The Song In My Head

Yes.. I am an Eagle Scout.  Get your laughs out now, cus when the bomb drops, ya’ll be coming to my wigwam and eating the food that I learned how to prepare in my wilderness survival class!

Apart from being a Scout, I also worked professionally for the BSA in the Sierra Mountains. Living without parents every summer for 6 years can open a young boys eyes to many worldly vices (you’d be surprised how many scouts and counselors get drunk and smoke out on the weekends).  

One of my greatest experiences from scouting was the introduction to new music I had never heard of before.  Bands like CSNY, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Phish, Bare Naked Ladies, the Cure… etc.  When my days off would arrive, I usually wound up spending all the money I earned on music.  

Anyhoo,

The one CD I constantly played out was Cat Steven’s Greatest Hits.  His songs just seemed to fit with the environment that I awoke to every day. This was music you could hike with, camp with, work, swim, eat, and dream to.  My very first performance ever (I was only 13) was in front of 500 scouts by a bonfire where I sang “Moonshadow”.  The standing ovation I received afterwards definitely cemented the music bug forever in me.

When I listen to his songs now I always feel young.  Here are some from the greatest hits and Harold and Maude (one of the best movies evah):

Moonshadow

Hard Headed Woman

The Wind

Don’t Be Shy