In memory of Peter Tork (and Davy Jones) and my youthfully innocent days when I would sing along with The Monkees while watching their silly antics on the tube.  A crazy relief from the craziness of Vietnam, assassinations, protests, riots, flower power and being a teen in the 60’s.  We could jump around like monkeys and be weird for a while.  It makes me smile, with a touch of sadness in the memories.

“Shades of Gray”

(This song seems to capture the moment in life when I thought my faith gave me all the “easy” “black and white” answers.  “Life was such a simple game. . .”).

“When the world and I were young
Just yesterday
Life was such a simple game
A child could play

It was easy then to tell right from wrong
Easy then to tell weak from strong
When a man should stand and fight
Or just go along

But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray

I remember when the answers seemed so clear
We had never lived with doubt or tasted fear
It was easy then to tell truth from lies
Selling out from compromise
Who to love and who to hate
The foolish from the wise

But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray

It was easy then to know what was fair
When to keep and when to share
How much to protect your heart
And how much to care

But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray
Only shades of gray.”

Songwriters: Barry Mann / Cynthia Weil