Kona All-Star Jam

Friday eve, I was feeling uplifted and decided to go into town. The "Kona All-Star Jam" was presenting a free pre-tour preview at the MIXX Bistro. The MIXX Bistro is an open-air sort of place - there is a roof over the band and the small bar - the rest of it has the night sky as ceiling and walls consisting of mere plywood lattice-work and some few potted plants. The band featured Jesse Colin Young (remember the Youngbloods?), his wife Connie on electric violin, our local musical prodigy Dylan Kai on lead guitar (watch out for this young man - he's not made his name yet - it's only a matter of time - he plays with masterful skill and sensitivity), Louis Pinault on congos and Vito Truglio playing bass guitar. The small place was packed to overflowing and it wasn't long before the music called nearly all to dance. (Do I dance? You know I do!) And so there we were, all dancing together, happy-shiny faces and by the time the band played that old Youngblood song "Get Together", the audience singing and dancing along, lifting hands up to heaven - (yes, a regular "hippie love-fest") it felt to me that peace was simple - we only need pass this simple message of brotherhood along - the world will be fine.

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GET TOGETHER
Jesse Colin Young

Love is but a song we sing
Fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wind
You may not know why
~~~~~~~~~~
CHORUS:
Come on people now, smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some may come and some may go
You will surely pass
When the one who left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moment's sunlight
Fading in the grass...(CHORUS)

If you hear the song we sing
You will understand
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command (CHORUS TWICE)

Try to love one another right now
Try to love one another right now

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And so with this joyous feeling, cup of happiness fully overflowing, I headed out the door to my car. I barely noticed him at first, the young scruffy guy wearing a backpack and sitting on the curb, listening to the music and celebration. His eyes were glazed over from who-knows-what poisonous concoction; he was the picture of misery, loneliness - a perfect outcast. I considered to offer him some help, but passed the opportunity by - perhaps he had chosen his position as outside listener rather than joining the happiness within the bare partitions? perhaps, even, he had chosen his misery? I didn't wish to intrude upon his privacy and his misery......but he did cause me to wonder.......how DOES one open a heart?





Darkness, Darkness
by Jesse Colin Young

Darkness, darkness, be my pillow,
Take my hand, and let me sleep.
In the coolness of your shadow,
In the silence of your deep.
Darkness, darkness, has me yearning,
For things that cannot be.
Keep me my mind from constant turning,
Toward the things it cannot see,
Things it cannot see,
Things it cannot see.

Darkness, darkness, long and lonesome,
As the day brings the pain.
I have found the edge of stillness,
I live in the depth of fear.
Darkness, darkness, be my blanket,
Cover me with endless night,
Take away the pain that flows away,
Fill the emptiness with bright,
Emptiness with bright,
Emptiness with bright.

Darkness, darkness, be my pillow,
Take my hand, and let me sleep.
In the coolness of your shadow,
In the silence of your deep.
Darkness, darkness, be my blanket,
Cover me with endless night,
Take away the pain that flows away,
Fill the emptiness with bright,
Emptiness with bright,
Emptiness with bright.