Mark Schweickart
Mike,
Regarding your Bob Seegar line: "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." It reminds me of a song I wrote a few years ago, although I did not realize at the time I was stealing the sentiment from Mr. Seger. My song, Young Punk Then went like this:
I once met a man down in New Orleans
Who rambled on about what is, and was, and what might have been
But I just said, “Hey, give it a rest old man.”
He looked at me like I was just some young punk then
Oh like I was just a young punk then
Yea just a young punk then, oh just a young punk then
He looked at me like I was just some young punk then
And I said, “Hey, give it a rest old man.”
And he said, “Well, hey smart guy, can I ask you this?
You ever felt a true love’s kiss?
Oh from the looks of you, well I would guess not.”
And a smug glance from me was all that he got.
I said, “ Well hey, what makes you think you know about who I am?”
And he said, “Son, you ever been to Viet-Nam?”
Oh I said, “Go sing those homeless-vet blues somewhere else old man.”
And he said, “You ever look deep within yourself, my friend?
Oh you might be surprised what’s lurking inside, my friend.
Oh have you ever faced those pitiless gods, and their demand for sacrifice?
Oh you ever pierce the heart of a pretty young wife?
Oh you ever turn your back on everything you know to be right”
Your dreams ever scorch your soul through sweat-filled nights?”
And I said, “Oh, you’re talking crazy old man.
You’ve got nothing to say.”
I pushed past him, went on my way.
But I had to look back, oh I just had to when I heard him say,
“Oh you know you won’t always be such a young punk my friend.
Oh, such a young punk, my friend.
Oh no you won’t always be such a young punk, my friend.”
Now it’s been twenty years, and I can still hear him.
And I think I know now a little about what he might have meant
About those pitiless gods and their demands
About being unable to make a righteous stand
And the thing I know most now is how little I knew back when
I was just a young punk then
Oh but things were so much easier then
Back when I was just a young punk then
Because now I know all about making that sacrifice
Oh and I know way too much about betraying a wife
And I know all about those sweat-filled nights
Ah things were so much easier when
I was just a young punk then
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