In interpreting the Timothy Leary segment, we must first look at the first time he's mentioned, in Manchester, England:
"Now that I've dropped out
Why is life dreary dreary
Answer my weary query
Timothy Leary dearie"
So, grammatically, the songs answer for Timothy Leary. But, are they answering what he would answer, or, are they answering with something Leary doesn't know and therefore can't answer for himself? I would argue, based on the previous reference in "Manchester," paired with the content of "Easy To Be Hard," that the turn on/drop out message is superficial. You care about "issues," but you don't really care about the people right in front of you. It's not "enlightenment," it's self-indulgent. Life is around you and in you, always, whether or not you take drugs to "find" it. And you can never really "drop out" of it.
@TallMisterHall Thanks for this insight. This song is so powerful, you'd probably have to go back to the Marseillaise to find its match (but much less bloodthirsty). Here's what I got, and your thoughts would be appreciated. I take it that after all that has happened, they are giving Timothy Leary's answer, and it is "Let the sun shine. Let the sunshine in." It is not necessary to take "Tune in, turn on, drop out" as self-indulgent. I took it then & still do, as (roughly speaking), Tune in to the cosmos, turn on - well, with drugs or without...
@TallMisterHall Thanks for this insight. This song is so powerful, you'd probably have to go back to the Marseillaise to find its match (but much less bloodthirsty). Here's what I got, and your thoughts would be appreciated. I take it that after all that has happened, they are giving Timothy Leary's answer, and it is "Let the sun shine. Let the sunshine in." It is not necessary to take "Tune in, turn on, drop out" as self-indulgent. I took it then & still do, as (roughly speaking), Tune in to the cosmos, turn on - well, with drugs or without them - and get out of this corrupt, soulless system. TL is the anti-capitalist-war-machine, as F. Nietzsche was the (self-proclaimed) antiChrist. Regards
In interpreting the Timothy Leary segment, we must first look at the first time he's mentioned, in Manchester, England: "Now that I've dropped out Why is life dreary dreary Answer my weary query Timothy Leary dearie"
So, grammatically, the songs answer for Timothy Leary. But, are they answering what he would answer, or, are they answering with something Leary doesn't know and therefore can't answer for himself? I would argue, based on the previous reference in "Manchester," paired with the content of "Easy To Be Hard," that the turn on/drop out message is superficial. You care about "issues," but you don't really care about the people right in front of you. It's not "enlightenment," it's self-indulgent. Life is around you and in you, always, whether or not you take drugs to "find" it. And you can never really "drop out" of it.
@TallMisterHall Thanks for this insight. This song is so powerful, you'd probably have to go back to the Marseillaise to find its match (but much less bloodthirsty). Here's what I got, and your thoughts would be appreciated. I take it that after all that has happened, they are giving Timothy Leary's answer, and it is "Let the sun shine. Let the sunshine in." It is not necessary to take "Tune in, turn on, drop out" as self-indulgent. I took it then & still do, as (roughly speaking), Tune in to the cosmos, turn on - well, with drugs or without...
@TallMisterHall Thanks for this insight. This song is so powerful, you'd probably have to go back to the Marseillaise to find its match (but much less bloodthirsty). Here's what I got, and your thoughts would be appreciated. I take it that after all that has happened, they are giving Timothy Leary's answer, and it is "Let the sun shine. Let the sunshine in." It is not necessary to take "Tune in, turn on, drop out" as self-indulgent. I took it then & still do, as (roughly speaking), Tune in to the cosmos, turn on - well, with drugs or without them - and get out of this corrupt, soulless system. TL is the anti-capitalist-war-machine, as F. Nietzsche was the (self-proclaimed) antiChrist. Regards