Play a Song for Me

Last night I watched two specials on PBS. One was about Neil Young and one was about Bob Dylan. The similarities and differences between the two men was remarkable.
Both men appeared to not have been a very good companion when they were younger. Young doesn't appeared to have changed much but Dylan seems to have aged well like an old wine. Neither had an outstanding singing voice but each one was the voice of their generational sphere.
Dylan seemed to come off as the nicer person. It is strange that the most remote of these personalities should seem so human. The humor and wit of the younger Dylan was refreshing. The way in which he pursued his muse was admirable. Despite almost the whole world rejecting his change of instruments, he carried on towards his goal. He seems to have never yearned after fame or gold but simply gone his own way.
Young seems to have the bigger ego but Dylan showed great respect and admiration of those that went before him. His show also had extensive interviews with Joan Baez, something that I could sit and watch all night. That woman showed such intelligence and talent and compassion and courage in her life that she has become an icon of my life.
Speaking of the term "my" or the term "I", Young uses it a lot and the people on the peripherals of each entertainer are redolent with tales of how important they were to the careers of each but Dylan doesn't seem obsessed with the terms "Me", "My", or "I". His reverant descriptions of Pete Seegar and Johnny Cash were moving. His cynical, humorous,wit applied to a young Bob Dylan gave a new view of him.
Those men were the voices of a turbulent, strident time. The times were bathed in violence and dissidence. The people were of a kinder, gentler, more human type. They cared. If only Joan Baez could play a song for us now. Perhaps she and Dylan could share one final stage. It might heal some old wounds and some new ones.