Some of you who have seen me at various Pagan festivals know that I am seldom there without my guitar, and if you've heard me play and sing, you've probably heard me do a John Stewart song or two.
So it was with great sadness that I learned of his passing yesterday:
http://www.undercoverhd.com/news/Story.aspx?id=3900
Some of you "old school" types may remember his contributions to the Kingston Trio. Some may remember that he wrote "Daydream Believer" (recorded by the Monkees, and later covered by Anne Murray). Some may remember his only solo hit, "Gold", from 1979 (with backing vocals by his good friends Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks). And those who pay attention to song writing credits may have noticed that his songs were sung by everyone from Joan Baez to Roseanne Cash to Mary Chapin Carpenter.
By I will remember him always as a lyricist of incredible beauty and eloquence. He was especially great at illustrating human emotions with scenes from nature (rather like the Welsh bards of old). Who but John Stewart could write "he was as high as a snake in an eagle's beak"?
As a tribute, I offer lyrics to one of his best songs. Unbelievably, this song was cut out of the initial release of his "Fire In The Wind" LP, and was only restored to it when the album was released with "bonus" tracks. Read this and ask yourself who hasn't lived through this! I already miss him so badly.
SOME KIND OF LOVE
by John Stewart
Some kind of love is like gold
That is the hardest to hold
For it catches the eye of each thief passing by
Some kind of love is like gold
Some kind of love comes too soon
That kind of love heals your wounds
When your wounds are all healed and you're back on your wheels
You say, That kind of love came too soon
Some kind of love, some kind of love
Everyone's looking for some kind of love
Some kind of love, some kind of love
Everyone's looking for some kind of love
Some kind of love starts as friends
And that kind of love never ends
It comes on as slow as a flower in snow
Some kind of love starts as friends
Some kind of love tears your heart
You know it was wrong from the start
Try to explain a moth to a flame
Some kind of love tears your heart
Some kind of love, some kind of love
Everyone's looking for some kind of love
Some kind of love, some kind of love
Everyone's looking for some kind of love
Some kind of love never dies
That is the hardest to find
Through laughter and rage it mellows with age
Some kind of love never dies
Some kind of love is like gold
That is the hardest to hold
For it catches the eye of each thief passing by
Some kind of love is like gold
Some kind of love, some kind of love
Everyone's looking for some kind of love
Some kind of love, some kind of love
Everyone's looking for some kind of love