Part of the mythology making the rounds in counterculture back in those days was the Starship story and there are several references to it in music. Counter culture was steeped in naturalism and a yearning to return to the natural world. There was push back to "development" and to the destruction of the natural world and curiosity about ancient and pagan beliefs such as druidism. So what does this have to do with "silver spaceships," and, "what a friend had said?" It had to do with a fatalism about saving the natural world and that rescue would come in the form of spaceships that would take us to a new world. Whether one really believed that or not was not the point. It was an expression of hope against odds. The belief was that, "America hates her crazies." (more on that later) The story really did make the rounds and was openly discussed. Listen to (or read) the lyrics to Wooden Ships which was really a description of another alternative to post apocalyptic vision. However, if you want another Starship reference, I can't think of a better one than, "Have you seen the stars tonight," by The Jefferson Starship. This one gets into greater detail. It is also a good explanation as to the name change from ...Airplane to ...Starship. Then listen to "A Child is Coming," "Home," and "Starship." The alternative to "America hates her crazies..." was the hope of going to the place of "free music, free love, free..." If nothing else, read the lyrics on the internet and I believe you will see a common theme.
Part of the mythology making the rounds in counterculture back in those days was the Starship story and there are several references to it in music. Counter culture was steeped in naturalism and a yearning to return to the natural world. There was push back to "development" and to the destruction of the natural world and curiosity about ancient and pagan beliefs such as druidism. So what does this have to do with "silver spaceships," and, "what a friend had said?" It had to do with a fatalism about saving the natural world and that rescue would come in the form of spaceships that would take us to a new world. Whether one really believed that or not was not the point. It was an expression of hope against odds. The belief was that, "America hates her crazies." (more on that later) The story really did make the rounds and was openly discussed. Listen to (or read) the lyrics to Wooden Ships which was really a description of another alternative to post apocalyptic vision. However, if you want another Starship reference, I can't think of a better one than, "Have you seen the stars tonight," by The Jefferson Starship. This one gets into greater detail. It is also a good explanation as to the name change from ...Airplane to ...Starship. Then listen to "A Child is Coming," "Home," and "Starship." The alternative to "America hates her crazies..." was the hope of going to the place of "free music, free love, free..." If nothing else, read the lyrics on the internet and I believe you will see a common theme.
You're overthinking it BlueCoy. It's just a druggie song. I know some people are going to say Neil had seizures and didn't do drugs. He did weed.
You're overthinking it BlueCoy. It's just a druggie song. I know some people are going to say Neil had seizures and didn't do drugs. He did weed.
What a beautiful song, and a good explanation of what seems obvious to me.
What a beautiful song, and a good explanation of what seems obvious to me.