Information from Hedgecock....

[L. Bird]

>"what is rock rebelling against these days?"

Depends on the individual musician--certainly you can't say the whole genre 
is about rebellion.  For a while rock was the music of youth, which is often 
used to express rebellion (as was jazz and more recently rap).  However, 
that part of its history is over and it can be used for anything the 
songwriter wants to express.  There have been some protest type songs just 
recently that border on rebellion again.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking The Who's new mini-opera is about history, and maybe 
that IS nostalgia.  The songs with a real bite didn't seem to make an 
appearance until Pete was done with the opera, e.g. "Man in a Purple Dress." 
  I'm thinking something like that will be more likely to become a general 
hit because of the message.

There are some lines in "The Mirror Door" that strike me, though.  I wish 
there had been a bit of an instrumental interlude just after this for it to 
sink in.

Music makes me, makes me strong
Strong vibrations make me long
Long for a place where I belong
You will find me in this song...


(Transcription below courtesy of TheShout.)


The Mirror Door

If you don't hear me how can I tell you
If you don't listen why should I speak?
If you're indifferent how can I reach you?
Just 'cuz you're angry don't assume I'm weak

I'm an old friend of Link Wray
Dave van Ronk and Doris Day
Bobby Darin, Brownie McGhee,
Elvis, Buddy, Eddie C

Music makes me, makes me strong
Strong vibrations make me long
Long for a place where I belong
You will find me in this song...

Chorus:
Who will walk through the mirror door
Will there be music or will there be war?
Will we be rich or will we be poor?
Who will walk through the mirror door

[repeat chorus]

A thousand angels, a million children
Fire and fear in a suicide eye
Golden stairway to a zeppelin heaven
Rolling thunder under a New York sky

Frank and Ella, Ray -- What'd I say? --
Johnny Cash and Johnnie Ray
Amadeus and Ludwig van
Henry*, Johann, and the Doo Dah Band

We are here in celebration
This music's gonna make us strong
We're gonna climb to the golden station
Curtis Mayfield ain't waitin' long.
Get on board!

[chorus, twice]

The mirror door...the mirror door

[begin spoken]
Howlin' Wolf and old Link Wray
Dave van Ronk and Doris Day
Bobby Darin, Brownie McGhee
Elvis, Buddy, and Eddie C

Frank and Ella, Ray -- What'd I say? --
Johnny Cash and Johnnie Ray
Amadeus and Ludwig van
Henry, Johann, and the Doo Dah Band

[sung]
Keep on climbin'


keets