Posted on 09/14/2013 10:46:59 AM PDT by SkyPilot
With all the bad news these days, something just made me want to post this song.
It harkens back to a different time, and a different America. It is generally known as a "Christmas Song", but it is really a timeless piece.
It also speaks to love, and the human heart. Because of God, we always have that gift.
Jim Croce - It Doesn't Have To Be That Way
"It Doesn't Have to Be That Way" is a 1973 single written and recorded by Jim Croce. It was released in 1973 and was the third and final single released from his album Life and Times. It reached a peak of 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent five weeks on the chart. Because of the Christmas theme and wintery images, the song is often played during the holiday season. It was also the second single released after Jim Croce's passing. The song is about a man who has recently ended a relationship and is feeling sad and lonely during Christmas time. Everything he sees in his town makes him want to return to his former relationship. He thinks that the feelings he has "doesn't have to be that way", and that if he returns to her everything will be better because "it's only right". If he stops by her house they can work the relationship out and get back together."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Doesn%27t_Have_to_Be_That_Way
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
I didn't look at the video but I bet it's off a DVD called "Have You Heard Jim Croce Live". I think all the songs on the DVD are like that. He also goes into details about some of his songs like Bad Bad Leroy Brown which was inspired by a guy in his unit. It also gives some details about his life. I bought the DVD second hand but it's well worth new price for anyone who likes his music.
If you really want to tell how good a guitar player someone is take away the electronics and hand them an Acoustic. He was great.
Thanks for the post...i had forgotten what a great artist he was.
Merry Christmas!
Jim Croce was just hitting his creative stride when he died in that plane crash.
Some people do not have a high opinion of "contemporary" Christmas songs but as good as the traditional songs are, there's always room for more contemporary Christmas music.
I went to a live acoustic house concert on Friday. It was amazing. Good music lives on.
He really was, and from all accounts just a purely decent and hard working human being.
Thanks for the ping, SP.
Another song writer of that era died within the last year or so. Joe South who wrote and sang “Don’t it make you wanna go home”.
His best song. IMO, is a little underated gem - “Salon & Saloon”. Great little story in the lyrics...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU_ZOigB1i0
Hoisted many a beer listening to Jim Croce. Time in a Bottle was classic Croce.
He also wrote
“Games People Play”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5znh58WITU8
And Lynn Andersons
Rose Garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO4wcNVbYOQ
South wrote Down in the Boondocks also.
One of my favorite songwriters. Thank you.
Joyeux Noel!
My kingdom for a LIKE button! He and JT are my absolute favorites from that era.
And Air Force veteran.
We should do a thread on this piece alone. Maybe I will.
47 years ago was when that plane crashed.
I remember that day as a kid, I think it was the first time I knew of a contemporary celebrity that died so suddenly.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.