Welcome Craig! I think you are our first lister (at least to delurk) from
Las Vegas!
> As one of the "aging children" that Joni sings about, I just had to answer
> this question that someone asked yesterday:
> "The throbbing light machine" refers to a machine used by late 60s deejays
> and concert promoters to create psychedelic light shows for the audiences
at
> rock concerts. Maybe you just have to be of a certain age to know this
> stuff. It's always struck me how hip Joni's lyrics are. And as a 60s
hipster
> (not hipster-dufus a la Kramer, I hope!) I felt right at home with her
> phraseology.
Ah yes, I remember they even used them at my high school dances back then
and later people even got their own light machines for parties at home.
Also remember the "black lights" that you'd shine on psychedelic posters to
make them glow? ;-)
I think Joni's lyrics here are the most poetic description of "altered
consciousness" I've ever read. My take is that rather than overtly
condoning the use of substances like many of the songs of the era, she seems
to be subtly implying it's a distraction of aging children, one which she,
nonetheless, engages in ;-)
Kakki
NP: Twisted - Robin McElhatten
