Nostalgia in music

Filed in Thoughts on March 27, 2009



I heard a song the other day that made me think.  It is probably a popular song right now but I don't know the name of it.  The gist is how much better the past was than today and how the past is "how it ought to be."  The lyrics tell how the past did not have such problems as credit crunches and terrorists, and how in the past, neighbors watched out for each other, families ate together, and so on.

Is there some truth to that song? Sure there is, though the song did not mention some inconvenient facts such as in the past, racism was rampant even in the church, the life expectancy was half of what it is now, people had to work harder, and the standard of living was much lower.

But, here is the real problem I have with that song.  Ecclesiastes 7:10 says it is not wise to to waste time wondering why the past was better than today.  Too much reflection on the "good old days" is just not the most healthy thing in the world.  We need to be engaged in today.

It is a thrill to me that I play today the same songs I used to play in the small country church I grew up in 30 years ago.  But I am somewhat careful in how I discuss the music I play that I don't focus too much on nostalgia.  There is a lot to be said for heritage and nothing wrong with thinking about it.  But there are higher goals I should be striving for in my music than taking people back to their childhood roots.

 



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