Monday, January 7, 2008

'The Weight' Poetry Hour: Walt Whitman? Ralph Waldo Emerson?

This unearthed gem is fitting for these times in the new year:

As I walk through
This wicked world
Searching for light in the darkness of insanity
I ask myself is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside
There's one thing I wanna know
Whats so funny bout peace love & understanding?

And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony? Sweet harmony.
Cause each time I feel it slipping away
Just makes me wanna cry.
Whats so funny bout peace love & understanding?

What is so funny, indeed. Nick Lowe wrote it, Elvis Costello popularized it, but check out the wide variety of artists who have covered it (not exhaustive):

The Flaming Lips
The Wallflowers
Bill Murray - Karaoke
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Pearl Jam
A Perfect Circle
Steve Earle
Keb' Mo'
Chris Cornell and Maynard James Keenan
The Ataris

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