Here it is, my first set of song studies. I don't know why I've been putting it off so long. It only took me about an hour to listen to the album and scribble some notes, and about half an hour to type them up. I hope you enjoy!
From the start John sang about the simple things in life. This song follows the story of a young girl who, despite her family's poverty, still has hope. She knows she can make it with the support of her family and her dreams. I have not heard the original recording (if there is one) but in John's version the horns during the finale are very Beatlesque, particularly reminding me of "All You Need is Love."
A delightful memory of when things were simpler. The character reflects upon his childhood, and while those experiences are now gone for him, he can relive them through his own son.
The first original composition on the album is not typical of what the casual listener would consider "John Denver music." John's early albums were as much rock and folk-rock as they were folk. Daydream is a short but emotionally powerful mixture of the genres.
"I'll sing you a song of Spiro Agnew, and all the things he's done."
That is the extent of the song. This is the result of John's days with The (Chad) Mitchell Trio and their often satirical political songs.
"If I look like home to you, and if I am your sign, don't try to understand it, girl, when I draw the line."
Despite the innocent title and the tenderness of John's voice and music, this is actually a fairly dark song. In it, John is saying he is fed up with this girl and their relationship. He has nothing to gain from it; there are so many things he'd like to be doing, but he feels trapped. John Denver's lyrics are constantly deeper than they appear on the surface. Detractors claim his music is saccharine and mawkish, but that is only because they've never truly listened.
The Beatles recorded this as a fun song, and John is right with them. I'd say he even exceeds them in overall goofiness and merriment. One can't help but smile while listening to this song.
Unlike Tom Paxton's tongue-in-cheek ode to Spiro Agnew, "The Ballad of Richard Nixon" consists of only seven seconds of complete silence.
This, the original version of the song, is richer musically than the re-recording on the Greatest Hits album. For me, the most powerful part of this song is the instrumental part in the middle and the final verse that follows. The first two verses have built up to this, and we are then gently brought back down to the sounds of children playing. John had the rare gift of being forcefully tender.
This is one of my favorite songs on the album. John recorded many songs he didn't write, but he is always able to make us believe he is truly feeling the emotions of the song; perhaps he truly is. Loss is a very important theme is John's music and this song reminds me of how I've felt many times. One of the reasons I love John Denver so much is because I can always relate. I know John has been there before me and his music helps me to make it through.
This is the song that became Peter, Paul & Mary's only number one hit. As with "Rhymes & Reasons," this version is more complex than its Greatest Hits conterpart and, I believe, more powerful as well. This is one of the few songs non-fans are likely to recognise, especially among my generation. Many of those who were not of the listening age in the 70's do not know John's music, and I have even encountered some who didn't even know who he was. I couldn't be forced to listen to The Backstreet Boys at gunpoint, but I at least know who they are. Some people really need to re-evaluate their musical choices.
A playful Country & Western song, this is effective at relieving the emotional tension between the last and next songs. John was often very serious, but he knew when to make us smile.
"My Old Man" is a bittersweet recollection of the character's father, and how he met his mother. Every time I hear this song, the parts where John whistles always give me chills. It's as though the character's father returns to him for a moment, whistling the ghostly song he played on his fiddle, the song no one else could quite sing.
One of John's specialties was beginning a song quietly, tenderly, then ending it powerfully. This song is no exception. The emotion builds slowly, almost with every note. This is a song that makes me feel good.
There could be no better conclusion to John's first album, especially now knowing of all the beautiful songs he's yet to write. In a way, I wish I had heard this album before I'd heard any of his other music. In this album can be seen the beginning of things to come.