
If you are likewise inclined, here is their website. https://www.aclu-il.org/
And the sign said, 'Long-haired freaky people need not apply.'"
Ottawa native, Les Emmerson, lead singer for the Staccatos and then the Five Man Electrical Band, took a road trip on Route 66 in California. He couldn't help but notice the billboards that were as he later wrote 'Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind."
As he pondered this 'bummer', he penned the song that would become eventually reach #4 in Canada and #3 in the US. In August 21, 1971, "Signs" peaked trailing only "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" Bee Gees, and "Take Me Home, Country Roads", John Denver.
Although released on their 1970 album 'good-byes and butterflies', Signs' was not deemed single worthy until it surfaced at the "B" side to "Hello Melinda Goodbye." DJs and the public flipped the switch and "Signs.' went into pop history.
Here are the arguments in "Signs."
1. "And the sign said "Long-haired freaky people need not apply."
As he pondered this 'bummer', he penned the song that would become eventually reach #4 in Canada and #3 in the US. In August 21, 1971, "Signs" peaked trailing only "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" Bee Gees, and "Take Me Home, Country Roads", John Denver.
Although released on their 1970 album 'good-byes and butterflies', Signs' was not deemed single worthy until it surfaced at the "B" side to "Hello Melinda Goodbye." DJs and the public flipped the switch and "Signs.' went into pop history.
Here are the arguments in "Signs."
1. "And the sign said "Long-haired freaky people need not apply."
The narrator sees the signs, tucks in his long hair, and then is accepted by the employer. This kind of superficial judging of people by their appearance is anathema and the narrators dismisses the offer, '"Imagine that. Huh! Me workin' for you!"
2. "And the sign said anybody caught trespassin' would be shot on sight"
Here he questions the very notion of property rights. What gives anyone the right "to keep me out or to keep mother nature in." As his justification, the narrator uses the Almighty..."If God was here he'd tell you to your face, man, you're some kinda sinner." Which raises the kinds of existential and theological questions that are beyond the scope of my analysis.
3. "The sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside."
Not only is there a dress code...the loathed shirt and tie, emblematic of conformity and middle class mediocrity, but you need permission just to get access to the place.
4. "And the sign said, "Everybody welcome. Come in, kneel down and pray"
Finally, we arrive in church. Rather than finding peace, the narrator is confronted with the implicit and explicit solicitation of funds. Because he doesn't have any funds available, he writes his own sign, '"Thank you, Lord, for thinkin' 'bout me. I'm alive and doin' fine."
I am surprised by the religiosity of "Signs." 'Signs and Wonders' are cited 18 times in the New Testament as proof of the existence of Jesus as the Saviour. This is no coincidence.
You oldsters will recall that back in the 60's and 70's when the counter-culture starting counting there was blow back from the 'straights.'
2. "And the sign said anybody caught trespassin' would be shot on sight"
Here he questions the very notion of property rights. What gives anyone the right "to keep me out or to keep mother nature in." As his justification, the narrator uses the Almighty..."If God was here he'd tell you to your face, man, you're some kinda sinner." Which raises the kinds of existential and theological questions that are beyond the scope of my analysis.
3. "The sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside."
Not only is there a dress code...the loathed shirt and tie, emblematic of conformity and middle class mediocrity, but you need permission just to get access to the place.
4. "And the sign said, "Everybody welcome. Come in, kneel down and pray"
Finally, we arrive in church. Rather than finding peace, the narrator is confronted with the implicit and explicit solicitation of funds. Because he doesn't have any funds available, he writes his own sign, '"Thank you, Lord, for thinkin' 'bout me. I'm alive and doin' fine."
I am surprised by the religiosity of "Signs." 'Signs and Wonders' are cited 18 times in the New Testament as proof of the existence of Jesus as the Saviour. This is no coincidence.
You oldsters will recall that back in the 60's and 70's when the counter-culture starting counting there was blow back from the 'straights.'
In 2014, 'Signs' had a revival. Here is a new version recorded for the Friends of the Earth The signs this time point to the dangers of climate change. Good on them!
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