Song of the Day — Special Edition

The Call — “Let the Day Begin” — 1989

The Call — “Let the Day Begin” — 1989

The Call — Let the Day Begin (Electra Records)

20.January.2021
The Call
“Let the Day Begin”
1989

In the fall of 2019, I was in New Zealand vacationing. One day I was in Wellington at an art gallery having a nice conversation with the owner. When she asked where I was from, I said “America” rather benignly.

She said: “Oh my, I don’t know how you deal with that man.”
I shrugged: “It’s tough.”

“You all like guns over there; why doesn’t someone just shoot him?”
“From your mouth to God’s ears.”

Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. It was a stunning inauguration ceremony that managed to have intimacy and power while delivering a cascade of emotions. He, and the inauguration team, pulled ALL of that off amid a divided country, profound security concerns, and a pandemic once again on the rise.

THAT’S leadership.

As I listened to Biden speak, I was deeply moved and felt something I have not felt in a very long time. Comfort and pride.

I believe we are finally taking steps to get this train back on track.

Of course, we will have to stay vigilant. There will be missteps, mistakes, bad decisions, and things we disagree on. In the words of President Joe Biden and so many others, “it’s gonna be messy, democracy is messy.”

I suspect I will be okay with this kind of messy. 
At the very least, I’m optimistic.

I won’t say much about this song because I feel songwriter Michael Been says enough.

“Let the Day Begin” is the title track from The Call’s 1989 album. It was used as Al Gore’s 2000 campaign song but …well … yea, I remember that too. ANYWAY, there is a reason Gore chose it. It had gravitas in 2000 when the song was 11 years old.

“Let the Day Begin” is now 32 years old and it still sounds just as fresh …and packs a punch — a testament to the band and the song.

[Someday we’ll discuss how The Call is one of the most drastically overlooked rock bands in history …but not today.]

So, for President Biden, Vice-President Harris, and all of us, it’s time to let the day begin.

Let the Day Begin

Here’s to the babies in a brand new world
Here’s to the beauty of the stars
Here’s to the travelers on the open road
Here’s to the dreamers in the bars

Here’s to the teachers in the crowded rooms
Here’s to the workers in the fields
Here’s to the preachers of the sacred words
Here’s to the drivers at the wheel

Here’s to you my little loves with blessings from above
Now let the day begin
Here’s to you my little loves with blessings from above
Now let the day begin, let the day begin

Here’s to the winners of the human race
Here’s to the losers in the game
Here’s to the soldiers of the bitter war
Here’s to the wall that bears their names

Here’s to you my little loves with blessings from above
Now let the day begin
Here’s to you my little loves with blessings from above
Let the day begin, let the day begin, let the day start

Here’s to the doctors and their healing work
Here’s to the loved ones in their care
Here’s to the strangers on the streets tonight
Here’s to the lonely everywhere

Here’s to the wisdom from the mouths of babes
Here’s to the lions in the cage
Here’s to the struggles of the silent war
Here’s to the closing of the age.

Here’s to you my little loves with blessings from above
Now let the day begin
Here’s to you my little loves with blessings from above
Let the day begin

Here’s to you my little loves with blessings from above
Let the day begin
Here’s to you my little loves with blessings from above
Now let the day begin, let the day begin, let the day start