Since discovering that all full moons have a name (given to them by the Native Americans who kept track of the months by the lunar calendar), I have written about each one as they appear in our skies. To accompany the post I always include one of the numerous songs that have been written about the moon and its many foibles.
Welcome to my second November “moon post”. No two years are ever going to be the same as far as the lunar calendar is concerned, so this seems to be the series that can just keep on giving! The inspiration for these posts came from witnessing a fantastic low-lying supermoon this time last year (link here). It led me to wanting to find out all about our only satellite, as unbelievably, I had pretty much taken it for granted until then.
All full moons have a name, and the November full moon, which will appear in our skies on Friday night, is called the Beaver Moon. I carefully sidestepped any further comment about that name last year, and will do so again, because joy of joys it has an alternate name, the Frost Moon. We certainly have had some frosty mornings around here of late, but also clear skies, which led myself and Mr WIAA to head out for another bit of filming on the dash cam. Some of you will recognise the route taken, as it’s the same one used for a previous film clip, but back then it was all sunshine and blue skies. We’re heading into a very different season at this time of year.
Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival:
When I started this series last year, I put out a request for moon-related songs, and one of the most frequently suggested, was Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival. So far I’ve managed to avoid using it, as I have never been a fan of the song. I realise it does need to be included at some point however, so I’ve added it to my film clip above. It did really well in the UK Singles Chart, reaching the No. 1 spot in August 1969, but somehow not a song I have ever warmed to. I have a theory that songs have genders, some male and some female. Most of my favourite songs have a leaning towards the feminine side, whether performed by men or women. This song for me, is testosterone laden, and fully masculine, so not really my bag.
As mentioned recently, I’ve taken to heading out of an evening, enjoying long walks around my neighbourhood. Over the last couple of weeks, the moon has been a constant feature in our night skies, and has changed from being a half moon, to a waxing gibbous (look at me with all the jargon). Last night it looked pretty full to me, but if you looked closely, there was indeed a slight shading on the top left corner, as if someone had just started to rub it out with an eraser, then changed their mind.
My friend with the fancy camera has also been out and about over the last week, and I am going to share some of his pictures of the waxing gibbous moon – Some taken at a distance, and one taken with the full-on power of a zoom lens. Amazing shots as ever.
Pictures courtesy of R.J.
Before I go, another snippet about the featured song. A line from it has became one of rock’s most famous cases of misheard lyrics. Due to John Fogerty’s distinctive delivery, a large proportion of radio listeners thought he was singing: “There’s a bathroom on the right”! A classic mondegreen. As for the actual lyrics, considering all the political shenanigans going on at the moment, possibly quite apt for “our times”.
Until next time…
Bad Moon Rising Lyrics
(Song by John Fogerty)
I see the bad moon a-rising
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightning
I see bad times today
Don’t go around tonight
Well, it’s bound to take your life
There’s a bad moon on the rise
I hear hurricanes a-blowing
I know the end is coming soon
I fear rivers overflowing
I hear the voice of rage and ruin
Don’t go around tonight
Well, it’s bound to take your life
There’s a bad moon on the rise
Hope you got your things together
Hope you are quite prepared to die
Looks like we’re in for nasty weather
One eye is taken for an eye
Don’t go around tonight
Well, it’s bound to take your life
There’s a bad moon on the rise
What's It All About? 
I love this song, but mainly for its association with An American Werewolf In London!
Also, your photographer friend might be interested in this: http://www.lulu.com/shop/mark-kilner/lunar-photography-with-a-dslr-and-a-small-refractor/ebook/product-5932498.html – has a really excellent section on using free software to “stack” multiple close-up images of the moon to get a really sharp result – to see the author’s astounding results, see https://www.flickr.com/photos/markkilner/albums/72157594358673931
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Ah, the effect the lovely Jenny Agutter has had on so many men of a certain age! Yes another moon-related song that also popped up on the film’s soundtrack, but never one of my favourites as explained in the post.
Thanks for those links – amazing looking pictures. Will definitely pass them on.
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Hi Alyson. Don’t think I ever came across the word “mondegreen” before. I had to look it up. You’ve increased my knowledge base! It’s a great word.
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I just found out about it from blogging. At least two of the music blogs I follow have written about mondegreens in the last few years. Always something new to learn Neil!
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Sorry, but did someone mention Jenny Agutter…?
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I think I should rename this series “Songs relating to Jenny Agutter” as her name keeps popping up here. That American Werewolf film has left a lasting fond memory for men of a certain age!
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Here Desert Island Discs is well worth a listen; she’d just made American Werewolf and plainly has no idea of the legacy her role will leave behind:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mkrj
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Argh… I really wanted to listen to that show but my computer is blocking it at the moment. Will go back to it and try and get it to work later. Love the picture of her on the BBC page – a rare beauty indeed. Thanks though for the link.
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By the way I did manage to download that DID episode from the archives. I think I’m now even more smitten by Ms Agutter than ever – Not many like her around nowadays.
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I enjoyed the car journey… I remember how different it looked in the sunshine too. It looks lovely round your way, day or night. Interesting observation about male/female re. songs too – I think you could be onto something. It is a song I like but then I am a bit of a boy at heart sometimes – Mr SDS just asked me if I wanted a necklace for our wedding anniversary and I told him I’d rather have a bag of worms!
The moon pics, as ever, are wonderful (also the fantastic images from Martin’s links).
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Thanks – I tried a few Spring journeys and liked that route best. Turns out it was quite good for getting a moon shot too.
As for the male and female songs, I think I am on to something, and yes, you probably veer much further toward ‘male’ songs than I. Also I would probably prefer a necklace to a bag of worms, but I totally get where you’re coming from. This moon series has got me fascinated and it seems I can keep going for another year – This night last year we would have witnessed the Full Beaver but this year it is the Full Frost!! (Sorry couldn’t resist.)
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I should leave well alone, but you can’t go around bandying Full Beavers and Jenny Agutter in the same paragraph. Imagine the sort of bother I’d get into if I adopted this sort of approach to blogging – I’d be run out of town on a rail!
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I am a very bad woman, but the only full moon that inspires such inappropriate comments, so Jenny and the rest of us are safe for the next 11 months!
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Were they snowflakes, or moths, that kept fluttering down into your lights?
If moths, I can’t believe there are so many of them still around at this time of year.
If snowflakes, they fell in a very rhythmic fashion.
I’ll keep watching that video until I work it out.
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Oh Rol – I saw that too and wondered what the heck they were. Think it was just a quirky trick of the light, as certainly neither moths nor snowflakes (or a rivulet of water as I first thought). Too late to go back and do it again, so I just stuck with it and made my little film thinking no-one would notice (but you did you eagle-eyed person). I’ll have to film that route again at some point – I could cover all the seasons and find a song to match each one. Another idea for a new series although I definitely have far too many now on hiatus, so need to get back to them first. Didn’t think I’d keep going with the moon series but my favourite so far.
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I think I’ve just worked it out – They come very regularly and one for every street light. I think as we drove past the street lights they must have thrown a reflection onto the windscreen. That’s why it wouldn’t have happened in daytime.
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Of course, they could be tiny ghosts…
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I agree there is something quite “macho” about Bad Moon Rising. You could say the singer can’t avoid his desire, and can’t avoid the changing moon. I might be over-interpreting though! I’ll listen out for the “bathroom on the right” lyric 🙂
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Yep, you could be over-interpreting (?!) but definitely a macho song. ‘Bad moon on the rise’ does sound like something totally different.
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