Most of you read my post about Dutch’s death. Let’s let Tom himself lighten the mood with a joke and a smile:
I can hear Mr. Holland howling from the hereafter about how I’m about to associate him with a Judy Collins song, but, sorry, here I go.
The song “Both Sides Now” started on my car radio yesterday. It was one of those songs that I instantly recognize, but I can’t tell you anything about it.
I couldn’t name the title, or the singer, or tell you what the song was about. I only knew that the melody was part of my earliest memories, so it felt like a part of me, even though it was alien to me.
When I’m intrigued by something, I want to learn more about it. I read that Ms. Collins was simply on a plane, and she started staring out the window at the clouds and immediately wrote down the words to the song. Once you know that, it’s quite obvious from the lyrics.
Read them, click the Play button to the song, and think of what Tom might have meant to you and your own life. Surely you can imagine Tom looking you in the eye and saying: “Oh, but now old friends, they’re acting strange. And they shake their heads, they say I’ve changed. Well something’s lost, but something’s gained in living every day.”
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons every where
Looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and ferries wheels
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way
But now it’s just another show
And you leave ’em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away
I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions that I recall
I really don’t know love
Really don’t know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say, “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way
Oh, but now old friends they’re acting strange
And they shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all
It’s life’s illusions that I recall
I really don’t know life
I really don’t know life at all
