Jimmy Webb's The Highwayman

[Guest guest]

Namaste Brother Len,

 

Was a kid while my own brother was dallying in samsara - he used to

play Glen Campbell over and over. Agree about Jimmy Webb's

lyrics And in full resonance that who in their right mind would

wanna come back again and again, unless they wish to, like the

boddhitsatvas? Correct spelling?

 

You did say "Neo-Pagan" friend: As you know, many 'Neos' don't

quite grasp the idea of Moksha and many more do not understand the

term in its original essence. Thus it probably didn't enter your

pal's conscious to pen the word "Moksha" or something along those

lines.

 

Much love

Simone

 

 

, Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108>

wrote:

>

>

> --- Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108> wrote

>

> About a week ago, on National Public Radio, they

> interviewed American country-singer Glen Campbell,

> and the songwriter Jimmy Webb, who penned a number of

> Glen's hits ("Wichitaw Lineman," The Moon'a A Harsh

> Mistress," etc.). Webb's lyrics are often

> intelligent, moving, and evocative.

>

> They played the following song in live performance.

> Perhaps being aware of my father's immanent death,

> it moved me to tears. But it typifies the difference

> between the Western and the Hindu/Buddhist views of

> reincarnation. I found myself talking to the radio:

>

> "Yeah, well we Westerners see reincarnation as a new

> adventure. And the song's examples are all

> romantic, swashbuckling adventures. The vast

> majority of lifetimes are devoid of heroism or

> even real

> challenges. Nobody remembers past lives of poverty

> and hardship, frustration, illness, perpetual

> childbirth, with no hope for release. The Eastern

> view of reincarnation, the point of the exercise, is

> to get OFF the wheel, not continuously ride it like

> a kid on a merry-go-round!"

>

> A Neo-Pagan friend wrote me, "May your beloved

> Ganesha remove all obstacles to your father's quick

> reincarnation into a better, more exciting life." I

> dunno... What about Moksha?

>

> Here's the lyric:

>

> > >

> > > THE HIGHWAYMAN

> > >

> > > I was a highwayman

> > > Along the coach roads I did ride