This latest Lark in the Park will be somewhat short, with a simple message.
As we all know, there are certain songs in our past that came out at just the right time to have a significant impact on the happenstance of what we were then. Sometimes those songs have universal appeal, sometimes they only click with a few folks here and there. In 1984, Howard Jones released “Hide and Seek” as a single, an effort that had middling results, lost as it was in the mix of other, more popular songs he shared.
At that time, I used to frequent (as in basically every other day) a combination headshop and record store known as “Starship” on the periphery of the University of Tulsa. Said establishment was an anomaly at the time, as Oklahoma was (and still essentially is) a bastion of conservatism that considers anything progressive or experimental or accepting as pure blasphemy. Still and all, this place somehow managed to survive, offering an amazing variety of obscure vinyl treasures, both domestic and imported.
I would spend hours flipping through every selection in the alphabetized offerings proffered in improvised wooden crates, shifting one row over every five minutes or so. (Anyone else remember those days? I know I’m not the only one, thank you Melissa Etheridge.) One random day, I stumbled across the 12-inch remix of Howard’s “Hide and Seek”. (Anyone remember 12-inch remixes on vinyl? Good times, long faded.) I immediately snatched the import up and headed toward the checkout counter that reeked of weed and patchouli.
Back in my domicile at the time, I slapped on the headphones and cranked the volume. And it was the money spot, the perfect song for exactly what I was going through at the time. These things happen, or at least did happen, before everything on the radio became all about pointless sound bites and useless swagger and empty nothingness.
Yes, I realize I sound like my grandfather. This also happens.
But back then, and still now, this song triggers goodness in me. And I celebrate that.
So, I’m sharing it with you today. And in doing so, I realize that many of you will not bother to review the accompanying video, which runs a hefty nine minutes, especially since said video only offers a single image that remains constant throughout the song. (It’s the same album cover as the one I bought 160 years ago!) But I still might be able to entice you with the words, so I’ll share those first. The words might seem simple, but there’s actually a lot going on here, with boomerangs of Hinduism and altruism and communalism and, well, lots of isms. And isn’t that a place where we should be, with the acceptance that none of us know everything but we all have puzzle pieces to contribute?
The Words:
There was a time when there was nothing at all
Nothing at all, just a distant hum
There was a being and he lived on his own
He had no one to talk to, and nothing to do
He drew up the plans,
Learned to work with his hands
A million years passed by and his work was done
And his words were these…
Hope you find it in everything,
Everything that you see
Hope you find it in everything,
Everything that you see
Hope you find it, hope you find it
Hope you find me in you
So she had built her elaborate home
With its ups and its downs,
Its rains and its sun
She decided that her work was done,
Time to have fun
and she found a game to play
Then as part of the game
She completely forgot where she’d hidden herself
And she spent the rest of her time
Trying to find the parts
Hope you find it in everything,
Everything that you see
Hope you find it in everything,
Everything that you see
Hope you find it, hope you find it
Hope you find me in you
There was a time when there was nothing at all, nothing at all
Just a distant hum
The Video. Headphones recommended for the full effect.
Cheers.
Categories: The Journey
Bonnywood Manor 
Certain songs generate lots of nostalgia. We’re out of town with a poor connection. I look forward to listening to this when we get home.
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Agreed, some songs instantly kick of the flashbacks, especially those that only make full sense for the folks who were there at the time….
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I remember those stores very well (and even know of one still in existence – fantastic spot).
I wasn’t familiar with this piece; thanks for sharing it. I really enjoyed it. Sometimes those pieces of music (or a film) can help a lot. 🙂
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I treasure those few stores that remain, where they still revere the concept of indie music and one can find all kinds of delights. Sadly, the “Starship” store in this story changed locations after decades near the University of Tulsa. They are now in a strip mall, essentially, and the inventory has been reduced to what sells best. It was sad when I visited that new location a few years ago, and I don’t plan on going back…
But yes, pieces of music can offer insights that simply cannot be expressed in words…
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Oh yes! I too remember those “before CD” days, browsing in record stores. Embarrassingly, my first record was Night Rocker from David Hasselhoff … well, it was the 80s and Knight Rider a big hit 🙈😂. In those days he was still cool … I still have all my records and occasionally I crank up my old stereo system and listen to one of them. Great memories! Thanks Brian for all your awesome and incredibly funny posts!
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I’ll politely ignore the David Hasselhoff selection, as I have my own past musical choices that give me pause today, 😉
Isn’t it great listening to old vinyl? There’s just a warmth to the sound of vinyl that cannot be replicated with all the digital things going on these days.
And thank you for you kind words about my posts. Bonnywood is all about laughter and sharing and memories…
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I really like the accompanying music. Although I will admit to not listening to the entire thing. What I heard I liked.
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Oh, no worries about listening to the whole thing, as it’s rather long. But I do love the music for this song, with the rise and fall of the percussion and the fluttery melody and the shimmery aspect of the climax. Good stuff…
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There was such a place in Salt Lake City in my day. They would have cranked up “Hide and Seek” (the long version). I can still smell the patchouli and weed in there, and remember the sensation of finding a place that just fit me like a glove to a hand. “The Blue Mouse ‘Art” Theater” was adjacent to this shop, and there I discovered ‘Rocky Horror” and an obsession was born. Did one lead to another? The more I hear of “Hide and Seek” the more I’m reminded of Pink Floyd’s “Division Bell”. My goodness. How did I not know of this gold nugget? Thanks for sharing your treasure with me. You truly are the best. ❤
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I’m all about the “artsy” and “funky” places I discovered with great relish in my formative years. I truly believe that those places helped keep me grounded in the midst of overwhelming conservatism. In an interesting comparison, I first discovered “Rocky Horror” right about the same time that I found “Starship Records and Tapes (And Headshop)”. And it was a revelation to be in both that movie theater and record store, learning that there are other kindred folk out there, all of us yearning for better…
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I forget the name of the head shop in Salt Lake, just the name of the theater remains, but there is where I first flew my freak flag and let it wave proudly. We outnumber those conservatives, it might be said. Amazing places. I met a lot of kindred spirits in my midnight trips to Frank’s castle….
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Wow, I completely forgot about this song. I listened twice. Still poignant and enigmatic and takes on a whole new meaning now. I’m not crying, you’re crying 😭
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No, you’re crying. Okay, we’re all crying. Some songs have a power that never fades, even if you can only find them on old, scratch-up vinyl… 😉
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I’ve never heard this gem. Thank you! It reminds me of one of my favorite albums… “Tales From Topographic Oceans” from Yes… double album, 4 songs.
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I’m glad that I shared something new for you. And now you’ve got me scouring Amazon in search of a remastered copy of “Topographic”… 😉
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Nice lyrics. Although I have no idea what the sound difference between vinyl and digital is, or what “Rocky Horror” or “Starship” is, I find them intriguing. If they can excite such emotional attachment, it must be something wonderful. Too bad I’m not musical at all, but I love good lyrics. Is this an antique of a million years old? LOL.
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For me, digitally recorded music, although very precise and clear, can sound “cold”, whereas analog recordings (vinyl) have a warmer, more natural sound. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a 1975 movie/musical that is campy and outrageous. It’s completely silly and over the top, but it’s great fun and has some terrific music. “Starship” is the name of the music store where I used to buy all my vinyl records during my younger years.
I’m not musical, either, but I have a great appreciation for the folks who have such talents…
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No wonder people collect vinyl records. I just knew something must be there if some people can be so enthusiastic, but I didn’t know what it is. LOL. I heard about “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and even had a glimpse of it–I forget how and where. It’s a very weird movie, way beyond my capacity of understanding. I can understand horror movies, but this movie is not a usual horror movie. LOL. That’s long time ago. Probably I should revisit it now and maybe I can understand more. Thank you for all these cultural advice, as always. You have the talent to explain a cultural maze and extract its content with simple and humorous language. 🤣😂😜
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Oh yeah! Unless you were born on one of the moons of Jupiter there’s that one place, that one song, that one hot dog, that one scandalous look — and they’re all different but all exactly the same. Rohan the Record Man, 99 Luftballoons, 1984. cheers
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It sounds like we were both making pivotal purchases at the same time. “99 Luftballoons” was huge on my college campus. We were smack in the middle of conservative Tulsa, but it was a private liberal arts school so naturally we experimented with everything we could find. Some things worked out, some things did not… 😉
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They’ve played the hell out of it since and it’s become as bit of a cliché but at the time … the first time. Yeah, some things work and some — not so much. cheers
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I haven’t thought about Howard Jones in years. That was beautiful–thanks for reminding me what a great musician he is. I used to teach poetry and used album covers to analyze the relationship between art and music. Just not the same with CD covers, and now? Give me vinyl any day!
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I went through a severe Howard Jones fetish back in the day. And while I enjoyed his “popular” songs, I was most intrigued by the B-sides and obscure tracks that you could only find on imports. He truly is a very talented artist who managed to be arty and “pop” at the same time.
Your teaching gig sounds terrific. I would have loved to have done something like that. A bit jealous, here.
And yes, big-ass album covers and warm vinyl are sorely missed at Bonnywood…
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The artwork on some of them is incredible–that first Duran Duran album?!
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SO many great album covers back in the day. I actually used to decorate my apartment with the best of them. Of course, being broke-ass poor when I first started out helped develop this design scheme, but I really did like looking at them… 😉
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I claim to be a fan of Howard Jones, but I’d never even heard of this song before. Thanks for sharing it. It’s beautiful and haunting, and I’m so glad to know of it.
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I was a hugely-geeky music fiend back in the day, so when I would run across an artist that I really liked (and Howard was certainly one of them), I would track down everything they’ve ever done. Of course, I was also poor back in that same day, so normally I would have to save my pennies until I could afford/justify buying the more obscure, hard-to-find releases. But when I found THIS import in the bin at the record store I babbled about above? The budget went out the window. Sometimes you know, and I knew, and I was transported when I raced home and placed the shiny vinyl disc on my record player….
By the way, it’s always good to hear from you. We’ve been bumping up against one another for years now, and I rather cherish it…
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