All my faith got caught in a maze.

[Pete70s]

I'm usually not one to read into song lyrics, but every once in a while I find a song that speaks to me.

So last night I'm listening to the song "None Of Your Doing" by Steppenwolf. I've known the song all my life, but never bothered to care what the song was about. Recently I read John Kay's biography, and he talked about the song. It's about a Vietnam vet who comes home from the war to see that the world he knew has stayed the same, but he's a different person and wishes he could once again relate to the people he loves. But he can't, because he's had his innocence stripped from him.

Sometimes I feel that way. Even though I've never been through a war, I've seen and experienced things that have done damage to my psyche over the years. Sometimes I'd give ANYTHING to have my innocence back..

Anyway, I listened to the song several times. Despite it's subject matter it's really a catchy, upbeat song. Here's the lyrics:

If I could show you where I've been
Perhaps you'd know and never ask again
Could I forget the things I've seen
Perhaps I'd smile and we would be the same

I can't return to where you're goin'
What I have learned, it can't be undone
Don't blame yourself, don't you know
It was none of your doin'

All my faith got caught in a maze
Lost our dreams in a far a way place
Now that I have seen you again
Can't believe your world's still the same

Sometimes I slip into the past
When life was sweet
I thought that it would always last
It was so easy to believe that all is well
They always catch the thief

I can't return to where you're goin'
What I have learned, it can't be undone
Don't blame yourself, don't you know
It was none of your doin'

[Dawn]

I've never heard the song itself, but would be interested in checking it out. Very powerful lyrics and message. Was it mentioned in the bio what inspired John to write this song - perhaps the personal experiences of a friend?

[Pete70s]

admin said:

I've never heard the song itself, but would be interested in checking it out. Very powerful lyrics and message. Was it mentioned in the bio what inspired John to write this song - perhaps the personal experiences of a friend?

John wrote it after talking to Vietnam vets who returned from war only to be spat on and misunderstood by people who had no idea what they had been through.

The song is on the album "The Second", and also appears on the "Rest In Peace" compilation.

BTW Dawn, I like the new pic in your signature. If I could caption it, I'd say "So Mike, What do you think of my new song 'Til I Die?" "Well, it's kind of a downer, Bri..."

[Dawn]

pete70s said:

admin said:

I've never heard the song itself, but would be interested in checking it out. Very powerful lyrics and message. Was it mentioned in the bio what inspired John to write this song - perhaps the personal experiences of a friend?

John wrote it after talking to Vietnam vets who returned from war only to be spat on and misunderstood by people who had no idea what they had been through.

The song is on the album "The Second", and also appears on the "Rest In Peace" compilation.

BTW Dawn, I like the new pic in your signature. If I could caption it, I'd say "So Mike, What do you think of my new song 'Til I Die?" "Well, it's kind of a downer, Bri..."

It always angers and saddens me to read of how the returning soldiers were treated. Regardless of people's opinions at that time of whether or not the war in Vietnam was justified, these men and women bravely served their country and should have been given more respect.

Thanks about the pic! It would have been interesting to have been at the session when it was taken. I've heard conflicting accounts of how much involvement Brian had with the Surf's Up album in a production role, but his songs on it are nothing short of amazing. I'm hoping the new Brian biography that's coming out next week will shed new light on this era, as it's one of the periods I've been most interested in since getting into their music.

[Pete70s]

admin said:

It always angers and saddens me to read of how the returning soldiers were treated. Regardless of people's opinions at that time of whether or not the war in Vietnam was justified, these men and women bravely served their country and should have been given more respect.

I thouroughly and whole-heartedly agree! Just about the only thing I hated about the whole "Woodstock generation". GD Hippies!!

[Railyn]

pete70s said:

admin said:

It always angers and saddens me to read of how the returning soldiers were treated. Regardless of people's opinions at that time of whether or not the war in Vietnam was justified, these men and women bravely served their country and should have been given more respect.

I thouroughly and whole-heartedly agree! Just about the only thing I hated about the whole "Woodstock generation". GD Hippies!!

It's a touchy subject with me. My dad's a VietNam vet. He was in the Air Force. It upsets me something fierce when people, to this day, pick on the VietNam vets. They didn't run. They didn't hide. They did what they were asked to do, and got stomped on in return.

The only time I ever got in to a fight in school was with a girl who called my dad a "baby killer". He came home mentally in one piece, but he's suffering some of the effects of Agent Orange. He gets a mere $200 from the government every month for his diabetes, and his destroyed joints.

I've never heard this song, but I like what it says. When I met Charlie Daniels, I gave him a big thank you for drawing attention to the plight of our VietNam vets. Very few people dared to touch the topic. Songs like this one, and Charlie's "Still In Saigon" and Paul Hardcastle's "19" serve a purpose - they humanize the "monsters" that many people percieve the VietNam vets to be. My dad had a hard time sitting through movies like Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, and thel like but he's glad for them, as it gives a taste in to the chaos that went on, and attempts to tell the story as it should be told.

Dad, Nelson and I are active in the cause (Nelson's step dad did 3 or 4 tours of duty in the Army as a truck driver). There's a group of VietNam vets around here who will show up whenever troops come home from the Middle East (who are starting to see the backlash that they saw in the 60's and 70's fighting an unpopular war). They want to make sure that they know that someone cares about them, and is proud of what they've done.

I'm VERY proud of my dad, even if many of his fellow countrymen aren't.

[Pete70s]

railyn said:

pete70s said:

I thouroughly and whole-heartedly agree! Just about the only thing I hated about the whole "Woodstock generation". GD Hippies!!

It's a touchy subject with me. My dad's a VietNam vet. He was in the Air Force. It upsets me something fierce when people, to this day, pick on the VietNam vets. They didn't run. They didn't hide. They did what they were asked to do, and got stomped on in return.

The only time I ever got in to a fight in school was with a girl who called my dad a "baby killer". He came home mentally in one piece, but he's suffering some of the effects of Agent Orange. He gets a mere $200 from the government every month for his diabetes, and his destroyed joints.

I've never heard this song, but I like what it says. When I met Charlie Daniels, I gave him a big thank you for drawing attention to the plight of our VietNam vets. Very few people dared to touch the topic. Songs like this one, and Charlie's "Still In Saigon" and Paul Hardcastle's "19" serve a purpose - they humanize the "monsters" that many people percieve the VietNam vets to be. My dad had a hard time sitting through movies like Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, and thel like but he's glad for them, as it gives a taste in to the chaos that went on, and attempts to tell the story as it should be told.

Dad, Nelson and I are active in the cause (Nelson's step dad did 3 or 4 tours of duty in the Army as a truck driver). There's a group of VietNam vets around here who will show up whenever troops come home from the Middle East (who are starting to see the backlash that they saw in the 60's and 70's fighting an unpopular war). They want to make sure that they know that someone cares about them, and is proud of what they've done.

I'm VERY proud of my dad, even if many of his fellow countrymen aren't.

My girlfriend's dad was in Vietnam in 1965. He's still with us, and in pretty good health. While I don't agree with what's going on in Iraq right now, my anger is not towards the brave people who may NEVER see their families again.

There was a scene in the mimi-series "The 60's", where all the hippie demonstrators were chanting "We're not against the soldiers, we're against the war" over and over.

Ya, RIGHT!