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My Gen X Playlist: Blinded by the Light – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

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What technology would you be better off without, why?
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The other day I was scrolling through Instagram and I finally understood what doomscrolling was. Until then, I’d heard the term but didn’t really get it. I thought it was this over exaggerated term the youngsters say. But for some reason, that day I felt the anchor around my neck dragging me down. There’s so much negativity out there and maybe I went on sensory overload. I honestly thought I was going to delete my account, or at the very least, remove the app from my phone for a while.

But I didn’t.

And I was at it again. But then I saw this. How utterly inspiring. I spent some time watching his posts and it reminded me that sometimes we need darkness in order to feel light. This really spoke to me. I bought art supplies over six months ago and they’ve remained in the bag. I think it’s time to crack them open.

I’m not going to go as far as to say I’m better off without social media. I’m not on it that often to begin with. But I can ease my grip on my phone and temper my screen time. That’s something I definitely should do. Sounds easy, right?

When I was thinking of songs about darkness and light, Blinded by the Light came to mind. I had no idea who sang it and even when I found the song, I had no idea who Manfred Mann’s Earth Band was. Even crazier, it turns out that this was a Bruce Springsteen cover.

. . .  it is so far Bruce Springsteen’s only songwriting credit to have a # 1 hit. Check The Boss’s discography; his highest chart is # 2 for “Dancing In The Dark” 

Songfacts

Hard to believe this is true. But what makes it more interesting is proves light beats out darkness in the end. Thanks for taking the hit to prove this point, Bruce. Much appreciated.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night
Blinded by the light

Madman drummer bummers
Indians in the summer
With a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps
As the adolescent pumps
His way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder
Feeling kinda older
I tripped a merry-go-round
With this very unpleasing
Sneezing and wheezing
The calliope crashed to the ground
The calliope crashed to the ground

But she was blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

Some silicone sister
With her manager mister
Told me I got what it takes
She said, I'll turn you on sonny to something strong
Play the song with the funky break
And go-kart Mozart
Was checking out the weather chart
To see if it was safe outside
And little Early Pearly
Came by in his curly-wurly
And asked me if I needed a ride
Asked me if I needed a ride

'Cause she was blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night
Blinded by the light

She got down but she never got tight
She's gonna make it to the night
She's gonna make it through the night

But mama, that's where the fun is
But mama, that's where the fun is

[Solo]

Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun
But mama, that's where the fun is

Some brimstone baritone
Anticyclone rolling stone
Preacher from the east
Says, "Dethrone the Dictaphone
Hit it in its funny bone
That's where they expect it least."
And some new mown chaperone
Was standing in the corner
Watching the young girls dance
And some fresh-sown moonstone
Was messing with his frozen zone
Reminding him of romance

The calliope crashed to the ground

But she was blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

(Madman drummers bummers and Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat)

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

(With a boulder on my shoulder feelin' kinda older I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasing sneezing and wheezing the calliope crashed to the ground)

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

(And now Scott with a slingshot finally found a tender spot and throws his lover in the sand
And some bloodshot forget-me-not whispers daddy's within earshot save the buckshot turn up the band.)

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

(Some silicone sister with her manager mister told me I got what it takes
She said I'll turn you on sonny to something strong)

She got down but she never got tired
She's gonna make it through the night

25 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Blinded by the Light – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band”

  1. I’m embarrassed to admit that I am one of the people who thought the lyric was “wrapped up like a douche“ – whatever the hell I thought that was supposed to be

    But I love your statement about being an artist. I do like to also expand the concept of art to include the written word. I feel like I’m not much of a artist in a visual sense, but obviously we all love to write, which is why we’re here

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  2. I, too, thought this was a song about being wrapped up like a douche….I mean, this song came out way before the Internet was available to all, and the lyrics were always a great mystery….but it was catchy, and likeable, so I tried not to sing along and just enjoyed it.

    Doomscrolling is the reason I only indulge in FB and have let other iterations of social media get kicked to the curb. The world has enough negativity in it without feeding the negativity gremlin and wasting precious time. I nuked my X account, and have let Instagram, Bluesky, hell, even “Flickr” and Tumblr lapse.

    The artist you shared is an inspiration. Thank you for that!

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    1. I’m impressed that you were able to kick the social media habit. I can’t imagine see how it can be addicting. But yes… it really can suck you in.

      I wish we had a way to look up song lyrics / meanings when we were younger. I just had to guess or remain clueless all the time!

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  4. Excellent song choice from a fabulous band. My mates and I listened the shit out of another of theirs, 1979’s ‘Angel Station,’ when it came out. The lyrics controversy for “Blinded” is timeless and I recall seeing a video of this recently, and vaguely remember some commentary that it was a mixing problem. No doubt all the hoo-haw got the song more attention! The version on TV’s Midnight Special was slightly better enunciated and is a great watch, too.

    I am spending way less time on socials than I used to. I quit Twitter numerous times before finally shredding it, and was on BlueSky for a while, but then it just felt like a useless time suck. I rarely use Instagram; I used to look upon it as a kind of art gallery when it was mostly photos and paintings, but now it’s all ads and crap. Facebook is still a go-to, but it’s pretty ride with issues, too.

    I hope you break out the art supplies soon… I look forward to hearing about what you create!

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thanks for your comments, Steve. I went on YouTube to sample Angel Station and listened to a few. I enjoyed You Angel You and You Are I Am. I’ll go back and listen to some more. I appreciate your recommendation.

      I’m not on social media much, but it’s easy to fall into a hole. I can’t imagine how the younger generation balances life with it. It must be challenging.

      Yes, I’ll break them out. Should be fun!

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  5. I sometimes get sucked into Instagram, but only for the nature and snow adventure videos I follow.
    Never heard this song before. Very cool!
    I hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving day! Happy belated Thanksgiving!

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  6. “Revved up like a deuce
    Another runner in the night”
    OH. So that’s what they were saying…literally everyone thought it was “wrapped up like a douche”!
    And yes, creativity is key to happiness. Get out those arts supplies and make something. Even doodling is good!

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  7. Oh! So THAT’s what they were saying?! Love those songs from the 70’s & 80’s where we had to make up the lyrics because we couldn’t understand what they were singing. 🙂 Loved that song, though! Never knew the Boss wrote it. Cool fact.

    I keep my Facebook account to connect with old friends. Just yesterday I was talking to an old friend at our Thanksgiving (belated) get-together and he had no idea that some of the people we grew up with had passed away. He doesn’t have any social media presence. So, I guess there are pros and cons to having an account.

    I’m happy that you are going to express yourself through art! It’s refreshing to put down the phone and turn off the TV once in a while.

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    1. I don’t have Facebook either. But your post made me think and consider creating an account. I can’t imagine classmates passing away but I think I’m at that age where it’s happening.

      And yes… I had to make up lyrics, too. Especially when totally indecipherable!

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  9. Oh man, time warp… the mystery of douche is finally solved… I was also ignorant of the real lyrics until I saw your post 😂 Another mystery solved!

    Get out those paints and have fun! Dunno if you’ve ever been to a “wine by design” or “paint and sip,” but it’s fun. There’s usually an instructor there and prodigious amounts of wine… so by your third big glass of Chardonnay, it’s OK if your painting of a barn looks like a Salvador Dali clock 😎👌 “It’s an original!” 😂

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