Sometimes great songs literally come out of nowhere.
That’s especially true with bands who had a reputation for being successful with a certain kind of song all of a sudden doing something completely different.
Take the Hollies, for instance. They could best be described as a second-tier band of the 1960s British Invasion. Not quite on the level with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, the Who or are other great bands, although they are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They had numerous early hit records, including “Look Through Any Window,” “Bus Stop,” “On a Carousel” and “Carrie Anne,” among others, most of them fitting into the boy loves girl category.
The Hollies of those early years are maybe best known as the group Graham Nash was in before leaving in 1969 to help found Crosby Stills and Nash.
CSN (and later Y with Neil Young) were one of the great bands of the early ’70s, but the Hollies didn’t just go away. In fact, in 1969 they had one of those great song that no one would have expected of them come literally out of nowhere.
Where did that expression come from? I know a version of it is the motto of Boys Town, the orphanage/school founded for homeless boys near Omaha, Nebraska. I can’t think of many things more noble — or yes, more Christian — than taking kids off the street and giving them a chance to get an education or learn a trade so that they can have a successful life.
Vietnam
In fact, the whole idea behind “he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” is a rejection of the all-too-popular “every man for himself” philosophy we see these days.
At 74, I’m too enfeebled to put someone on my back and carry them, but I do what I can to help, ever thought sometimes it’s just giving a few dollars to someone who’s homeless. In addition, my vote goes to people who want to help the less fortunate and not to those who think we’re all on our own.
Boys Town
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.