Among the hundreds of artists he's worked with include Phil Ochs, Tim Buckley, Haruomi Hosono, The Byrds, Rufus Wainwright, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, U2, Joanna Newsom, Inara George, Keith Moon, Frank Zappa, Harpers Bizarre, Little Feat, Ringo Starr, Silverchair, and Skrillex.
In addition to producing, Parks has released seven studio albums of his own recordings: Song Cycle, Discover America, Clang of the Yankee Reaper, Jump!, Tokyo Rose, Songs Cycled, and with Brian Wilson, Orange Crate Art. He has also released a live album, Moonlighting: Live at the Ash Grove. His first official release was the 1966 single Number Nine, a modernized version of Beethoven's 9th backed with Do What You Wanta.
Parks has also established himself in film scores, and over the years has directed, arranged, produced, and composed soundtracks for a great number of motion pictures and television shows.
During his childhood, Parks became extremely fond of old-style American music, most notably the sounds of Tin Pan Alley. This interest in Depression-era songwriting would correlate heavily with his artistic goals and interests during the 1960s and beyond. He was also deeply affected by musicians Spike Jones and Les Paul, which led him to develop an interest with studio experimentation in the form of pop music.
Look Away
Van Dyke Parks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In that great reunion in that by and by
Look away, look away, look away, look away
First come first serve will be the president
If he had the nerve he'd ask the goverment
Look away, look away, look away, look away, look away
Let the population be of one accord
Look away, look away, look awooo
The lyrics of Van Dyke Parks's song Look Away are a potent comment on the social struggles of America. The song is presented as a message of hope that gives emphasis to the idea that there may be a day in which the issues that divide us will be resolved. It is a reminder that, no matter what happens or how disheartening it may be, we are all in this together, and we must hold onto our hope and faith that, eventually, things will change for the better.
The first verse of the song speaks about breaking bread and hosting a great reunion in a by and by. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the coming together of people and the quest for unity. The second verse deals with social inequality as the "first come, first serve" philosophy of capitalism enables the president to become such, if only he had the nerve to ask for it. The third and final verse is a call to action as Van Dyke Parks urges people to board the train of change and let the population be of one accord.
Line by Line Meaning
We will break bread and we won't wonder why
We will share food together, without questioning the reasons or origins behind it
In that great reunion in that by and by
We will gather again in a joyful event at an unspecified future time
Look away, look away, look away, look away
Don't pay attention to negative thoughts or outside distractions
First come first serve will be the president
The person who takes charge early on will become the leader
If he had the nerve he'd ask the government
If the leader is brave enough, they would seek guidance and support from the established powers
Look away, look away, look away, look away, look away
Do not be swayed by negativity or distractions
Hear the train comin, you all get on board
A new opportunity is arriving, and everyone is encouraged to take advantage of it
Let the population be of one accord
Let everyone come together and unite for the common good
Look away, look away, look awooo
Do not be persuaded by outside forces, and remain focused on what is important
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stuart Adamson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind