“Seasons in the Sun,” popularized by Terry Jacks, is an English adaptation of Jacques Brel‘s 1961 French song “Le Moribond” (The Dying Man). Rod McKuen translated the lyrics in 1963, creating a version that portrays a dying man’s farewell to loved ones. While McKuen’s version is known for its sentimental tone, Terry Jacks’ 1974 hit notably altered the lyrics to focus on a friend dying of leukemia, rather than the original’s narrative of a man facing betrayal.

Rod McKuen also wrote one of my favorite poems…

THIRTY-SIX

I live alone.

It hasn’t always been that way.

It’s nice sometimes

to open up the heart a little

and let some hurt come in.

It proves you’re still alive.

I’m not sure what it means.

Why we can’t shake the old loves from our minds.

It must be that we build on memory

and make them more than what they were.

And is the manufacture

just a safe device for closing up the wall?

I do remember.

The only fuzzy circumstance

is sometimes where-and-how

Why, I know.

It happens just because we need

to want and to be wanted too,

when love is here or gone

to lie down in the darkness

and listen to the warm.

“In the Ghetto” is a song written by Mac Davis and popularized by Elvis Presley in 1969. It tells the story of a child born into poverty and violence in the ghetto, and the cyclical nature of hardship that perpetuates from one generation to the next. The song became a significant hit for Elvis, marking a return to the charts for him after a period of less commercial success, and is noted for its socially conscious lyrics and passionate delivery. 

She’s Like The Wind

Released in December 1987 and featured on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, this heartfelt ballad—co-written and performed by Patrick Swayze—became a surprise hit. It reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 “She’s Like the Wind” became one of the most unexpected hits of the decade — not just because it was a love song, but because it was sung by Patrick Swayze, the star of Dirty Dancing. Co-written with his friend Stacy Widelitz back in 1984, the song was originally meant for the film Grandview, U.S.A. but was shelved — until Swayze played the demo for Dirty Dancing’s producers, who immediately saw its potential.

A Love Song with Real-Life Roots

Swayze said the song was inspired by his relationship with his wife, Lisa Niemi — a love that felt both grounding and elusive. That emotional core runs through the lyrics, which describe a woman who’s close yet somehow out of reach: “She’s like the wind, through my tree…” It’s a ballad full of longing, admiration, and quiet heartbreak.

“The Lady in Red” is a song by British-Irish singer-songwriter Chris de Burgh. It was released on 20 June 1986 as the second single from the album Into the Light. Charting at number one in several countries and reaching the top three in the United States, the song was responsible for introducing de Burgh’s music to a mainstream audience worldwide.

The song was written in reference to his wife, Diane, who used to come and watch him perform at his parents’ hotel. It was released on the album Into the Light. On the British TV series This Is Your Life, de Burgh said that the song was inspired by the memory of when he first saw Diane, and how men so often cannot even remember what their wives were wearing when they first met.

Released in 1961 as a single, “Walk Right Back” became a major hit for The Everly Brothers, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and peaking at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. Written by Sonny Curtis, the song showcases the duo’s signature close-harmony singing, blending country and rock & roll influences into a smooth, melodic sound. With its catchy guitar riff and heartfelt lyrics about longing for a lost love, the track became one of their most enduring classics. Though often overshadowed by their earlier hits like “Bye Bye Love” and “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Walk Right Back” remains a fan favorite and a testament to The Everly Brothers’ timeless appeal in the golden age of rock and pop.

From the series McLeod’s Daughters…

Enjoy your week!

“Nights in White Satin” by The Moody Blues, written by Justin Hayward, debuted in 1967, reaching #19 in the UK & #103 in the US. After its 1972 reissue, it soared to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100! This haunting ballad earned a gold certification & was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

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.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJO7lJIxG10

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“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” — Joseph Campbell

Yep…it’s another Monday…

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“Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” (commonly called “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In”, “The Age of Aquarius” or “Let the Sunshine In”) is a medley of two songs written for the 1967 musical Hair by James Rado and Gerome Ragni (lyrics), and Galt MacDermot (music), released as a single by American R&B group the 5th Dimension. The song spent six weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in the spring of 1969 and was eventually certified platinum in the US by the RIAA.  Instrumental backing was written by Bill Holman and provided by a group of session musicians commonly known as the Wrecking Crew.

The song is listed at number 66 on Billboard‘s “Greatest Songs of All Time”.

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The Eagles – “Desperado”

A timeless ballad of solitude, pride, and the quiet ache of the untamed heart.

First released in April 1973 as the haunting title track of their second studio album, “Desperado” wasn’t a chart-topper—it was something rarer: a song that etched itself into the soul of American music. Though it was never issued as a single, it went on to become one of the Eagles’ most beloved and enduring masterpieces.

Written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley, the track opens with a lone piano and unfolds like a confession in the dark. Beneath its lush orchestral arrangement—crafted by Jim Ed Norman—lies a deeply human story: a weary outlaw, symbolic of a man afraid to feel, to love, to be vulnerable.

Drawing from the mythos of the Wild West, “Desperado” captures the ache of a man who’s ridden too far from home and too long from his own heart. It’s not just a song—it’s a lament, a warning, and a whispered hope.

Now enshrined in multiple greatest hits collections—including the legendary Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)—“Desperado” stands as a cultural anthem, a ballad for every lonesome soul that ever stood at the crossroads between freedom and connection.

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[Thank you, Lord! 🙏]