As we enter a new year, and look back at the momentous events that have embroiled humanity over the past few years (Covid, global warming, and the destruction wrought by hatred and wars), we remember the gentle folk singer, John Denver (1943-1997) whose timeless songs continue to remind us of the need to cherish this one wild and precious planet we all share. John would have turned 80 on 31 Dec 2023, had he not met an untimely death in a plane crash at the age of 53. I was fortunate to have attended one of his concerts in the 1980s, with Denver performing one great song after another to a packed audience in a huge sports stadium, and thinking to myself: this is what genuinely life-affirming music sounds like. This man is a God-send. He will be missed.
Here are three songs sung by Denver that I like to share with you, all of which are slow numbers with meaningful lyrics fit for contemplation. “Today”, is a 1964 folk song composed by Randy Sharks urging us to value the the joys of the moment.
Today, while the blossoms still cling to the vine
I’ll taste your strawberries, I’ll drink your sweet wine
A million tomorrows shall all pass away
‘Ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today.
“Rhymes & Reasons” is a timeless song written and performed by Denver. Released in 1972 as the title track of his fourth studio album, this poignant and introspective ballad explores the profound themes of love, compassion, and hope in a world that often seems chaotic and unjust. It is one of Denver’s most beloved and enduring compositions, a masterpiece that continues to resonate with audiences of all ages, capturing the essence of his innate ability to blend poetic lyrics with beautiful melodies.
For the children and the flowers
Are my sisters and my brothers
Their laughter and their loveliness
Could clear a cloudy day.
Like the music of the mountains
And the colours of the rainbow
They’re a promise of the future
And a blessing for today.
“The Wings That Fly Us Home” is a song Denver wrote based on a poem by his friend, Joe Henry. An underrated song, “The wings that fly us home” is a beautiful ode to the compassion we are capable of showing to our fellowmen in our finest hours.
Did I speak to you one morning on some distant world away
Did you save me from an arrow, did you lay me in a grave
Were we brothers on a journey, did you teach me how to run
Were we broken by the waters, did I lie you in the sun ….
I dreamed you were a prophet in a meadow
I dreamed I was a mountain in the wind
I dreamed you knelt and touched me with a flower
I awoke with this: a flower in my hand.