Lines of
Inspiration
Melodious expressions, Enduring Truisms
A
America
– the band
“Chewing on a piece of grass, walking down the road…”
Song Title: “Ventura
Highway”
Songwriter: Dewey Bunnell
The band:
1969 -What are the chances that three highly talented
American music artists would meet in a London High School as sons of US Air
Force personnel, and (in short order) become an internationally recognized band
called America? With British-American Dewey Bunnell at the penning helm and the
remarkable harmony produced by the founding three, the band soon enjoyed
worldwide acclaim as preeminent pop-rock, folk jazz artists which continued
well after returning to their American roots.
By 2006, Dewey’s often illusory, seemingly random lyrics,
accompanied by the band’s soft rock style, got them inducted into the Vocal
Group Hall of Fame. Six years later, they had a star on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame. Yet, according to Dewey, there are no random lines; each one has a
meaning. “Alligator lizards in the air”, for instance, is a description of
cloud formations one might see while “chewing on a piece of grass, walking down
the road.” Curiously, the line “Sorry boy, but I’ve been hit by purple rain,”
has not been explained by America the band, or the Artist Known As – Prince ;-)
However, when they were asked to play at (then) Gov. Jesse
Ventura’s inaugural celebration, two songs were specifically requested: The
first (of course) being “Ventura Highway”, and the second, “Horse with no Name”,
for Ventura’s wife; who was a ‘horse lady’.
So, how about that line? Does it call to mind a memory? Instill
a sense of wonder? Are you familiar with the song or band?
There's a whole lotta blogging going on right here!
