Friday, January 29, 2016

GOODBYE BARON VON TOLLBOOTH


It's time we walked away
Set me free
I must move away
Leave you be...
Time's been good to us, my friend
Wait and see how it will end
We come and go as we please...
We come and go as we please...
That's how it must be

Here in crystal chandelier, I'm home
Too many days, I've left unstoned
If you doubt my happiness
What full pleasure feels in the Sun
Ah, don't you know I'm runnin' home...
Don't you know I'm runnin' home...
To a place to you unknown?

I take great peace in your sitting there
Searching for myself, I find a place there
I see the people of the world
Where they are and what they could be...

I can but dance behind your smile...
I can but dance behind your smile...

You were the world to me for a while

D.C.B.A.-25

This is a song from The Jefferson Airplane's album Surrealistic Pillow. It was written by Paul Kantner . Oddly the only Kantner song on that LP

I remember reading someplace that "DCBA-25" referred to the song's chord progression. 

You will notice it from the first when you listen to it, and it is repeated throughout the song. It is generally assumed that this chord progression (D-C-B-A) gave rise to the name of the song. 

It has also been surmised that '-25' was added to the title of the song to make a reference to the chemical LSD-25, which we know is a hallucinogenic drug Acid. 

As for the lyrics of the song, One can assume that at some stage Paul was leaving someone or someplace, and wanted to leave a small eulogy to that parting. 

Some would imagine that this song would also be perfect for background music if you were actually taking Acid, as it seems to have that peaceful and loving atmosphere which is most desirable when your mind is being stimulated beyond anything it has so far experienced. 

By the way, many interpret the line "too many days I've left unstoned" differently from the usual interpretation of "too many days that I didn't get stoned". I think this line is a reference to the phrase "stones left unturned". I think Paul is saying that there are many days which he did not investigate life as fully as he could have. 

I put together some of Paul's songs. Some of them are known but I tried to stay away from the basic Airplane>Starship > I am sure that you will hear many of those over the next week or so . Here are 24 from Paul's works as my tribute to  a legend.

D.C.B.A.-25      Surrealistic Pillow 

Martha      After Bathing At Baxters
Wild Tyme   
Won't You Try > Saturday Afternoon
The Ballad Of You And Me And Pooneil

Crown Of Creation    Crown Of Creation

Have You Seen The Saucers   30 Seconds Over Winterland

We Can Be Together     Volunteers

Let's Go Together   Blows Against The Empire
Have You Seen The Stars Tonite

When The Earth Moves Again    Bark
War Movie

Twilight Double Leader    Long John Silver

Sunfighter      Sunfighter
Million

Your Mind Has Left Your Body   Baron Von Tollbooth

Lightnin' Rose -Freedom At Point Zero
Things To Come
Girl With The Hungry Eyes

I Came Back From The Jaws Of The Dragon  Winds Of Change

Planet Earth Rock And Roll Orchestra    PERRO (83)

Planes    Jefferson Airplane (89)

Martha Under Venusian Sun    Windowpane Collective
Love Theme From Bladerunner






14 comments:

larry said...

Thanks for getting this out so fast. For the life of me I don´t know why I got so bummed with the news. Perhaps it was because he took the time to sign my copy of After Bathing one time. Perhaps because of what he represented to me in my high school days. And I know it´s just another step.. there is no death, but for me, he will be missed.

Jonathan F. King said...

Thanks, man. Really thoughtful.

Andy Swapp said...

This is lovely and a fitting tribute. Loving the quote about my favourite city too! Only got to see them once over here in the UK and it was a trip. The lyrics of D.C.B.A-25 especially poignant. Thank you!

heeren said...

Nice collection. PK was a very underrated songwriter who wrote so many gorgous highflying and visonary songs. And a damn fine rhythm guitarist too. In many ways the mastermind of J.A..And more or less active to the last despite health problems and despite never coming to terms with his 'demons'.

SF Native said...

From a native San Franciscan, who as a young child, my parents signed me up for the Jefferson Airplane fan club and at the time we would follow their shows around the city. Airplane/Starship always had a place in my life thanks to those early days. In recent years, I wasn't as much a fan, but would often see Paul Kantner in North Beach at his favorite cafe w/ his coffee and cigarettes. Thanks for this. RIP PK

Madshoes Carlos said...

Thanks Bill, it's a song's perfect colletion you got here from Paul Kantner.

Anonymous said...

Thank you.

snakeboy said...

Very good selection. Just read where Signe Anderson died on the same day as Paul. Sad.

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for this heart-felt, deeply emotional collection - a fine and generous, fitting obituary. The Chairman

Anonymous said...

Signe & Paul were both 74. Died two days before Marty's 74 birthday. Here is a quote from Marty- “One sweet lady has passed on. I imagine that she and Paul woke up in heaven and said ‘Hey what are you doing here? Let’s start a band’ and no sooner then said Spencer [Dryden, Jefferson Airplane’s late drummer] was there joining in! Heartfelt thoughts to all their family and loved ones.”

steVe

Anonymous said...

We've also lost Mic Gillette from the Tower of Power on Jan 16th!

Anonymous said...

Also Signe Anderson from the Airplane died the same day as Paul & both were 74. WOW.

Anonymous said...

Nice report on Signe to the left under Cun Cun Revival near the end of the Takes Off post w/Marty's comments. Larry

john said...

As an important part of my growing up, rock and roll is in me. Made by real people with real feelings. Thanks for the heartfelt elegy. Geez I'm feeling old. Thank You.

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