A dear friend of mine died of leukemia not long before Seasons in the Sun came out. We were both 12 at the time. I shed tears every single time this song plays.
From the dad side of things... In 2013 my son was packing for his freshman trip to college. I didn't pay too much attention as my kids were all very self-reliant and level-headed. After loading up the car and right before taking off, he asked if he could take some of my CD's with him. I didn't even know he had a CD player but apparently so. I expected him to pick a few of the more recent ones but instead, he took my entire collection of 70's artists - Boston, Carpenters, Led Zepplin, etc. - over 100 discs. It dawned on me he wanted to bring a piece of the life we'd shared with him. A great memory and again, a testament to the connecting power of great music.
Adam, you are a blessing. Here's my story about this song. I was born in 1970. My sister was 9 years older than me. When I was 5 she had the 45 of this song, from Bell Records. I would have her play it 3 or 4 times in a row sometimes on her stereo and I would always cry because it was sad. She would kneel down on the burnt orange shag carpet in her bellbottoms with her Farrah Fawcett hair and hug me and tell me it was ok to feel music in that way. We became different people over the years, as siblings do. When I graduated from college she gave me a 45 of this song matted and framed. Our mother died in January 2019. Summer of 2020 she called to tell me she was at the e.r. and didn't feel good. Five weeks and one day later she was dead from brain cancer. Our father died in 2021. I am the only one left. The story of your father's funeral is beautiful. Your family is beautiful. Carry fire, brother.
Both of my parents, and my sister are also gone. My mother lived longer than the others did. But, she died in 2019. One of the things I eventually noticed was that they served as the record keepers in my family. If I wanted to know when such-and-such died, or got married, all I had to do was ask. That's gone now. And, I do miss it.
@@EdwardKrzynowek-fx5to Yes, the record keepers. Because we forget so much and without them, who will remember all of the wonderful dates we should commemorate?
@@jeansalzman2.012 I do miss the company of the loved ones I left behind. But, I have a lot of good memories that followed me wherever I went. Especially when times were tough, they provided at least a little cushion against life's bumpy ride. I'm happy to say that it still works. There have been many bumps. So, I'll take all of the cushions I can get. Your comment has me remembering a poem I learned in school. My English teacher gave it to us as a mandatory assignment. I think she picked a good one, about not wasting your time. Make that, 'precious time'. These are the first and last stanzas of the short poem, To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time ---by Robert Herrick--- "Gather ye Rose-buds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying: And this same flower that smiles to day, To morrow will be dying... ...Then be not coy, but use your time; And while ye may, go marry: For having lost but once your prime, You may forever tarry". I was fortunate enough to talk to friends and relatives of all ages. I say, 'fortunate', because my older relatives knew things that my younger relatives didn't. Some of my same-age friends were surprised by the fact that I had friends who were a lot older than me. The time I spent together with my older friends was worth every minute. Even though I was just a kid, they told me a lot of great stories--I mean, stories about their life.
My college roommate's girlfriend used to change the lyrics of this song to "We had joy, we had fun, we went streaking in the sun, but the cops drew their guns and they shot us in the buns." Good times.
You know why I watch your videos? You’re not a critic but an explorer of songs that people created that tell of their emotions, experiences and opinions. There is beauty in older songs and new songs. They all tell a story. Music is the language of the soul.
Very true. It is this emotive force that original scores and emotive lyrics possess that drew we to music … and has accompanied me for 57 years. I salute the original musicians (whilst I scorn the wannabe ‘artists’ that produce [c]rap).
I just commented about the B-side of WWYGB. I had the 45 growing up and never listened to the A-side but once. Endless Sleep on the B-side is almost psychedelic with Terry playing a killer riff on Fuzz guitar.
I was a very depressed child. When this was popular I was about 8 years old and when my parents weren’t home, I would put it on replay on the record player, crawl under a table and just weep. I’ve made it to 56 and it’s on my already made funeral play list. I’ve always had a strange connection to this song.
The preteen years were rough in many ways. “Seasons in the Sun” and “Shannon” by Henry Gross never failed to get the waterworks going when I needed a good cry.
Oh gosh yes, when I saw that this video was about Seasons in the Sun I immediately thought of Shannon also. I was a preteen when they came out. Despite being fairly young, I got the idea of death from both. Interestingly, the stalker feel of Every Breath You Take went right over my head when it came out, despite being in my 20s.
“Alone again, naturally.” I popped up a link to that song while bantering on Facebook with some friends and one lady from Portsmouth, UK told me “No way am I clicking that bloody link…”😄
I remember being sick-to-death of it from over-play on the radio stations. I graduated H.S. in 1974. I tended to follow roads less traveled, but I have found your stories in particular to be very interesting, thanks to your parents' input! Thank you for giving these old songs new life!
Reminds me of the year I turned 10, the year this song ran up the charts, I had just buried a classmate who drowned at 9 and this song really resonated with me.
I'm sorry for your loss. This song came out when I was nine, and it made me think of Ronny. He was a neighbor, classmate, and friend who passed when we were six, from a bowel obstruction. Death is a horrible lesson to learn, especially when you're a child and another child passes.
I remember hearing this song on the school bus in the spring of 1974 when I was 17 and had my whole life in front of me. The deepness of this song was haunting to me then and now. It sure takes this 67 year retired woman back to simpler times.
First, I was a fan of Rod McKuen. I was able to see him at Massey Hall in Toronto. I drove through torrential rain to get there from Barrie, 60 miles north of the city. I was an RN for 43 years before retiring to Belize 6 years ago. “Seasons in the Sun” came out around the time that I was working in the ICU in Reno, NV. One of our orderlies contracted AIDS. He was the first person with that diagnosis in the area. I drove him to California for treatment a few times. I would always take as my patients, the AIDS patients wherever I worked since sometimes others were afraid to care for them. I ended up adopting a young man with HIV in my later years. He is still doing well. He contracted the virus from a dirty needle. Many hospital workers have suffered through what seemed interminable waiting to see if they were infected by needle sticks. The plaintiff lyrics to this song touched my heart because, we’ve all made foolish life choices that have left us with great regret. This was a very touching episode, bringing back many memories of dying patients and their families. I had an opposite experience with birds singing. I was at a camping retreat. We were having a Sunday worship outside under the trees. We sang”Holy, Holy,Holy” one phrase is “let all the earth keep silence before thee.” Suddenly the birds that had been raising a ruckus with their songs, were absolutely quiet. Memorable times. Thank you for your dedication to telling the stories behind the music that streams in our hearts.
I've recently returned to the area where l grew up till l was 30. I was sorting out some stuff and found a ring my late mother had given to my ex. It stopped me in my thoughts and then this came on, and the song allowed me to remember my mother alive and not fighting cancer which ultimately took her life in 03 just after May bank holiday. Thank you for everything, Adam. 🤙
Summer at my cousins’ house. This, Cats in the Craddle, My Name is Michael, Hooked on a feelin, Billy Don’t Be a Hero. I could go on and on tons of childhood songs. The playlist of my life.
My earliest recollection of this song was in 1977-78, i was riding in the car with my family, and i was about 7 years old and it came on the radio. I remember looking outside the car window as we drove through the city on a bright summer day, looking at the trees and the green grass in our neighborhood and this song, without paying too close attention to the lyrics, felt like a nice music accompaniment to what i was seeing, and an affirmation of life, which , well, was so profound that memory stayed with me til today. i don't have too many memories left of being 7 years old, i don't remember my 7th birthday or christmas, but that one remains.
So funny how we can hold onto random little events from our childhood. At least for me a lot of the earliest events I remember are tied to pop songs and often car ride memories since my parents always had the radio(thankfully they liked pop/rock/R&B) on a good station.
As a kid I didn't follow lyrics closely either, they were just part of the music and I didn't understand many of them anyway so I just took it as a nice song. After years of not hearing it I listened to the words and got bummed out.
This song and Billy Don't Be a Hero were all over the airwaves in 1974... Reminds me of doing yard work and raking the leaves while my little transistor radio played
Which version of Billy Don’t Be a Hero? Remember, Paper Lace (The Night Chicago Died) released Billy first… but it didn’t chart well in the US. No Donaldson and The Haywoods re cut it, with some minor arrangement adjustments & it soared. Up the charts! I’ve always wondered what a hard rock version of Seasons in The Sun would sound like. Think like a Ronnie James Dio Power Ballad! Like the Disturbed version of The Sound Of Silence.
Yes. I remember this song well. It always reminds me of my Little Sister who passed away in 1973. She was 9 yrs old, 5 months away from being 10. I had just turned 12 less than 2 weeks before she died. 💔
My deepest condolences. My story is similar 😢 My brother/only sibling died in December 1975 at the age of 16 and 5 days before my 15th birthday. I still miss him like crazy and songs like this seem to transport me to that very sad time in my life. My wish for you is that the memories of your sister comfort you 🫂💗
Listening to you talk about your relationship with your Dad was very moving, Professor. I imagine we all have certain memories of times spent with our parents that help to hold us upright after they're gone. I often say of my own dad that "he may not have taught me everything I know, but he taught me everything worth knowing" and I get that same vibe from your own words as I listen to you. One thing I can tell you for sure. Your dad would be very proud of you for what you do, not just for your wife and family, but for a vast crowd of strangers out here in TH-cam-land. Thank you.
We sing this at Manchester United matches about our noisy neighbours Manchester City. “We had joy we had fun, we had city on the run, but the joy didn’t last cos the b&stards rsn too fast” great record!
I love your comments at the end. ‘Professor of Rock, that’s just a nickname, I’m an old song teller”. It’s the first time I’ve heard you talk about your dad’s farewell. It was very moving. You tell your song stories beautifully and I love listening to them. I’ve always liked this strange song but this is the best memory I now have of it.
As is sometimes typical of Canadian music artists - Terry Jacks had many other hits in Canada as a solo artist, but he also was part of a group that had a #2 & #29 Billboard hits in 1969 / 1970 with "Which Way You Going, Billy" and "That's Where I Went Wrong". He was the songwriter in a band that featured his then wife Susan Jacks on vocals: The Poppy Family. Thanks Professor.
Thank You Adam!! The original song written by French satirist and comedian, Jacques Brel was originally a satirical ironic song about a husband who knew his wife was having an affair with his friend and requested that his wife's paramour would take care of her after he died. This song is actually very funny because that isn't the real reason why he was committing suicide. The French have different ideas about marriage than we do. The "asking for forgiveness" letters he leaves for his priest, I think his banker, his lawyer, his business partner/co-workers [?], his wife and finally Antoine, his friend who stole his wife are all hilarious. I remember watching a documentary on Jacques Brel and listening to the audience as he was singing "Le Moribund" and they are hysterically laughing and applauding. There are some cultural references in the Brel version that don't translate very well or NOT at all for English speaking audiences. The Terry Jacks version always made me cry in the mid 1970's, along with "Billy Don't Be a Hero" but for very different reasons. I'm curious, If Jacks didn't write the lyrics why should he legally have writing credit? IT seems you care more than he does. Cheers from NYC!!!
I can see why Jacks might have wanted part of the credit; he changed a lot. But I assume Brel had the right to refuse any use of the song if Jacks wanted partial credit. Maybe it never came up.
Well Professor, you done gone and made me cry, again. I am autistic but I figured out that I can use other people's songs to express how I feel and when my best friend was dying of cancer I played this song for her and I swear to God the very next year while I was laying on the operating table about to undergo a double organ transplant I felt someone squeezing my hand and when I looked my friend Angi was looking back at me.
"Seasons in the Sun" was really part of the zeitgeist of the early to mid 70s. It started in 71 with the hit movie "Love Story" about a newly married woman dying of cancer. The movie "Brian's Song" came out in 71. It was a story about Chicago Bears player Brian Piccolo who died from cancer and his friend who supported him. In addition to this song there was the 73 TV movie "Sunshine" about a woman dying of cancer. The theme song was John Denver's hit "Sunshine on my Shoulders". In addition to being a great song, "Seasons in the Sun" came along at the right time in music history.
Actually, that trend of sad songs involving the death of a partner started with 1968's #1 hit, "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro, about a man grieving for his late wife; her spirit lived on in the tree she planted Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle" was used in the 1972 TV movie "She Lives" starring Desi Arnaz Jr., in a plotline similar to Love Story. And there was the 1976 song "Rocky" by Austin Roberts about a man grieving for his late wife, who died of cancer but left a piece of her behind in their baby daughter.
Professor of Rock did an interview a while back with Elliot Lurie of Looking Glass. They speak about the origins of Brandy and he even performs a bit. See that vid here, too.
My #1 favorite song, since the beautiful spring of 1974. That's where it always takes me. A neighbor boy laughing at me because I loved "Brandy, You're a Fine Girl". He and my brother thought it was silly 'bubblegum music. ' Now that I'm an old lady, I don't have to try to be cool, and I embrace my bubblegum music, which I always did love!
I will never hear this song again without thinking of you & your dad. I teared ip when I saw the picture of you too. Your dad looks a lot like my dad back in the day. Thank you! My dad was my music mentor too!
I was 12/13 at the time this came out. This was and is my favorite feel good song of all time & my pick for greatest one hit wonder of the 70's. And yes, it brings both a sadness and a peace after loss of a loved one. Only Terry's version works for me. Thanks for all the efforts you put in to provide this. I too, am the blacksheep of the family & the only one to have a relationship with my Father. Cheers
Whenever I see your videos, besides listening to your outstanding presentation, I see the records displayed behind you and the memories come flooding back.
It wasn't just the song but also Terry Jack's voice that made it such a great song. It came out one month after my dad died at the age of 63. I'm now 62. RIP daddy.
Hey, I'm 63 and I turn 64 on March 2nd. My oldest brother passed the day before his 64th birthday, so I'm hoping to surpass his longevity. Only 5 days to go. How's THAT for dark? "Seasons In The Sun" has got nothing on me.
Thanks POR for covering under rated & under appreciated Canadian talent like Terry Jacks. Have you covered the Stampeders yet? They had more hits than just the banjo featured " Sweet City Woman". Hit the road Jack, Ramona, Wild Eyes, Carry me, New Orleans, San Diego, Playin in the Band, Bring the house Down, Oh my Lady, Sweet Love Bandit.
I remember Seasons In The Sun being a "guilty pleasure" for me. Most of the people I hung with talked about it being crap. I have always been one who listened to the lyrics, and these ere very real. I have a feeling that even those who professed to hate it, took it to heart on their own.
Professor, I am blown away . Your knowledge and how well you present everything is truly on a level of it's own. You have been given the torch from the late great Kacy Kacem. Keep up the great work and thankyou.
The Brel lyrics are amazing and his version is ALSO superior musically. Most non-French speakers probably have no idea. And M. Brel had another great song about death in the Funeral Tango. Thanks for the video!
I enjoy your channel always but I think this one is your best! So much feelings were expressed.Thank you for sharing so much of your personal life with your Dad.
This song has an eerie way of always popping up exactly when needed. From the stories about your father, to finding out about my son's passing this morning and landing on this video, to it coming on the radio on my way home from saying goodbye to my dad who'd just had a massive heart attack, it's always there, just like those birds in the trees were. Your uploads are always top quality, but this one was near the bone.
I'm so sorry! I lost my daughter a long time ago. The song that gets me is James Blunt's "I'll Carry You Home." Tears me up. It's going to be hard for a long time.😢
My family moved to Belgium in the summer of 73 from Canada, this song takes me right back there. I am a huge fan of Jacques Brel ( your pronunciation needs some work) this was a great story, esp. your connection with your father. All the Best jcb
@@nestorcarvalho8550 Nina Simone's pronunciation is not great. Just listen to actual French speaker, like the aformentioned Jacques Brel for example (who sang the original "ne Me Quitte Pas"), best way to improve. Same advice for any languages.
Had forgotten Rod McKuen. Cringey poet every 14-15 y/o girl adored in the late 60's - early 70's. So self impressed. Thanks SO much for resurrecting that memory. Restarting active repression now.
One more memory: Seasons in the sun was being played on the radio regularly in 1974, when my childhood friends were moving back to Argentina. We knew each other since we were nine or 10… And the day they left, the father of another friend came to get me and his daughter out of school to drive us to the ship they were sailing on, to say goodbye. I had a feeling I would never see them again, and I never did… I tried reconnecting on Facebook, but unfortunately, those youth time relationships had actually died and I am crying again over this song and what it has meant to me❤💕😭😭😭
Old guy here, remembering when this song hit the charts. I heard it on AM radio regularly and always listened closely. I had no particular attachment in terms of a relatable story, but the emotion of it was always something I felt I could appreciate. Thanks for sharing the story, Professor!
Terry had his own pet sounds in singing right down the line. Unique to say the least. That he shops this song around is amazing. Familiar story, isn't it? Thank goodness Terry stood up as leader of the band and made this song a hit. I have the 45 still to this day. Thanks POR! ☕️☕️ 🎶🎵🎶
See, and while Adam was doing his intro, I was SURE he was talking about Gilbert O’Sullivan’s song. About the singer who was about to kill himself! It’s kinda sad sounding but I never bothered to listen to the words until about 4 or 5 years ago! it had been a favorite song of mine but I had no clue WHAT the song was about! LOL
I never knew this was a feel good song. It always made me cry. It came out when I was pretty young and for some reason we all loved sad, intense songs back then.
Professor - please take this full circle and do an episode on Terry Jacks' wife Susan and "Which Way You Goin', Billy" from their group The Poppy Family. Such a beautifully haunting song.
A voice I would put right with Olivia, Karen, and Linda. Not only on Billy, but That's Where I Went Wrong, and You Took My Moonlight. She could also do psychedelic on No Blood in Bone.
Susan had a beautiful voice; she sang with emotion and pureness and from all accounts she was a terrific person too. I was sad to hear she died in April 2022.
Well... you made me cry. Very touching and heartfelt tribute to both Seasons in the Sun, and to you father as well. Really enjoy your channel and your appreciation for the music of my youth. Keep up the good work.
I actually hate this here pop hit. Everytime I hear “Seasons In The Sun” my ears bleed and I lose twenty IQ points and as I am of average intelligence, I can’t afford to do that. Thanks for taking one for the team and doing this interview, Professor.
This will always be the funeral song of my classmate Brian in 1973/4 whose little sister was named Michelle. School buses were used to transport the kids to his funeral. I still think of him every time I hear this song. 💜
I've always loved this song, Thanks for the incite to its origins! Another song I remember from back then is "The Legend of Billy Jacks - One Tin Soldier".
@@johnbauman4005 Yeah I know the name of the character and movie was Billy Jack, but I was referring to the fact that the song belonged to the movie, thus showing possession it would end in an 's'!
I’m 63. I was 13 when this song came out and I remember vividly the first time I heard it, bought the single and played it at school parties. I played the 45 to death, going through 3 copies. I still love it so much. Thanks for doing this deep dive.
I believe this is my most favorite episode that I've seen you create. Including your personal stories about you and your dad was very engaging, and made this episode very endearing. The history of the song was also enlightening, and well appreciated. Thank you for creating this video.
Adam, this is my first time commenting on one of your videos. I was born in 1969, and this song hits somewhere deep in my bones because I remember it so clearly on cross-country driving vacations with my mom, dad and little brother. I didn't know what it was about at the time, but it just had this melody and feel to it that was entrancing as a kid. It reminds me so much of family vacations in the most innocent of times in my life, feeling so loved and that my family was everything. Your story at the end of this video just about brought me to tears as I view the future. Songs to connect us all. Thank you.
Born in 65 and in a family of 5 our vacations were always by car. My youngest memories are all tied to songs and most often car travel, with me and my two younger brothers in the back seat asking my parents to turn it up. Of course there often was the answer “if you boys would quiet down you’d be able to hear it” haha
Thanks Professor💕💕💕 Don't dismiss the term professor. You are a teacher and you do a great job of it too. As I listen to the music and stories it brings back memories of my life. Keep up the great work.😃🌺
Your stories about your dad are great. I was born in 1963 & my dad was 37 so we had no musical connection like that. He lost his mother when he was a child & had to help raise his younger siblings, school was only a luxury when the weather was too bad for him to work the fields in rural Louisiana and he had his feet freeze in Germany during WW2. He had to pretend to swallow meds then spit them out later because the Army wanted to amputate them. He was a good man & died when I was 21 so I never really got to know him as an adult.
This is why I love this channel! Adam can take a song I can't stand, tell its enthralling behind-the-scenes story, and make me consider it in a whole new light. I'll never like "Seasons in the Sun" but now I can at least respect it.
Thank you for sharing about you and your father. Well, about this song, I always thought it was very simple, but when I was hurting, it helped me somehow. I’m glad it was there for people when we needed to hear it.
I always got depressed hearing this song but I still liked it. I lost my dad, sister, and grandma in the first three years of the 70s so this song didn’t help, but it did remind me to think of the good times.
I had heard the back story of this song before, so I knew what was coming. I was 12 in 1974 and remember this song well. A lot of songs bring me back to 1974. This song, "The Air that I Breathe" by the Hollies, "The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace, "Beach Baby" by First Class (which may be the ultimate one-hit-wonder of the 1970s, though "How Do You Do?" by Mouth and MacNeal would certainly give it a run for its money). But Seasons in the Sun has an emotional heft that few songs can lay claim to. Interestingly, it followed a tradition of tear jerkers that started with the "Teen Tragedy" song of the Doo Wop era, typified by Mark Dinning's "Teen Angel." The late 1960s gave us "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro, which may be cloyingly sentimental, but it still brings tears to the eyes of this burly, 62 year old man every time I hear it. I love your stories of your relationship with your father. I too had a complicated relationship with my father, but I never doubted his love for me, and he always, always had my back, and though he's been gone for 22 years, I still miss him terribly.
My best friend through high-school and I loved everything Terry Jacks, and his other project The Poppy Family, he was such a good writer. Little did I know, that song hit hard when my buddy died in a solo car accident on some lonely mountain road. He was a real good guy, but he loved his fast cars, and this song is my dedication to him, Leonard Plessis. Miss you friend 💔😢.
I was 4 or 5 years old when this song came out. I can’t remember ever hearing it on the radio but I obviously did as I would sing it while on my swing in the back garden of my house in Belfast while the troubles exploded around me. My neighbours used to love hearing me sing it and would tell my mum so. When I was about 11 or 12 I found a copy of it in my cousins record collection and she gave it to me as I had such an emotional connection to it. I have now passed that same 45 onto my daughter who is 19 and loves it too. This song is the most vivid memory I have as a small child and will live with me forever as more than a song.
"Seasons in the Sun" was an instant classic - and as soon as you hear it, you can't help but sing along with it. SO infectious! Great vid! (as always) ... :)
As a young kid in the early 70’s, with the AM radio to keep me company after school, this song was omnipresent. The song came to evoke memories of young men in our neighborhood who were lost in Vietnam. I believe that shared sentiment contributed to its popularity.
Absolutely wonderful look at this song, including your own experiences related to it. Thank you!... I was 15 when Seasons in the Sun came out and, and just as you said, it swept everyone up. Where this heartfelt song came form and why it was a success was something of mystery, as was what the song was about. We all talked about whether it was the singer who was facing his own death, or was it possibly about an impending suicide? And Jacks' performance had that strange combination of being a powerful tearjerker and yet having a catchy and warm quality.
Music is the expression of the soul 🤍. I’m so glad that you shared your story about your dad, and I really enjoy your content. Each person holds their own unique meaning, interpretation, and connection to the same song. It’s one of the many things I find fascinating about music. My dad and I share a deep love of music, and he is one of my biggest inspirations for the passion. This video truly touched my heart. Please keep doing what you’re doing. Much love and rock on 🤘🏻
My sister introduced me to this song when I was a little kid and it made me cry and it still does and when you listen to the words as I did when I grew up, you realize how deep it is now heartfelt. The emotions are when you know you’re losing someone very special 20:2920:2920:29
How did I miss this song ? Probably because my mom never let me dwell on sad songs … I miss my mom so much , this song is super touching to me - thank you for sharing
I was only 9 when this song got big but I have always adored this song. It was good times back then and my bestie Helen was always there for the adventures. We really did skin our hearts and knees but we were together through it all. This song will always be my all time favorite of childhood!!!
I think I cried to this song when I was about 6 yrs old. I still cry now..even when I've sung it on my singing app it brings a tear to my eye. Beautiful & poignant song. ❤
I wouldn't have guessed Terry Jacks, Professor. You really do come up with some of the greatest songs of all time!! I will tell you, quite truthfully, that I actually have Seasons In the Sun in my mp3 player. This was one of my top favorites, of which there are many, admittedly. But I always felt there must be a sad story behind that song, thanks for digging our music and for digging out the nuggets!! Great show, I'm going to be sharing this.
Thank you for sharing that part of your journey. For me it was my mother who passed away in 1973, when I was just 16. It took decades for me to come to terms with her loss.
One of your best videos! I was a high school "musician" in a rock band, so you would think I paid attention to the lyrics, but no. So I enjoy hearing the back story and finding out what the song was really about. Grew up in Idaho Falls in the 60's, so maybe we were sort of neighbors. Congrats on a great YT channel.
Was 9 turning 10yrs old when this song came out in '74. At such a pivotal age for music and it's influences, this one, as well as a lot of others that year, sure made a kid think and reflect on life. This especially, after losing Mom earlier in '71 at such a young age. It answered a lot of questions a little kid could have and truly gave solace that things were gonna be OK, even though sad.
As soon as I saw the title of your video I realized it was about Seasons in the Sun. I had listened to this thousands of times as a teen. It was on on a double cassette compilation that came out in Greece in the early 80s. Tape always in my walkman (still have the tape!). I had listened carefully to the lyrics and realized it was actually a song for someone dying. The chord progression is amazing and haunting at the same time. Thanks for making this!
This song came out when I was 10, we would listen to the AM radio waiting to hear it till finally getting a 45 of the record. My friend Sam and I wore out that record, Sam died at 16 in a terrible car accident, I think of him every time I hear this song. I miss you my brother Sam Statler. Thanks for doing this video.
Hey Prof, just wanted to offer a digital supportive hug. You talk about your dad a LOT on this channel, maybe more than you know. I remember your talking about the "Who Made Who" song and how your dad was getting into the song while you replayed it. It must be cool to have a dad who liked rock music.
Never knew why I never heard more music by Terry Jacks after this smash hit. I definitely can hear the Wray Link guitar now, didn't know that was him. I am glad you are a song storyteller I learn so much about the music I love. Great episode professor
Mr Black sheep, has created for himself a magical career. Being a musical story teller of the art of song writing and the crazy business that can never completely predict or completely control what will become a hit song. At least in the golden age of rock. Those were the days. Good for you professor, what a wonderful world you have created for yourself and your faithful viewers. Keep em coming...
Season's in the Sun is the 2nd song I ever recall. The first was Windy by the Association. But those first few guitar notes are unforgettable. It's my favorite song of all time.
I was 11 and growing up in Australia when I first heard this song. It brings back such strong memories of this time of my life. This is a song that can still bring a tear to my eye.
When my grandmother died in February of 1974, of all the songs on the radio, this was the one that will always remind me of that terrible day. Today, I hear it and I think of her. Thank you Terry.
Great video Prof! Finding out the reasons for songs is something I both love and hate. I love getting inside the head of the person writing, learning their reasons for what they wrote. I hate finding out that a song I love and either know the words to or can fake them well, doesn't say or mean what I thought it did. I have always loved music in other languages, and used to try to figure out what they meant just by the music. I remember falling in love with a Celtic song and holding it up with Mozart's 5th for what it made me feel. Then a friend who also loved it looked into it (this was before the net was really a thing) and found out it was about doing farm chores. Milking the cow, feeding the chickens. It was soul breaking for a while..
I remember hanging around with my friends on the playground at school. We were all singing this song, and we thought we were killing it.. I think about that day from time to time, I guess it's a special memory for me.
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Poll: What is your pick for the GREATEST one hit wonder of the 70s?
Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum. Billboard Hot 100 from 02.28.70 - 04.18.70.
Play that Funky Music Wild Cherry
Love Hurts
Rock On, David Essex.
Another childhood "Guilty Pleasure ".
"Play That Funky Music" Wild Cherry
A dear friend of mine died of leukemia not long before Seasons in the Sun came out. We were both 12 at the time. I shed tears every single time this song plays.
From the dad side of things... In 2013 my son was packing for his freshman trip to college. I didn't pay too much attention as my kids were all very self-reliant and level-headed. After loading up the car and right before taking off, he asked if he could take some of my CD's with him. I didn't even know he had a CD player but apparently so. I expected him to pick a few of the more recent ones but instead, he took my entire collection of 70's artists - Boston, Carpenters, Led Zepplin, etc. - over 100 discs. It dawned on me he wanted to bring a piece of the life we'd shared with him. A great memory and again, a testament to the connecting power of great music.
& great parenting 😊
Adam, you are a blessing. Here's my story about this song. I was born in 1970. My sister was 9 years older than me. When I was 5 she had the 45 of this song, from Bell Records. I would have her play it 3 or 4 times in a row sometimes on her stereo and I would always cry because it was sad. She would kneel down on the burnt orange shag carpet in her bellbottoms with her Farrah Fawcett hair and hug me and tell me it was ok to feel music in that way. We became different people over the years, as siblings do. When I graduated from college she gave me a 45 of this song matted and framed. Our mother died in January 2019. Summer of 2020 she called to tell me she was at the e.r. and didn't feel good. Five weeks and one day later she was dead from brain cancer. Our father died in 2021. I am the only one left.
The story of your father's funeral is beautiful. Your family is beautiful. Carry fire, brother.
God bless you. What a beautifully tragic life you have had. There is so much sorrow in great love. I am moved by your words.
I'm so sorry for you. You've really been through the emotional mill. I hope you're doing as well as can be expected. With much love to you ❤
Both of my parents, and my sister are also gone.
My mother lived longer than the others did. But, she died in 2019.
One of the things I eventually noticed was that they served as the record keepers in my family. If I wanted to know when such-and-such died, or got married, all I had to do was ask.
That's gone now. And, I do miss it.
@@EdwardKrzynowek-fx5to Yes, the record keepers. Because we forget so much and without them, who will remember all of the wonderful dates we should commemorate?
@@jeansalzman2.012
I do miss the company of the loved ones I left behind. But, I have a lot of good memories that followed me wherever I went.
Especially when times were tough, they provided at least a little cushion against life's
bumpy ride. I'm happy to say that it still works.
There have been many bumps. So, I'll take all of the cushions I can get.
Your comment has me remembering a poem I learned in school.
My English teacher gave it to us as a mandatory assignment. I think she picked a good one, about not wasting your time. Make that, 'precious time'.
These are the first and last stanzas of the short poem,
To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time
---by Robert Herrick---
"Gather ye Rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to day,
To morrow will be dying...
...Then be not coy, but use your time;
And while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may forever tarry".
I was fortunate enough to talk to friends and relatives of all ages. I say, 'fortunate', because my older relatives knew things that my younger relatives didn't.
Some of my same-age friends were surprised by the fact that I had friends who were a lot older than me.
The time I spent together with my older friends was worth every minute. Even though I was just a kid, they told me a lot of great stories--I mean, stories about their life.
My college roommate's girlfriend used to change the lyrics of this song to "We had joy, we had fun, we went streaking in the sun, but the cops drew their guns and they shot us in the buns." Good times.
Tell that to Weird Al Yankovic. He might give you a song credit.
Now there's a wordsmith at work, no doubt about it...
Did you ever hear Nirvana 's
version of this song ?
@michaelblythe4395: The Seventies encapsulated in one rhyme scheme! Brilliancy and then some.😂🤔🎤🎼🎵🎶🎸🎹🥁🏃♀️🏃♂️☀️B.W.
I will never be able to hear the original words again. 😄
You know why I watch your videos? You’re not a critic but an explorer of songs that people created that tell of their emotions, experiences and opinions. There is beauty in older songs and new songs. They all tell a story. Music is the language of the soul.
I agree 100 %.
I second that!!!
Tell music critics; IF they do NOT write and perform original songs; retire now because they have NO credibility.
This song and Elton John's "Daniel" always choke me up. They are both uniquely evocative of loss.
Very true.
It is this emotive force that original scores and emotive lyrics possess that drew we to music … and has accompanied me for 57 years.
I salute the original musicians (whilst I scorn the wannabe ‘artists’ that produce [c]rap).
Daniel is one of the best anti war songs of all time.
Terry Jacks wasn't a rookie. He was in the group "The Poppy family" with his wife Susan and they had a hit "Which way you going Billy"
I just commented about the B-side of WWYGB. I had the 45 growing up and never listened to the A-side but once. Endless Sleep on the B-side is almost psychedelic with Terry playing a killer riff on Fuzz guitar.
I sing that song while driving in traffic every day...
Don’t forget “Evil Grows”.
@@LadyHeathersLairTH-cam has a video of Terry and Susan lip synching Where Evil Grows on the Kenny Rogers show.
Also "That's Where I Went Wrong".
I was a very depressed child. When this was popular I was about 8 years old and when my parents weren’t home, I would put it on replay on the record player, crawl under a table and just weep. I’ve made it to 56 and it’s on my already made funeral play list. I’ve always had a strange connection to this song.
The preteen years were rough in many ways. “Seasons in the Sun” and “Shannon” by Henry Gross never failed to get the waterworks going when I needed a good cry.
Oh gosh yes, when I saw that this video was about Seasons in the Sun I immediately thought of Shannon also. I was a preteen when they came out. Despite being fairly young, I got the idea of death from both. Interestingly, the stalker feel of Every Breath You Take went right over my head when it came out, despite being in my 20s.
Oh goodness, yes, "Shannon," "Wild Fire," and "Seasons in the Sun." I cried so much as a youngster!
And 'Honey' by Bobby Goldsboro! 😭😭😭😭
@mgh7625 that's a creepy stalker song
“Alone again, naturally.”
I popped up a link to that song while bantering on Facebook with some friends and one lady from Portsmouth, UK told me “No way am I clicking that bloody link…”😄
I remember being sick-to-death of it from over-play on the radio stations. I graduated H.S. in 1974.
I tended to follow roads less traveled, but I have found your stories in particular to be very interesting, thanks to your parents' input!
Thank you for giving these old songs new life!
I got sick of it to and rewrote some of the lyrics to sing to my sister Michelle . Lol , I was a brat !
My friends would change the words as well. "We had joy we had fun sticking fingers in her bu..." Haha! Good Times.@@rdhudon7469
Reminds me of the year I turned 10, the year this song ran up the charts, I had just buried a classmate who drowned at 9 and this song really resonated with me.
You're talking about in a cemetery, right?
@@chadborklund2171 of course, we were 9, he drowned, tragically, was a good friend at the time.
I'm sorry for your loss. This song came out when I was nine, and it made me think of Ronny. He was a neighbor, classmate, and friend who passed when we were six, from a bowel obstruction. Death is a horrible lesson to learn, especially when you're a child and another child passes.
@@debbieomi absolutely
I remember hearing this song on the school bus in the spring of 1974 when I was 17 and had my whole life in front of me. The deepness of this song was haunting to me then and now. It sure takes this 67 year retired woman back to simpler times.
the song is pretty deep all right.
First, I was a fan of Rod McKuen. I was able to see him at Massey Hall in Toronto. I drove through torrential rain to get there from Barrie, 60 miles north of the city.
I was an RN for 43 years before retiring to Belize 6 years ago. “Seasons in the Sun” came out around the time that I was working in the ICU in Reno, NV. One of our orderlies contracted AIDS. He was the first person with that diagnosis in the area. I drove him to California for treatment a few times. I would always take as my patients, the AIDS patients wherever I worked since sometimes others were afraid to care for them. I ended up adopting a young man with HIV in my later years. He is still doing well. He contracted the virus from a dirty needle. Many hospital workers have suffered through what seemed interminable waiting to see if they were infected by needle sticks. The plaintiff lyrics to this song touched my heart because, we’ve all made foolish life choices that have left us with great regret. This was a very touching episode, bringing back many memories of dying patients and their families.
I had an opposite experience with birds singing. I was at a camping retreat. We were having a Sunday worship outside under the trees. We sang”Holy, Holy,Holy” one phrase is “let all the earth keep silence before thee.” Suddenly the birds that had been raising a ruckus with their songs, were absolutely quiet. Memorable times. Thank you for your dedication to telling the stories behind the music that streams in our hearts.
I've recently returned to the area where l grew up till l was 30.
I was sorting out some stuff and found a ring my late mother had given to my ex.
It stopped me in my thoughts and then this came on, and the song allowed me to remember my mother alive and not fighting cancer which ultimately took her life in 03 just after May bank holiday.
Thank you for everything, Adam. 🤙
Summer at my cousins’ house. This, Cats in the Craddle, My Name is Michael, Hooked on a feelin, Billy Don’t Be a Hero. I could go on and on tons of childhood songs. The playlist of my life.
The 70s were magical.
My earliest recollection of this song was in 1977-78, i was riding in the car with my family, and i was about 7 years old and it came on the radio. I remember looking outside the car window as we drove through the city on a bright summer day, looking at the trees and the green grass in our neighborhood and this song, without paying too close attention to the lyrics, felt like a nice music accompaniment to what i was seeing, and an affirmation of life, which , well, was so profound that memory stayed with me til today. i don't have too many memories left of being 7 years old, i don't remember my 7th birthday or christmas, but that one remains.
So funny how we can hold onto random little events from our childhood. At least for me a lot of the earliest events I remember are tied to pop songs and often car ride memories since my parents always had the radio(thankfully they liked pop/rock/R&B) on a good station.
As a kid I didn't follow lyrics closely either, they were just part of the music and I didn't understand many of them anyway so I just took it as a nice song. After years of not hearing it I listened to the words and got bummed out.
This song came out right before my Grandma died of cancer and was still being played often on the radio at that time, thanks Adam, for the memories… ❤
Sorry for your loss.
Seasons in the Sun was played to death on Top 40 radio here in Melbourne... I still struggle to listen to it to this day because of that
Yes, I was 9 years old, in Melbourne, and remember how often the radio played it.
This song and Billy Don't Be a Hero were all over the airwaves in 1974... Reminds me of doing yard work and raking the leaves while my little transistor radio played
Thanks for sharing Flave! Blast from the past.
I had forgotten that song (Billy Don't be a Hero). I another good but melancholy song.
Which version of Billy Don’t Be a Hero? Remember, Paper Lace (The Night Chicago Died) released Billy first… but it didn’t chart well in the US.
No Donaldson and The Haywoods re cut it, with some minor arrangement adjustments & it soared. Up the charts!
I’ve always wondered what a hard rock version of Seasons in The Sun would sound like. Think like a Ronnie James Dio Power Ballad!
Like the Disturbed version of The Sound Of Silence.
Both songs were terrible. It didn't stop people from liking them though.
Always loved Billy Don't Be a Hero and Seasons in the Sun
Yes. I remember this song well. It always reminds me of my Little Sister who passed away in 1973. She was 9 yrs old, 5 months away from being 10. I had just turned 12 less than 2 weeks before she died. 💔
🙏❤😢
That's sad
My deepest condolences.
My story is similar 😢
My brother/only sibling died in December 1975 at the age of 16 and 5 days before my 15th birthday. I still miss him like crazy and songs like this seem to transport me to that very sad time in my life.
My wish for you is that the memories of your sister comfort you 🫂💗
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@@debdo1960❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Listening to you talk about your relationship with your Dad was very moving, Professor. I imagine we all have certain memories of times spent with our parents that help to hold us upright after they're gone. I often say of my own dad that "he may not have taught me everything I know, but he taught me everything worth knowing" and I get that same vibe from your own words as I listen to you.
One thing I can tell you for sure. Your dad would be very proud of you for what you do, not just for your wife and family, but for a vast crowd of strangers out here in TH-cam-land. Thank you.
We sing this at Manchester United matches about our noisy neighbours Manchester City. “We had joy we had fun, we had city on the run, but the joy didn’t last cos the b&stards rsn too fast” great record!
Blue moon, I saw you standing alone....cheers, mate.
I love your comments at the end. ‘Professor of Rock, that’s just a nickname, I’m an old song teller”. It’s the first time I’ve heard you talk about your dad’s farewell. It was very moving. You tell your song stories beautifully and I love listening to them. I’ve always liked this strange song but this is the best memory I now have of it.
As is sometimes typical of Canadian music artists - Terry Jacks had many other hits in Canada as a solo artist, but he also was part of a group that had a #2 & #29 Billboard hits in 1969 / 1970 with "Which Way You Going, Billy" and "That's Where I Went Wrong". He was the songwriter in a band that featured his then wife Susan Jacks on vocals: The Poppy Family. Thanks Professor.
Thank You Adam!! The original song written by French satirist and comedian, Jacques Brel was originally a satirical ironic song about a husband who knew his wife was having an affair with his friend and requested that his wife's paramour would take care of her after he died. This song is actually very funny because that isn't the real reason why he was committing suicide. The French have different ideas about marriage than we do. The "asking for forgiveness" letters he leaves for his priest, I think his banker, his lawyer, his business partner/co-workers [?], his wife and finally Antoine, his friend who stole his wife are all hilarious. I remember watching a documentary on Jacques Brel and listening to the audience as he was singing "Le Moribund" and they are hysterically laughing and applauding. There are some cultural references in the Brel version that don't translate very well or NOT at all for English speaking audiences. The Terry Jacks version always made me cry in the mid 1970's, along with "Billy Don't Be a Hero" but for very different reasons. I'm curious, If Jacks didn't write the lyrics why should he legally have writing credit? IT seems you care more than he does. Cheers from NYC!!!
Thanks.
Yes, I love the original version! So humorous.
10:09 on the 45 the song writers are Brel & Kuens. So I don’t think he got credit
Jacques Brel was Belgian not french
I can see why Jacks might have wanted part of the credit; he changed a lot. But I assume Brel had the right to refuse any use of the song if Jacks wanted partial credit. Maybe it never came up.
Well Professor, you done gone and made me cry, again. I am autistic but I figured out that I can use other people's songs to express how I feel and when my best friend was dying of cancer I played this song for her and I swear to God the very next year while I was laying on the operating table about to undergo a double organ transplant I felt someone squeezing my hand and when I looked my friend Angi was looking back at me.
You don't know how beautifully the stories of your dad touch me as I had similar memories of my dad. Good dads are a gift from God.
"Seasons in the Sun" was really part of the zeitgeist of the early to mid 70s. It started in 71 with the hit movie "Love Story" about a newly married woman dying of cancer.
The movie "Brian's Song" came out in 71. It was a story about Chicago Bears player Brian Piccolo who died from cancer and his friend who supported him.
In addition to this song there was the 73 TV movie "Sunshine" about a woman dying of cancer. The theme song was John Denver's hit "Sunshine on my Shoulders".
In addition to being a great song, "Seasons in the Sun" came along at the right time in music history.
Actually, that trend of sad songs involving the death of a partner started with 1968's #1 hit, "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro, about a man grieving for his late wife; her spirit lived on in the tree she planted Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle" was used in the 1972 TV movie "She Lives" starring Desi Arnaz Jr., in a plotline similar to Love Story. And there was the 1976 song "Rocky" by Austin Roberts about a man grieving for his late wife, who died of cancer but left a piece of her behind in their baby daughter.
Daddy don't you walk so fast and Time in a bottle were also saf.
A great time for sad songs.
Looking Glass with Brandy. Awesome song! Never get tired of listening to it!
Listen to Brandy by Looking Glass, then listen to Captain of Her Heart by Double. To me, it's a direct sequel to Brandy.
That’s a belter. ❤️
Brandy... Great Tune. Looking Glass became the nacelle of STARZ!
Professor of Rock did an interview a while back with Elliot Lurie of Looking Glass. They speak about the origins of Brandy and he even performs a bit. See that vid here, too.
My #1 favorite song, since the beautiful spring of 1974. That's where it always takes me. A neighbor boy laughing at me because I loved "Brandy, You're a Fine Girl". He and my brother thought it was silly 'bubblegum music. ' Now that I'm an old lady, I don't have to try to be cool, and I embrace my bubblegum music, which I always did love!
I will never hear this song again without thinking of you & your dad. I teared ip when I saw the picture of you too. Your dad looks a lot like my dad back in the day. Thank you!
My dad was my music mentor too!
I was 12/13 at the time this came out. This was and is my favorite feel good song of all time & my pick for greatest one hit wonder of the 70's. And yes, it brings both a sadness and a peace after loss of a loved one. Only Terry's version works for me. Thanks for all the efforts you put in to provide this. I too, am the blacksheep of the family & the only one to have a relationship with my Father. Cheers
Whenever I see your videos, besides listening to your outstanding presentation, I see the records displayed behind you and the memories come flooding back.
It wasn't just the song but also Terry Jack's voice that made it such a great song. It came out one month after my dad died at the age of 63. I'm now 62. RIP daddy.
Hey, I'm 63 and I turn 64 on March 2nd. My oldest brother passed the day before his 64th birthday, so I'm hoping to surpass his longevity. Only 5 days to go. How's THAT for dark? "Seasons In The Sun" has got nothing on me.
Thanks POR for covering under rated & under appreciated Canadian talent like Terry Jacks. Have you covered the Stampeders yet? They had more hits than just the banjo featured " Sweet City Woman". Hit the road Jack, Ramona, Wild Eyes, Carry me, New Orleans, San Diego, Playin in the Band, Bring the house Down, Oh my Lady, Sweet Love Bandit.
Mr. Jehovah; DEFINITELY "Wild Eyes" by the Stampeders.
I remember Seasons In The Sun being a "guilty pleasure" for me. Most of the people I hung with talked about it being crap. I have always been one who listened to the lyrics, and these ere very real. I have a feeling that even those who professed to hate it, took it to heart on their own.
Wow, I see from the comments that I'm in the minority. No, some of us truly hated it.
Professor, I am blown away . Your knowledge and how well you present everything is truly on a level of it's own. You have been given the torch from the late great Kacy Kacem. Keep up the great work and thankyou.
The Brel lyrics are amazing and his version is ALSO superior musically. Most non-French speakers probably have no idea. And M. Brel had another great song about death in the Funeral Tango.
Thanks for the video!
I enjoy your channel always but I think this one is your best! So much feelings were expressed.Thank you for sharing so much of your personal life with your Dad.
@@marilynryan7822 i’m not the professor of rock. You replied to a viewer’s comment.
This song is still one of my all time favorites. Everytime I hear It, It touches my 70 y.o. heart. Thank you Terry, and Adam. From Brazil 🇧🇷
This song has an eerie way of always popping up exactly when needed. From the stories about your father, to finding out about my son's passing this morning and landing on this video, to it coming on the radio on my way home from saying goodbye to my dad who'd just had a massive heart attack, it's always there, just like those birds in the trees were. Your uploads are always top quality, but this one was near the bone.
So sorry for your loss!!!
Sorry to read about your losses. :-(
I lost my youngest son when he was 24, I know how you feel. What happened?
I'm so sorry! I lost my daughter a long time ago. The song that gets me is James Blunt's "I'll Carry You Home." Tears me up. It's going to be hard for a long time.😢
@@donnahilton471 Been 13 years and I cannot say I'm over it. Never will be in this world. So sorry about your daughter, I know how it feels.
My family moved to Belgium in the summer of 73 from Canada, this song takes me right back there. I am a huge fan of Jacques Brel ( your pronunciation needs some work) this was a great story, esp. your connection with your father. All the Best jcb
To work on the French pronunciation I would recommend Adam to listen carefully Nina Simone's cover of "Ne me quitte pas". It means 'do not leave me'.
Pro-tip: leave off the snide, shitty comments about pronunciation.
@@dustybrand
What was snide or shitty? There was nothing wrong with a gentle aside about pronunciation.
@@dustybrand get a sense of humour.
@@nestorcarvalho8550 Nina Simone's pronunciation is not great. Just listen to actual French speaker, like the aformentioned Jacques Brel for example (who sang the original "ne Me Quitte Pas"), best way to improve.
Same advice for any languages.
Had forgotten Rod McKuen. Cringey poet every 14-15 y/o girl adored in the late 60's - early 70's. So self impressed. Thanks SO much for resurrecting that memory. Restarting active repression now.
One more memory: Seasons in the sun was being played on the radio regularly in 1974, when my childhood friends were moving back to Argentina. We knew each other since we were nine or 10… And the day they left, the father of another friend came to get me and his daughter out of school to drive us to the ship they were sailing on, to say goodbye. I had a feeling I would never see them again, and I never did… I tried reconnecting on Facebook, but unfortunately, those youth time relationships had actually died and I am crying again over this song and what it has meant to me❤💕😭😭😭
Old guy here, remembering when this song hit the charts. I heard it on AM radio regularly and always listened closely. I had no particular attachment in terms of a relatable story, but the emotion of it was always something I felt I could appreciate. Thanks for sharing the story, Professor!
I knew this was going to be “Seasons in the Sun” just from the title of the video! I’ve always loved this song…I think I wore out the 45 I had!
Terry had his own pet sounds in singing right down the line. Unique to say the least. That he shops this song around is amazing. Familiar story, isn't it? Thank goodness Terry stood up as leader of the band and made this song a hit. I have the 45 still to this day. Thanks POR! ☕️☕️ 🎶🎵🎶
See, and while Adam was doing his intro, I was SURE he was talking about Gilbert O’Sullivan’s song. About the singer who was about to kill himself! It’s kinda sad sounding but I never bothered to listen to the words until about 4 or 5 years ago! it had been a favorite song of mine but I had no clue WHAT the song was about! LOL
I even tried to steal the 45 when I was about 13. I LOVE that song. Sang it all the time as a little kid in the 70s.
I guessed it instantly.
I never knew this was a feel good song. It always made me cry. It came out when I was pretty young and for some reason we all loved sad, intense songs back then.
Professor - please take this full circle and do an episode on Terry Jacks' wife Susan and "Which Way You Goin', Billy" from their group The Poppy Family. Such a beautifully haunting song.
I second this! Susan was great!
A voice I would put right with Olivia, Karen, and Linda. Not only on Billy, but That's Where I Went Wrong, and You Took My Moonlight. She could also do psychedelic on No Blood in Bone.
Susan had a beautiful voice; she sang with emotion and pureness and from all accounts she was a terrific person too. I was sad to hear she died in April 2022.
Your love for your dad is clearly evident. Sounds like you two had a great relationship. God bless you, Adam.
Well... you made me cry. Very touching and heartfelt tribute to both Seasons in the Sun, and to you father as well. Really enjoy your channel and your appreciation for the music of my youth. Keep up the good work.
I actually hate this here pop hit. Everytime I hear “Seasons In The Sun” my ears bleed and I lose twenty IQ points and as I am of average intelligence, I can’t afford to do that. Thanks for taking one for the team and doing this interview, Professor.
This will always be the funeral song of my classmate Brian in 1973/4 whose little sister was named Michelle. School buses were used to transport the kids to his funeral. I still think of him every time I hear this song. 💜
I've always loved this song, Thanks for the incite to its origins! Another song I remember from back then is "The Legend of Billy Jacks - One Tin Soldier".
Thanks for watching!
I think I know that song.
One Tin Soldier was an awesome song, perfect for the singer Jinx
*Jack, not Jacks.
@@johnbauman4005 Yeah I know the name of the character and movie was Billy Jack, but I was referring to the fact that the song belonged to the movie, thus showing possession it would end in an 's'!
Learned so much about a song I loved as a 70s kid.
Why can't I give this video more than one thumbs up? Thanks PofR! So well done!
I’m 63. I was 13 when this song came out and I remember vividly the first time I heard it, bought the single and played it at school parties. I played the 45 to death, going through 3 copies. I still love it so much. Thanks for doing this deep dive.
I believe this is my most favorite episode that I've seen you create. Including your personal stories about you and your dad was very engaging, and made this episode very endearing. The history of the song was also enlightening, and well appreciated. Thank you for creating this video.
Adam, this is my first time commenting on one of your videos. I was born in 1969, and this song hits somewhere deep in my bones because I remember it so clearly on cross-country driving vacations with my mom, dad and little brother.
I didn't know what it was about at the time, but it just had this melody and feel to it that was entrancing as a kid.
It reminds me so much of family vacations in the most innocent of times in my life, feeling so loved and that my family was everything.
Your story at the end of this video just about brought me to tears as I view the future. Songs to connect us all. Thank you.
Born in 65 and in a family of 5 our vacations were always by car. My youngest memories are all tied to songs and most often car travel, with me and my two younger brothers in the back seat asking my parents to turn it up. Of course there often was the answer “if you boys would quiet down you’d be able to hear it” haha
@@cnph7067 that sounds familiar and awesome!
Thanks Professor💕💕💕 Don't dismiss the term professor. You are a teacher and you do a great job of it too. As I listen to the music and stories it brings back memories of my life. Keep up the great work.😃🌺
Your stories about your dad are great. I was born in 1963 & my dad was 37 so we had no musical connection like that. He lost his mother when he was a child & had to help raise his younger siblings, school was only a luxury when the weather was too bad for him to work the fields in rural Louisiana and he had his feet freeze in Germany during WW2. He had to pretend to swallow meds then spit them out later because the Army wanted to amputate them. He was a good man & died when I was 21 so I never really got to know him as an adult.
This is why I love this channel! Adam can take a song I can't stand, tell its enthralling behind-the-scenes story, and make me consider it in a whole new light. I'll never like "Seasons in the Sun" but now I can at least respect it.
This song was one of the most beautiful songs ever played on the radio. Musically beautiful and lyrically passionate.
Thank you for sharing about you and your father. Well, about this song, I always thought it was very simple, but when I was hurting, it helped me somehow. I’m glad it was there for people when we needed to hear it.
I always got depressed hearing this song but I still liked it. I lost my dad, sister, and grandma in the first three years of the 70s so this song didn’t help, but it did remind me to think of the good times.
Thanks for sharing.
Bittersweet moments...
My condolences.
Thanks for all the stories! Such a sweet picture of you and your family!
I had heard the back story of this song before, so I knew what was coming. I was 12 in 1974 and remember this song well. A lot of songs bring me back to 1974. This song, "The Air that I Breathe" by the Hollies, "The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace, "Beach Baby" by First Class (which may be the ultimate one-hit-wonder of the 1970s, though "How Do You Do?" by Mouth and MacNeal would certainly give it a run for its money). But Seasons in the Sun has an emotional heft that few songs can lay claim to. Interestingly, it followed a tradition of tear jerkers that started with the "Teen Tragedy" song of the Doo Wop era, typified by Mark Dinning's "Teen Angel." The late 1960s gave us "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro, which may be cloyingly sentimental, but it still brings tears to the eyes of this burly, 62 year old man every time I hear it.
I love your stories of your relationship with your father. I too had a complicated relationship with my father, but I never doubted his love for me, and he always, always had my back, and though he's been gone for 22 years, I still miss him terribly.
1974 had a bunch of good songs that sadly never hit #1.
My best friend through high-school and I loved everything Terry Jacks, and his other project The Poppy Family, he was such a good writer. Little did I know, that song hit hard when my buddy died in a solo car accident on some lonely mountain road. He was a real good guy, but he loved his fast cars, and this song is my dedication to him, Leonard Plessis. Miss you friend 💔😢.
So sorry for your loss! 😢
I've loved this song since I was a little kid! Heartbreaking and heartwarming.
Thanks for sharing. a
I was 4 or 5 years old when this song came out. I can’t remember ever hearing it on the radio but I obviously did as I would sing it while on my swing in the back garden of my house in Belfast while the troubles exploded around me. My neighbours used to love hearing me sing it and would tell my mum so. When I was about 11 or 12 I found a copy of it in my cousins record collection and she gave it to me as I had such an emotional connection to it. I have now passed that same 45 onto my daughter who is 19 and loves it too. This song is the most vivid memory I have as a small child and will live with me forever as more than a song.
"Seasons in the Sun" was an instant classic - and as soon as you hear it, you can't help but sing along with it. SO infectious! Great vid! (as always) ... :)
As a young kid in the early 70’s, with the AM radio to keep me company after school, this song was omnipresent. The song came to evoke memories of young men in our neighborhood who were lost in Vietnam. I believe that shared sentiment contributed to its popularity.
Absolutely wonderful look at this song, including your own experiences related to it. Thank you!... I was 15 when Seasons in the Sun came out and, and just as you said, it swept everyone up. Where this heartfelt song came form and why it was a success was something of mystery, as was what the song was about. We all talked about whether it was the singer who was facing his own death, or was it possibly about an impending suicide?
And Jacks' performance had that strange combination of being a powerful tearjerker and yet having a catchy and warm quality.
Music is the expression of the soul 🤍. I’m so glad that you shared your story about your dad, and I really enjoy your content. Each person holds their own unique meaning, interpretation, and connection to the same song. It’s one of the many things I find fascinating about music. My dad and I share a deep love of music, and he is one of my biggest inspirations for the passion. This video truly touched my heart. Please keep doing what you’re doing. Much love and rock on 🤘🏻
My mother in law requested this be played at her funeral.
She was in her 80’s but could sing the verses from memory.
It was a real tear jerker. ❤
My sister introduced me to this song when I was a little kid and it made me cry and it still does and when you listen to the words as I did when I grew up, you realize how deep it is now heartfelt. The emotions are when you know you’re losing someone very special 20:29 20:29 20:29
How did I miss this song ? Probably because my mom never let me dwell on sad songs … I miss my mom so much , this song is super touching to me - thank you for sharing
I have a whole collection of sad songs. Sad songs usually have the best melodies IMHO.
I was only 9 when this song got big but I have always adored this song. It was good times back then and my bestie Helen was always there for the adventures. We really did skin our hearts and knees but we were together through it all. This song will always be my all time favorite of childhood!!!
I think I cried to this song when I was about 6 yrs old.
I still cry now..even when I've sung it on my singing app it brings a tear to my eye.
Beautiful & poignant song. ❤
I wouldn't have guessed Terry Jacks, Professor. You really do come up with some of the greatest songs of all time!! I will tell you, quite truthfully, that I actually have Seasons In the Sun in my mp3 player. This was one of my top favorites, of which there are many, admittedly. But I always felt there must be a sad story behind that song, thanks for digging our music and for digging out the nuggets!! Great show, I'm going to be sharing this.
"Professor Of Rock", my just be a title, but it fits you so well. Every day I look forward to hearing your next story. Thank you for what you do.
Thanks for listening!
That was a beautiful commentary about your dad at the end. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing that part of your journey. For me it was my mother who passed away in 1973, when I was just 16. It took decades for me to come to terms with her loss.
One of your best videos! I was a high school "musician" in a rock band, so you would think I paid attention to the lyrics, but no. So I enjoy hearing the back story and finding out what the song was really about. Grew up in Idaho Falls in the 60's, so maybe we were sort of neighbors. Congrats on a great YT channel.
Was 9 turning 10yrs old when this song came out in '74. At such a pivotal age for music and it's influences, this one, as well as a lot of others that year, sure made a kid think and reflect on life. This especially, after losing Mom earlier in '71 at such a young age. It answered a lot of questions a little kid could have and truly gave solace that things were gonna be OK, even though sad.
As soon as I saw the title of your video I realized it was about Seasons in the Sun. I had listened to this thousands of times as a teen. It was on on a double cassette compilation that came out in Greece in the early 80s. Tape always in my walkman (still have the tape!). I had listened carefully to the lyrics and realized it was actually a song for someone dying. The chord progression is amazing and haunting at the same time. Thanks for making this!
me too
Thanks for sharing.
!
Do you live in Athens?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980Crete
This song came out when I was 10, we would listen to the AM radio waiting to hear it till finally getting a 45 of the record. My friend Sam and I wore out that record, Sam died at 16 in a terrible car accident, I think of him every time I hear this song. I miss you my brother Sam Statler. Thanks for doing this video.
Hey Prof, just wanted to offer a digital supportive hug. You talk about your dad a LOT on this channel, maybe more than you know. I remember your talking about the "Who Made Who" song and how your dad was getting into the song while you replayed it. It must be cool to have a dad who liked rock music.
Dude, I just discovered this song two weeks ago you’re reading my mind again love your channel forever 😊
Never knew why I never heard more music by Terry Jacks after this smash hit. I definitely can hear the Wray Link guitar now, didn't know that was him. I am glad you are a song storyteller I learn so much about the music I love. Great episode professor
Thanks My Name!
So very similar to Rumble.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 definitely, how are you doing Lilly?
@@MyName-pl7zn I’m doing fine, and you?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 very good, waiting on spring
Another great one Adam! This song was one of my favorites growing up. Really enjoyed the bit about your dad.
Mr Black sheep, has created for himself a magical career. Being a musical story teller of the art of song writing and the crazy business that can never completely predict or completely control what will become a hit song. At least in the golden age of rock. Those were the days. Good for you professor, what a wonderful world you have created for yourself and your faithful viewers. Keep em coming...
Season's in the Sun is the 2nd song I ever recall. The first was Windy by the Association. But those first few guitar notes are unforgettable. It's my favorite song of all time.
Wow what a story, the first 45 I ever bought was this song, thanks for the background, I had no idea!!!! 💜🙏💜
I was 11 and growing up in Australia when I first heard this song. It brings back such strong memories of this time of my life. This is a song that can still bring a tear to my eye.
I used to love skating to this song at the roller rink when I was 11 years old in 1974 and I still love it today.
This song made me cry again reminding me of the people that I knew who have died that loved good music like this song
i had a friend who loved this song it was playing when we got into an accident and he died, It's hard for me to listen to this song. But I love it.
Peace to you my friend.
So sorry.
Truly enjoy your program. I was especially touched by your closing remarks here. All good blessings to you and your crew, Professor.
I love trying to figure out what albums you have in the background. Great videos,very informative!
When my grandmother died in February of 1974, of all the songs on the radio, this was the one that will always remind me of that terrible day. Today, I hear it and I think of her. Thank you Terry.
Great video Prof! Finding out the reasons for songs is something I both love and hate. I love getting inside the head of the person writing, learning their reasons for what they wrote. I hate finding out that a song I love and either know the words to or can fake them well, doesn't say or mean what I thought it did. I have always loved music in other languages, and used to try to figure out what they meant just by the music. I remember falling in love with a Celtic song and holding it up with Mozart's 5th for what it made me feel. Then a friend who also loved it looked into it (this was before the net was really a thing) and found out it was about doing farm chores. Milking the cow, feeding the chickens. It was soul breaking for a while..
I remember hanging around with my friends on the playground at school. We were all singing this song, and we thought we were killing it.. I think about that day from time to time, I guess it's a special memory for me.
What a great way to talk about your father and his memories. That really touched me.