This past weekend I was sitting outside on a patio, enjoying the lovely weather and my morning cup of coffee. It was at a hotel in the Twin Cities and they have music piped out there. Generally I ignore the background music, but this playlist was actually pretty good. And then they played it. Manfred Mann's Earth Band's 'Blinded by the Light.' I commented to my husband that I had never liked this song, and we got to discussing it. First off, what are the lyrics? And what can they possibly mean? Some kind of druggy trip? Or a night in a club?
We found out that the song was written by Bruce Springsteen-who knew? When you look up the lyrics, the words don't mean much at all. It's just a song. No deep meaning. Just something to be enjoyed (or not).
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| Manfred Mann's Earth Band |
This year the theme of the library's Halloween trick-or-treat is Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', another piece of art that people are constantly looking for the meaning of. Some claim Lewis Carroll was under the influence of drugs when he wrote it. Or that Carroll had a problem with children. There are all kinds of scholarly papers that may be found online explaining the deep, possibly dark, meaning of Alice and her adventures.
My question is, why? Why are we looking for deep meanings in something that is a charming children's book? And it's not the only children's book to be dissected for some deeper meaning beyond enjoyment. J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings' has been put under a microscope. So have the Narnia Chronicles by C,S, Lewis. In fact, right now I am reading a book on how the Great War affected both of these men and their writings. Or take Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials." It is supposedly based on John Milton's "Paradise Lost", but on his website Pullman states that when people ask him the meaning of the story his reply is that "I'm not in the message business. I'm in the 'Once upon a time' business."
My own theory is that as adults we are looking for some more compelling reason why certain stories stick with us from childhood, apart from simple enjoyment. As adults we must leave that childhood sense of wonder and nonsense behind and find a rationale for our likes and dislikes. But why? Why do we need to justify liking this or that story? As well try to explain why you like 'Blinded by the Light' by Manfred Mann, or why you like chocolate, or anything else that defies descriptions and reasons. Retaining that childhood sense of wonder and delight is a beautiful thing. And if adults did not retain it, we wouldn't have an Alice in Wonderland, or Frodo or any other beloved characters of fiction, characters so beloved that we carry them along into adulthood.
Yes, perhaps there are deeper meanings to fairy tales and such. Perhaps they do speak to some deep psychological need in us all. But that is secondary to the simple enjoyment they give. I highly recommend re-reading that beloved childhood tale for your own pure enjoyment. Get reacquainted with your inner child.
I think I'll give Manfred Mann a second listen while I contemplate my Halloween costume.
Take your own trip down the rabbit hole at the Superior Public Library's Halloween Trick-or-Treat! Friday October 30th from 10:00-noon and 2:00-4:00. Bring along a non-perishable food item for the food shelf.
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