Each day in November, I’m revisiting a song from the 90’s — a decade that was a sorta coming of age for me. In that span, I experienced high school, college and my time as a young single guy in New York City. It was a decade of ups and downs, and the music never stopped playing during that span. It was always there with me. #30DaysOf90sSongs
It’s hard to imagine my listening experience without mentioning the importance 10,000 Maniacs played in expanding my musical tastes. They were a band that got their exposure on alt rock radio though they sounded nothing like the other acts. But it’s the band’s catalog — and In My Tribe, in particular — that kicked off my interest in folk rock. Songs like “Don’t Talk”, “Hey Jack Kerouac” and “Verdi Cries” drew my attention to Natalie Merchant’s lyrics. While I’m not as big a fan of her solo work from an instrumental perspective, the lyrics were always strong, including the simple and sincere “Kind & Generous”.
The song is timeless, but even more than that, it has seen periods of resurgence, taking on new significance with various world events. This is the power of “Kind & Generous”. It’s message of gratitude continues to resonate and find new meaning, most recently during the COVID-19 pandemic. The song was featured in a commercial last year thanking healthcare workers on the frontline. As universal as the song’s theme is, I can’t think of a track that uttered the words “thank you” better than this one. And with that, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for allowing me to share my love for music with you.
“For your kindness I'm in debt to you. And I never could have come this far without you.”