Listen to The Gentle People, Hear What They Have to Say

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Long ago, (back in the 60’s) I fell in love with a song writer, by the name of Biff Rose. From time to time he was able to be seen on TV shows like, Smothers Brothers on CBS, and Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show on NBC. Biff was a breath of fresh air in, what was changing into a less uptight society.

The Exodus was in full swing to Watts, and the Kent State Riot (1970) had not yet, brought shame to our Nation, and we all (those under 30) really believed that the Country would take on a more peaceful attitude and kindness toward each other.  It was during this time that Biff surfaced at “The Bitter End”, a club in The City. (you know the City, NYC)

Biff (Paul Rose) came to the City from New Orleans and had a feel, sound, and vibrence, that had not yet been experienced by long haired, hippie, freaks. He was funny, talented, energetic, and controversial. He had balls, and that’s why most of us, from the City followed him so closely.

Pounding on the piano, smiling broadly, (sometimes, laughing) he rekindled the sense of Vaudeville, honky tonk, and blues all at the same time. He was a joy to hear, watch, and experience. Tickling the ivories, his fans, and himself, he enjoyed every moment that he gave us, usually stoned, but none the less, talented and entertaining.

“Buzz the Fuzz” was one of the first songs learned to love. About the Pusher (a Cop) on the Police Force, who fell in love with “Alice D. Head” (a Bad Trip).  Biff told us how it was and how it was going to be, here in Utopia. I loved him for his honesty and insight into life and into what it could become.

One of the most eye opening songs, for me, that he wrote was “Color Blind Blues”, where he applied colors to all the Civil Concerns.  “The Civil Rights movement is for people who are brown. The Communist movement is for people who are red. There’s some whites hanging around, and the VietNamiese are yellow, so it’s said. I got the Blues, I got the colored blind blues.” “Black Power, White Power, Green Power, Purple, thanks a lot. At the end of the rainbow, I just know there’s a pot, and I hear it’s gold.”  We believed that with the passing of time, the hatred, fear, and differences would fade away and we would all come together as one.

All Nations, all People, with a united feeling of brotherhood and kindness for each other, was what we really believed. It was around the time of Woodstock, (1969) just north of the City, where we cemented that belief. For 3 days we laughed, cried, made love, and bonded with each other.  No arrests, no violence, and no anger (except against the war). This is when Biff surfaced with his songs of truth, compassion, and insight.

In the early 70’s, we were entrenched in the belief and faith of good in people. We offered and took rides from people we had never seen before. We hitched across the Country without any fear or apprehension of harm, after all we were Americans and this was our Country.

It was during the early 70’s, when Biff wrote his “Children of Light” album. ” Listen to the Gentle People” was our theme song in those days. We loved everyone (not in the biblicalway). I hate to disappoint those youngsters, (under 40) who thought that we screwed our way through life, back then, but it’s not true. Most of us had committed relationships, either married or common law and we wanted it that way. Just because we hugged someone, that didn’t mean that the next step was screwing our brains out, but the Establishment thought we did and that’s how we were presented to Society.

“Listen to the Gentle People”, to me, was the best all time song, Biff had ever written.  “Just hear what they have to say. Look them in the eye and take the gentleness they give today.”  “Love to the Gentle People, they never speak of war, or dwell on suffering, ’cause they’ve been there before”

Over the years, we have become a more distrustful, cynical, dishonorable people. We look out for “Number One”, ourselves.  We turn our heads, away, when we see suffering, sorrow, or poverty. We view those conditions as weakness. Shame on us.

We are our Brother’s Keepers. When one of us is suffering, we are all suffering. When one of us is poor, we are all poor. When one of us is sad, we are all sad. When one of us is silenced, we are all silenced. When one of us is not free, none of us are free.

We all have to be free, without exception, to express who and what we are. If one of us is held back from this, we are all imprisoned.  Be kind to one another. Be patient with one another. 

Smile, the world is watching us. Let’s all get weak and stupid, and finally take care of each other, as we know we should.