My Gen X Playlist: Painted Desert – 10,000 Maniacs

Recently I read two articles about the desert on the same day. The first was sent to me from A Different Way about the Sahara Desert sands drifting into Florida’s airspace. First of all, how in the world? My initial thought was nothing good can come out of this. But of course, I was wrong.

When dust particles from the Sahara Desert or smoke mix with our atmosphere, they scatter sunlight differently than usual. Instead of just blocking sunlight, these particles scatter it broadly, creating intense and vibrant colors during sunsets.

This scattering effect amplifies shades like deep reds, oranges, pinks, yellows and occasionally even purples, making our evening skies absolutely stunning. So, while it may impact air quality, Saharan dust also gives us some of the most breathtaking sunsets you’ll ever see.

– clickorlando

The second article was about the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. It’s one of the driest places on earth. Yet every few years it’s blanketed with flowers, when the right levels of rainfall and temperature coincide to awaken dormant desert seeds.

Over the past 40 years, around 15 blooming events have happened, according to a 2022 analysis from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

– cnn

If you live in California, you may not be a fan of the desert. Most prefer the ocean or mountains and that makes for stiff competition. But almost 40% of California is made up of desert and maybe it’s not getting its due. What I liked about these articles is it showed Mother Nature has a way of surprising us. There is beauty in the desert. You just have to look for it.

The 10,000 Maniacs released Painted Desert in 1987. Even though the song appears to be about an ending love, it’s the title that caught my attention for today. Maybe even in the aftermath of a dying relationship, there are bright colors waiting to reveal themselves in time. You just never know.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

The Painted Desert can wait till summer.
We've played this game of just imagine long enough.
Wait till summer?
When I'm sure the rains have ended, the blooms have gone,
everyone killed by the morning frost.
Is a cactus blooming there in every roadside stand
where the big deal is cowboy gear won in Japan?

The Painted Desert can wait till summer.
We've played this game of just imagine long enough.
Wait till summer?
When I'm sure the rains have ended and the blooms have gone,
everyone killed by the morning frost.
Is a cactus blooming there upon the Northern rim
or in the ruins of the Hopi mesa dens?

You met a new friend in the Canyon, or so you wrote.
On a blanket in the cooling sand you and your friend agreed that
the stars were so many there they seemed to overlap.

The Painted Desert can wait till summer.
We've played this game of just imagine long enough.
Wait till summer?
When I am sure the rain has ended, the blooms have gone,
everyone killed by the morning frost.
Was a cactus blooming there as you watched the Native boy?
In Flagstaff trailer court, you wrote the line:
"He kicked a tumbleweed and his mother called him home where the Arizona moon met the Arizona sun."

I wanted to be there by May at the latest time.
Isn't that the plan we had or have you changed your mind?
I haven't read a word from you since Phoenix or Tucson.
April is over will you tell me how long before I can be there?