Going to California - ("telling myself it's not as hard, hard, hard as it seems")

Last week was really hard... it was like I walked around with a dark cloud around my head. I felt so many things - both joyous and sad. One thing that has inspired me is a trip to California coming up.

The legendary Led Zeppelin song came to mind. I relate to certain parts of those lyrics - the journey, a new start, unkindness, leaving the past behind, etc....

One of the highlights of my concert-going life was seeing this song at a concert with John Paul Jones, Glen Phillips, Pete Thomas, and Nickel Creek. It was a collaboration they called Mutual Admiration Society. They played a concert at the Independent in San Francisco. It made an indelible mark.

Spent my days with a woman unkind,
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine.
Made up my mind to make a new start,
Going to california with an aching in my heart.
Someone told me theres a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.
Took my chances on a big jet plane,
Never let them tell you that they're all the same.
The sea was red and the sky was grey,
Wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today.
The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake
As the children of the sun began to awake.
Seems that the wrath of the gods
Got a punch on the nose and it started to flow;
I think I might be sinking.
Throw me a line if I reach it in time
I'll meet you up there where the path
Runs straight and high.
To find a queen without a king;
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings.
La la la la
Ride a white mare in the footsteps of dawn
Tryin to find a woman whos never, never, never been born.
Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams,
Telling myself its not as hard, hard, hard as it seems.

Led Zeppelin:


Have to include Jake Shimabukuro: