Surprise this morning as I was re-introduced to one of my most-favorite songs from one of my historically most favorite musical artists, Neil Young, and from of my weirdest periods ever, the mid-1970s. I was about four years late in catching the singing poem — off Young’s “After the Gold Rush” album (1969).
Another great live rendition is found on “4 Way Street,” with Crosby, Stills, & Nash (1971).

Due to circumstance, I didn’t get into a lot of different, exciting music until my last quarter at the University of Florida, spring of 1974, and after graduation, later that summer. I went nuts over ‘Mott the Hoople,‘ for instance. And one of my discoveries was Neil Young’s catalogue, including “Don’t Let It Bring You Down,” a good set of words for the nowadays, too.
(One again, great h/t to Susie for originally posting it):

And read as poetry:

Old man lying
By the side of the road
With the lorries rolling by
Blue moon sinking
From the weight of the load
And the buildings scrape the sky

Cold wind ripping
Down the alley at dawn
And the morning paper flies
Dead man lying
By the side of the road
With the daylight in his eyes

Don’t let it bring you down
It’s only castles burning
Find someone who’s turning
And you will come around

Blind man running
Through the light
Of the night
With an answer in his hand
Come on down
To the river of sight
And you can really understand

Red lights flashing
Through the window
In the rain
Can you hear the sirens moan?
White cane lying
In a gutter in the lane
If you’re walking home alone

Don’t let it bring you down
It’s only castles burning
Just find someone who’s turning
And you will come around

Don’t let it bring you down
It’s only castles burning
Just find someone who’s turning
And you will come around

And all too distressing well, the morning paper flies…

(Illustration: M.C Escher’s ‘Hand with Reflecting Sphere, Self-Portrait in Spherical Mirror,’ found here).