I’ve never known what to think about people who claim they hear an inner voice or have psychic abilities.  I know what you’re thinking.  Oh, wait.  Nevermind.

But the strangest thing happened this week.  Wednesday, while wandering through my morning routine of rounding up stories, jokes and quizzes for Radio Online’s “Morning Show Prep” (I’ve contributed for 16 years, been on staff for 9) I randomly remembered a song from my youth.  It was a big hit in the 1960s.  In fact, I remember my mom buying me an album at Foods where she grocery shopped and, for $1.99, I was the proud owner of a K-Tel hits collection.  There were all kinds of pop hits on there, more bubble-gum songs like “Tracy”, “Venus”, “Ma Belle Amie” and others that no longer appear on any radio format.  But the last track on side 2, I believe, was this song that was in the protest vain, but with a catchy melody.  It was an anthem out of the flower-power era, condemning the shallowness of the world.  Here are just some of the lyrics:

“People walking up to you Singing glory hallelulia And they’re tryin to sock it to you In the name of the Lord

They’re gonna teach you how to meditate. Read your horoscope, cheat your faith And further more to hell with hate. Come on and get on board

Look around tell me what you see What’s happening to you and me God grant me the serenity To remember who I am

Cause you’ve given up your sanity For your pride and your vanity Turns you sad on humanity And you don’t give a da da da da da….”

Yeah, that was back when you really didn’t want to say “damn” on the radio, if you wanted your song to get played.  My, how far we’ve come.

The artist’s name was Joe South.  He actually wrote some other classics of the era, including “Down on the Boondocks” and “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.” I said to myself, “I’ve got credit on my iTunes account. I should download some of his songs.”

I got back to writing and never got around to it.  But I will now, because the VERY NEXT DAY, news came that Joe died at age 72.

I just find it incredibly strange to randomly remember him, reflect on his music and then find out the next day that he had died.  There’s some kind of connection, something going on there.   I don’t know what it means, but I don’t have to.  It’s just one of those bizzaro life moments that I thought I would share, along with Joe singing that song from a long time ago.

Click here and enjoy.

Tim Hunter