from MUSIC ON MY MIND by Willie "The Lion" Smith (1964)

[bronze_ribbons]

My mother used to say, "Willie, you've got a real truth to tell the people and you've got a God-given right to scream it at them. But you must remember -- that sometimes the screaming won't do any good."

She spoke the truth. This world is full of chirpers, belchers, and flips from the funny papers who like to go out on the town. I learned to go home when my antennae picked up vibrations from the off-key kids and the whisky tenors. You might as well try making love to each member of a girl quartet at the same time as to try playing your music when the vibrations are wrong. The Lion knows. He was born under Saturn, the get-it-the-hard-way planet.

A man's music comes from his heart and soul, flavored by the spiritual inspirations derived from the stars and his environment. When those bad vibrations reach you, you've either got to dominate them or give them silent treatment. I've learned it is better to duck than to hurry yourself out of this world by thinking you can roll with the punches. Loud people are like a bad drink of whisky -- you either fight them or join them. Either way, it's a bad idea.