Rock In My World

Old Man Going - The Pretty Things

Brit band, The Pretty Things, created one of rock's first concept albums, released in 1968, S.F. Sorrow. This album, based on a concept by the band's guitar playing vocalist, Phil May, tells the story of Sebastian F. Sorrow from his birth through his death, and it has been speculated that Pete Townshend borrowed this idea when he wrote Tommy. (And in case you're interested, there is a live recording of S.F. Sorrow, called Resurrection, featuring David Gilmour on guitar, you can read about it here.)

In Old Man Going, our friend Mr. Sorrow is, of course, near the end of his life:

Old man going.

Hopscotch of life will lead you to the grave.
Wet faces line the street, they will not be saved.
Black house youve built it will soon disappear,
Another corporation dig this year.

Old man going.

Traffic thins as you drive slowly by,
A friend wipes a flower from an eye.
Streets filled with bouquets from a cloudy sky
Theyll soon forget the field in which you lie.

Old man going.
Listen at left or here.
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What a cool band.