Then and Now

I grew up with Rock and Roll.
My first sense of wonder came while listening to Van Morrison.
My first sense of rebellion started with the Rolling Stones.
Bob Dylan taught me poetry.
Jimi Hendrix taught me the poetry of sound.
I learned to respond to my gut feelings with the Animals.
The Who gave me an outlet for my emotions.
Led Zepplin helped me to appreciate art.
Steppenwolf told me how to be wild.
The exploration of my subconscious was engineered by the Doors.
The Velvet Underground taught me how to explore my darker side.
David Bowie and The Moody Blues took me into the world of fantasy.

That was a time.
I was young and so full of hope.
I joined Greenpeace cause I thought I could save the world.
I had the energy and the strength of will, and the belief that
I could make a difference.

And then one day Disco was king.
I became lost and alienated.
All my free spirited friends began to fall into the molds that society created for them.
They became good corporate citizens with families and mortgages.
I felt alone, but I found salvation in Bob Marley and Patti Smith.
They spoke the poetry that I wanted to hear.
I started to lose my hair when I was into Punk.
I guess the spiked hairdo and the jet black dye took its toll,
but I learned how to return to the basics with the Clash and the Jam.
The fires of socialism and humanity blazed anew.
I grew older and heavier with the advent of New Wave,
but the Waterboys and U2 led me into the realm of the spirit and the soul.
I started to go gray with Grunge.

You know, I've been rebelling so goddamn long that I've almost forgotten the cause.
When I was young I fought the establishment who only cared about power and profit.
Today I fight the young conservatives who only care about money and success.
I used to walk for peace.
Now I just walk.

I used to march for the environment.
Now March is just another month in the year.
I used to protest against "the war."
Now there's so many of them that I wouldn't know where to start.
I used to fight for civil liberties.
Now I'm just trying to fight off the creditors.
Did the tables get turned when I wasn't looking?

The Who used to sing about "My Generation."
"Don't try and dig what we all say."
Now Generation X,Y and Z have a language all their own
and I'm not really sure if I understand them at all.

The only thing that I do know for sure
is that I don't have much time.
Twenty of thirty years if my brain holds out.

But then, what will I have to show for it?
What was it all for?
What did we change?
The environment is worse now that it ever was.
Global conservatism is cutting back all the social programs and the arts.
The gap between rich and poor has widened even more.

Sometimes I think about the past and I really wonder,
was it all worth it?
The marches and the sit-ins,
the protest songs and the run-ins with the cops,
climbing smokestacks and chaining myself to trees.
The cold wet miserable nights as we sat in the streets in front of the embassies.
Was it all worth it?

We each have our own Holy Grail for which we must seek,
and each of us must face the trials and tribulations of our Quest.
And it is by the conduct of our actions,
the intention of our deeds,
and the honesty with which we accept the consequences,
that we are judged.
Was it all worth it?

Yeah, it was.
If only for myself, it was worth it.
I'm glad I was there.