His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
Meditation
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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Is flowing on heavenly seas
The silent commands and heard throughout the lands
And are weaving his patterns with ease
All of the beautiful mountains beyond
Can surely not tempt me to stay
Even my musical melody thoughts
Wave upon wave of life within me
Give me the strength to go on
Wave after wave of love all around me
Give me the time to catch on
Wave upon wave of life within me
Give me the strength to go on
Wave after wave of love all around me
Give me the time to catch on
[Repeat all]
Arlo Guthrie's song "Meditation" is a beautiful ode to the healing power of love. The song is a meditation on the transience of life and the beauty of love that sustains us through it all. The lyrics "Loving in golden temples, my love, Is flowing on heavenly seas" describe the magnitude and vibrance of his love that is constantly flowing, even in the face of adversity. The silence that surrounds the singer throughout the world only amplifies this love, weaving patterns of peace and purity around him, and reverberating through the mountains and valleys.
The singer is aware of the fleeting nature of life and its many temptations, represented here as mountains, but he is able to let them go because his love is stronger. Even his melodies become mere memories of past love and life, yet he remains steadfast in his pursuit of love. The repetition of "Wave upon wave of life within me" shows the endurance and perseverance of his love, while "Wave after wave of love all around me" represents the never-ending nature of love and its capacity to transcend all obstacles.
In summary, the song is a meditation on the transcendent, healing power of love that can sustain and uplift us even in the darkest of times, through its waves of strength and support.
Line by Line Meaning
Loving in golden temples, my love
I am deeply in love and feel as though I am living in a divine, majestic temple.
Is flowing on heavenly seas
My love is powerful and all-encompassing like the vastness of the sea.
The silent commands and heard throughout the lands
My love is so strong that its influence can be felt everywhere without the need for vocal expression.
And are weaving his patterns with ease
My love is creating a beautiful tapestry that connects all things with ease and grace.
All of the beautiful mountains beyond
Although there are many beautiful things beyond me, they are not enough to keep me from moving forward.
Can surely not tempt me to stay
I am not easily swayed to stay in one place or with one thing.
Even my musical melody thoughts
My creative ideas and inspirations are fleeting and easily forgotten.
Are memories in yesterday
In just a short amount of time, my past musical ideas have become distant memories.
Wave upon wave of life within me
My inner strength and resilience are akin to the constant waves of life all around me.
Give me the strength to go on
I am asking for the strength to keep moving forward despite any challenges or obstacles that come my way.
Wave after wave of love all around me
Love is everywhere and surrounds me like the constant waves of the ocean.
Give me the time to catch on
I am asking for the opportunity to understand and fully grasp the power of love in all aspects of life.
Wave upon wave of life within me
My inner strength and resilience are akin to the constant waves of life all around me.
Give me the strength to go on
I am asking for the strength to keep moving forward despite any challenges or obstacles that come my way.
Wave after wave of love all around me
Love is everywhere and surrounds me like the constant waves of the ocean.
Give me the time to catch on
I am asking for the opportunity to understand and fully grasp the power of love in all aspects of life.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ARLO GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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