The trio's fans were amazed by the lightning style, precise technique highly lyrical solos of the band’s 18 year old guitarist Phil Keaggy, who had the use of only nine fingers. Combined with the tasteful, rhythmic bass lines of Daniel Pecchio and the sharp, assertive drumming of John Sferra, Glass Harp created a wall of sound that thrilled sell-out crowds across the upper Midwest and beyond. They garnered a large and loyal regional following. National notoriety followed when they toured with Traffic, Yes, The Kinks, Humble Pie, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, and Grand Funk Railroad. Through the efforts of manager Chip Killinger, they connected with Lewis Merenstein, and with him, even greater national attention came with the release of the band's three critically- acclaimed Decca(MCA) LPs: Glass Harp, Synergy, and It Makes Me Glad. The band's highly energetic and wildly improvisational live concerts fueled the band's legend. Concert goers from the Fillmore West to Carnegie Hall turned into instant fans.
Glass Harp's music has been cited as an influence over an astounding variety of artists, from guitar heroes (Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Rick Derringer) and jam bands (Derek Trucks Band, Ekoostik Hookah, Col. Bruce Hampton & The Code Talkers), to progressive rock (Kansas, Adrian Belew, Mike Keneally, Spock's Beard) and even heavy metal (King's X, P.O.D.). In their short life, the band made an indelible mark on the history of rock 'n' roll.
The band dissolved on the cusp of achieving mainstream rock stardom when Phil Keaggy left to become a pioneer in Christian music. It's within this scene that Phil found a home releasing 50 solo recordings, performing live throughout the world. With his Christian music recordings Phil has earned 5 Dove awards, 2 Grammy nominations, 2 Nashville Music Awards, and he has finished #2 and #3 twice each in the annual Guitar Player Magazine poll.
In 1997 the band acquired and released the “Live at Carnegie Hall” recording that was made in 1972. Glass Harp reunited in 2000 for a show at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2000 they recorded the "Live with The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra" CD in their hometown. The concert was recorded and independently released in 2001 on the “Strings Attached” CD. Response to the CD was great and created more opportunities to play live. In 2002 they began work on their first studio project in 30 years. They recorded 16 songs at Blue Desert Recording on "The Row" in Nashville and in Phil's home studio. The 2003 CD HOURGLASS was mixed in Ohio and mastered in Nashville with Richard Dodd.They released the "Hourglass" studio CD in 2003, and the triple-live album "Stark Raving Jams" in 2004. They toured in 2003 and 2004. Glass Harp has rekindled interest amongst longtime fans while finding an entire new generation of listeners through the internet and live concerts.
Southbound
Glass Harp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blue skies, a sunny day.
Dream while a short delay,
We can laugh at all they say.
Speaking when there are no sounds,
Acting funny, see the clowns.
We are near the placid grounds,
While mocking the little towns.
And we have our yesterdays.
A little time we wish to borrow,
To speak what we want to say.
The passing day on through the night,
Sees one through on till the light.
Mister Sun, don't shine so bright,
We haven't time to even write.
The song Southbound by Glass Harp is a reflective and introspective song about the passage of time and our ability to enjoy the present moment. The lyrics describe a journey southward, where the travelers take a moment to appreciate the blue skies and sunny day, dreaming while they pause briefly. They have an attitude of amusement towards those who criticize or judge them and they enjoy making fun of the small towns. The lyrics emphasize the importance of living in the moment and cherishing the time we have, as they reflect on both their past and their future. They express a desire to borrow just a little bit more time to say what they want to say. The passing of time is depicted as relentless, moving through day and night, even as they wish they had more time to write.
The song seems to be an invitation to reflect on life, time and the importance of staying present in the now. The lyrics encourage us to enjoy each moment and not let ourselves get bogged down by worries or regrets. The imagery used in the song - the blue skies, sunshine, and clowns - suggests a bright and carefree atmosphere, which is juxtaposed with the weighty subject of time and its passage. The fact that the song is sung in a slow, dreamy voice adds to its reflective mood and reinforces the message of taking time to savor life.
Line by Line Meaning
South Bound we're on our way,
We are traveling south and heading towards our destination.
Blue skies, a sunny day.
The weather is pleasant and conducive for travel with clear skies and sunshine.
Dream while a short delay,
We may have encountered a brief obstacle, but we can use the time to catch up on some rest or gather our thoughts.
We can laugh at all they say.
We are not bothered by the opinions of others and can find humor in their words.
Speaking when there are no sounds,
We communicate with each other without speaking out loud.
Acting funny, see the clowns.
We are lighthearted and playful, enjoying each other's company and amusing ourselves along the way.
We are near the placid grounds,
We are approaching a peaceful and serene location.
While mocking the little towns.
We do not take the small towns we pass through seriously and may tease them lightly as we go.
And we have our tomorrows,
We have future plans and opportunities ahead of us.
And we have our yesterdays.
We have past experiences and memories that have shaped us.
A little time we wish to borrow,
We would like a brief respite to reflect or discuss our thoughts.
To speak what we want to say.
We desire the chance to express ourselves openly and honestly.
The passing day on through the night,
Time continues to move forward without pause.
Sees one through on till the light.
We will keep moving towards our next destination until we reach daylight.
Mister Sun, don't shine so bright,
We are tired and would prefer a little shade or a cooler temperature.
We haven't time to even write.
We are too busy with our journey to stop and record our experiences.
Contributed by Olivia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
olderendirt
It still sounds fresh and beautiful 50 years later.
Les Anderson
Just beautiful!
Thomas McIntosh
Love