Pearls Before Swine was a psychedelic folk group from the late sixties who released some truly spectacular work. Their first two albums, One Nation Underground and Balaclava are particularly good but the fourth album, The Use of Ashes, is very fine as well (it includes the cut "Rocket Man" which is absolutely gorgeous and was the inspiration for Elton John's hit song).
The group was led by Tom Rapp, who was the driving force behind the ethereal music and beautiful lyrics. He has been hailed by some as an unappreciated genius and that may not be far off the mark. Certainly the music he made was very special indeed. Special, but not lucrative. He gave up music, went to law school and became a civil rights attorney (this profile gives the full story). But he was discovered and re-discovered by various bands and he did eventually release another album in 1999, A Journal of the Plague Year, which is actually quite good.
Here are the lyrics to the song this post links to, Drop Out!, which was on the first album. Lovely song and if these lyrics don't bring out the inner hippie in you, nothing will!
Drop out with me, just live your
life behind your eyes
Your own skies, your own tomorrows
Don't you worry now, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
Just be yourself, no one can step inside your mind
From behind, if you just walk and
Don't you worry, girl, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
They made the rules and they laid it on us all
Don't you fall 'cause then they'll own you
Don't you worry, girl, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
They're using you to kill all the echoes still around
From the sound of calendars crumbling
Don't you worry, girl, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
They made the bomb, would they drop it on us all?
Great and small, but must we follow?
Don't you worry, girl, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
Drop out with me, just live your life behind your eye
Your own skies, your own tomorrows
Don't you worry girl, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
Your own skies, your own tomorrows
Don't you worry now, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
Just be yourself, no one can step inside your mind
From behind, if you just walk and
Don't you worry, girl, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
They made the rules and they laid it on us all
Don't you fall 'cause then they'll own you
Don't you worry, girl, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
They're using you to kill all the echoes still around
From the sound of calendars crumbling
Don't you worry, girl, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
They made the bomb, would they drop it on us all?
Great and small, but must we follow?
Don't you worry, girl, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
Drop out with me, just live your life behind your eye
Your own skies, your own tomorrows
Don't you worry girl, don't you worry
Whole world's in too big a hurry
This really brings back memories. I know what I'll be asking Alexa to play.
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