Country Connections by James and Ellen Perry
“Time Changes Everything” was recorded in 1940 by Bob Wills and Tommy Duncan: “Heavenly shades of night are falling, It’s twilight time, Out of the mist your voice is calling, ’Tis twilight time.”
These beautiful lyrics were sung by Tony Williams and The Platters in the late spring of 1958. It was an international hit with lyrics written by Buck Ram in the ’40s. He later became the manager of The Platters.
As I sit here on my porch in the early spring of 2021, I compare how things and standards have changed today as compared to 1958. From the 1930s until 1963 we had the best music written and recorded by artists that could sing, musicians that could play their instruments and entertainers that dressed and looked professional.
Not today. Just look at the Grand Ole Opry with female singers practically nude and male singers unkempt, overweight, holes in their jeans and clothes that the average bum today is more presentable than our so-called entertainers.
Music was the first thing the Nazis changed while taking over Germany in the ’30s. Robert Reich, who was Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Labor from 1993 to 1997 said in an interview that we (meaning he and his contemporaries in the Ivy League Universities during the early 1960s) killed the music listened to by the young and changed it to promote their political ideology.
Johnny Cash made a statement in the early 60’s, “If you think music is bad today look what’s waiting in the wings to take over.”
Cash, with his personal demons, had no use for what he saw coming soon to America’s stages, TV, radio and worse—the movies.
If you parents, preachers and teachers want a shock, check out the top rap and hip-hop hits of 2020. Read the lyrics.
Your kids can access this garbage anytime (24-7) on their smart phones or at home on your computers, then download to their phones.
Today’s kids don’t listen to radio. They download hundreds of songs on their phone, stick white earbuds in their ears and live in their own little technical world.
Just Google the top rap and hip-hop songs of 2020 and read the lyrics. Now you parents, preachers and teachers don’t faint. You have shirked your duty too long. This process of breaking down society started years ago with American society turning America’s mores over to Ivy League social experiments, Hollywood and social movements aided by paid-for politicians.
Today's dress codes: Men, have compassion for our children. If you are forty or over, please don’t wear shorts and “muscle shirts.” First, your pale white legs reflect sunlight and blind children, and you don’t have muscles. You have a “beer belly,’ fallen chest and hair on your back that resembles a wild boar’s hair. You can grow hair on your back, but not your head. Cover it up men.
Ladies: Put away your face "war paint,’ purple wigs in some cases, foundation supports, low open top blouses and if you are over the bloom of youth, hopefully a skirt or dress and not stretch pants or jeans so tight that they may explode at any time. This type of fashion isn’t tasteful for those who have passed through the bloom of youth.
Tattoos: During the autumn of 1958, to see a lady with tattoos you had to pay at the circus or fair. You ladies have ruined a good living for your sisters who entered the trade in days of yore. Ladies got their tattoos, joined the amalgamated tattooed lady's union, joined the circus or the touring tattooed lady fair circuit and made plenty to support her family. Today it’s almost impossible to find a job as a tattooed lady. You have ruined the profession.
In my former job as a buyer for an international company I travelled by airline to most of the large American cities to attend trade shows. Even as late as the 1980s, the passengers on the airlines were dressed conservatively with most men in business suits, shined shoes and clean shaven. Not today.
Today's people going to church, business meetings and social events are dressed like they are going to a honky-tonk.
Another observation: Nurses (female), what’s with those ugly, ill-fitting scrubs. In 1958 female nurses wore white uniform dresses with stockings, real white leather nurse’s shoes and a cute white cap. The dresses were gathered at the waist and went to just above the knee. Wish I could see just one more pretty nurse dressed properly.
In 1958 most schools in the south (Tennessee) were local community schools, grade 1-8. All students attending these schools felt that were a part of the school and community. Any boy or girl could play on the softball or basketball team as they progressed up and through school. We had recess where we all took part in kid’s games on school property. Games such as tag, Annie over, hopscotch, jumping rope, softball, races. We were physically active during recess. It built up our bodies, timing ability and competitive spirit. It made us kids into better people. We had fundraisers for the schools for encyclopedia sets, even to put water into the schools. Everyone in the community participated.
Well, the shadows are calling to me, “It’s twilight time.” Wonder where I could find a 1950s Ford or Chevy.
Things have changed a lot.