The Lovin' Spoonful

Had to drive into New York City two days ago, so listened to a Lovin' Spoonful CD. Their resident genius was songwriter John Sebastian. He came up with some great tunes, music that could evoke both exuberance and a yearning sentimentality. Here's an example of the latter, Darling Be Home Soon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXjzOpz4Cyw&feature=relmfu

Or You Didn't Have to Be So Nice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iyBhPzuZZc

Or my favorite, Six O'Clock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd5DWpfnLFM

It's actually a little disconcerting to listen to the lyrics of some of his songs in the light of more modern sensibilities. For instance, Younger Girl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b53EbA1NBRk

Listen to those lyrics:

"She's one of those girls who seems to come in the spring
One look in her eyes and you forget everything
You had ready to say
And I saw her today yeah...

A younger girl keeps a-rollin' across my mind
No matter how much I try, I can't seem to leave her memory behind
I remember her eyes, soft dark and brown
Said she'd never been in trouble, or even in town
A younger girl keeps a-rollin' across my mind

And should I hang around, acting like her brother
In a few more years they'd call us right for each other
And why
If I wait I'll just die, yeah..."

Sounds like an anthem to child molesting.

Or She's Still a Mystery:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqpbMPlEMb4

Those lyrics likewise wouldn't pass muster today:

"Remember hallways, you're waiting always
To see behind the door
You never seen her, you're gonna meet her
The first time so unsure
She smiles your way through a window
You smile right back, she runs away
You wish little girls would sit still
just a little bit longer, longer."

All this doesn't make me like the music any less. And who knows, maybe Sebastian was singing about eighteen year olds, not fifteen year olds. But it's hard to listen to those lyrics and not wonder.