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.
Well, it’s been a bit of a cataclysmic week here in the UK. On December the 12th we had a General Election and by the 13th we woke up to the news that the Tory party had secured a “stonking” majority at Westminster. They certainly didn’t secure a stonking majority here in Scotland, but they never do, so no change there. As I often say around here, we are living through strange times and I don’t believe for a minute it will be all plain sailing for the new government heading into 2020 – Things had come to a head however and it seems Brexit fatigue had taken over the country which is a great shame, as I have a terrible feeling that many of those who voted Tory for the very first time last Thursday, will be the ones who suffer most over the next five years.
Anyway, we all need a break from the politics and before the end of the weekend I just wanted to share this picture of the full moon which lit up our skies on election night. It’s not a great example in terms of quality, but it was the one I managed to take on my phone when heading back to the house after a trip to the hairdressers. When things are looking a bit glum, a trip to your local salon is sometimes just the tonic required and I am happy to report my tresses have now been lit up too, just in time for Christmas.
We’ve been here before in this blog with a December Cold Moon post both in 2017 and 2018, but it’s the series that just keeps on giving as no two years are ever the same. It seems to be a bit of an optical illusion but the closer to the horizon the moon is, the larger it appears, and by golly that moon on the 12th of December certainly looked large. The politicians may come and go but thankfully the moon still waxes and wanes every 29 and a half days, which is a pleasant constant in a topsy turvy world.
I’m rapidly running out of songs I am familiar with for this series but here’s one written by many a fan’s favourite Beatle, George Harrison. I’m pretty sure it was put forward as a suggestion early on in this series, but it’s not put in an appearance yet, so now would be a good time. Here Comes The Moon was written by George whilst on holiday in Hawaii in February 1978. He came up with several songs for his album George Harrison there, drawing inspiration from his surroundings. He apparently recalled seeing marvellous sunsets and on one particular occasion, the full moon was coming up just as the sun was going down which totally bowled him over (but the bowling over was possibly more down to the effect of certain hallucinogenic substances!).
Here Comes The Moon by George Harrison:
As for George, he was the youngest of the Beatles and a mere lad of 15 when he first joined John and Paul in their skiffle group The Quarrymen. He was also sometimes called “the quiet Beatle” which is perhaps why so many warmed to him the most. He died far too young in 2001 at the age of 58 but has left us a large body of solo material as well as all that he recorded with the Beatles and Traveling Wilburys.
I for one will have to investigate further as I have become quite smitten by this uncomplicated song, written purely about the moment, and not intended as a metaphor for life in any way. Perhaps we should finish off with something from George himself, that gentle soul whose last words were apparently, “Love one another”.
Until next time….
Here Comes The Moon Lyrics
(Song by George Harrison)
Everybody’s talking up a storm
Act like they don’t notice it
But here it is and here it comes . . .
Here comes the moon, the moon, the moon, the moon, the moon.
Impulse always quickens when it’s full
As it turns my head around me
Yes it does and here it comes
Here comes the moon, the moon, the moon, the moon, the moon.
God’s gift I see that’s moving up there into the night . . .
Though dark the mirror in the sky reflects us our light:
Looks like a little brother to the sun
Or mother to the stars at night
And here it is and here it comes
Here comes the moon, the moon, the moon, the moon, the moon.
Breath is always taken when it’s new
Enhance upon the clouds around it
Yes it is and here it comes
Here comes the moon, the moon, the moon.
What's It All About? 
George, needless to say, is missed by millions of people. It’s striking how much Dhani Harrison looks like his father.
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I have a feeling it was you who suggested that song way back when this series started but too hard to backtrack now and check!
As for Dhani, I’ve just checked him out and you are right, so like the young George.
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If memory serves (a debatable point), the moon takes about 19 years to return to a repeated pattern of movement through the sky, rather than the 1 year for the sun. And no drugs necessary for a full moon rising with the sun setting, that’s pretty much how it works, I think. I have never managed it, but I’ve seen photos taken by folks sat in their cars, with the setting sun viewed through the windscreen and the rising moon visible in the door mirror.
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It makes sense that it would take 19 years to repeat the pattern as last year, with its 2 Blue Moons and a month with no full moon at all, will alone take quite some time to be repeated.
I like that idea of trying to view the setting sun and the rising moon via car mirrors – A challenge indeed. As for the influence of drugs, I have reworded that line a bit as what I meant was that the “being bowled over” aspect was possibly because of a heightened sense of wonderment in nature – Wouldn’t know myself of course but I have it on good authority it happens!
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“many of those who voted Tory for the very first time last Thursday, will be the ones who suffer most over the next five years.”
Exactly.
The great thing about the moon is that you can sit and stare at it and it won’t hurt your eyes.
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I do hope not but yes, I suspect so.
Because of this series I have found a new appreciation for the moon that I never had before and even though I’m not always writing about each one any more, I still love looking at the full moon when it appears in the sky. Bonus is, as you say, you don’t damage your eyes.
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At first glance I thought was a reworking of Here Comes the Sun but actually quite different!
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No a totally different animal but very sweet I thought. Makes sense it was written by George.
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Yep, love one another; that’s how we’ll get through this. And, of course, an overriding sense of humour.
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I like the sound of the sense of humour but recent events in my life have kinda robbed me of mine at the moment. As for the Love One Another quote, a fine mantra (but there are definitely some high profile people I would find it hard to love, say no more).
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if you are looking for new moon songs try My Sister the Moon by Irish born but Scottish dwelling folk singer Heidi Talbot
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Just checked out your Heidi post from October – Had missed the Whispering Grass/It Ain’t Half Hot Mum debate back then but all very interesting. Thanks for the heads up – I will keep it in my back pocket.
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A thoroughly depressing week. It’s beyond me how so many could vote for a party that so openly promotes division, bigotry and selfishness. As someone said the other day, you want to believe that people are fundamentally decent, but it’s hard to do so right at the moment. I too think that many of those who voted Tory for the first time are in for a very rude awakening.
As far as dear old George goes, if you are dipping your toe into his music for the first time, look no further than the ‘All Things Must Pass’ LP in general and the title track in particular – my favourite post-Fab song by any ex-Beatle.
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I do think Brexit fatigue took over and the old two-party system doesn’t apply any more with left-leaning voters split between a variety of parties – A massive overhaul of the entire systems needs to take place really but that’s not going to happen any time soon. The youth of the country may well revolt however – Their futures are being sacrificed for short-term greed
Anyway, it was nice amongst all the political upheaval to discover this sweet song by the lovely George. Thanks for the heads up re the album and pleased to see there is still a lot of love for him out there – His son looks awfully like him by the way. Freakily so.
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Fantastic song selection here, Alyson. I was surprised it hadn’t made an appearance in this series until now but better late than never. I’m glad you enjoyed your salon visit, which I’m sure was well deserved. I hope you can find some time to pamper yourself this holiday season.
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I am amazed at how popular this post and song choice has been, yet I had never heard it before starting this series. Still a lot of love out there for George it seems.
I think my friend who recently lost her daughter deserves some pampering, so I’m going to treat us both over the holiday period. As for hair, it seems to get more costly the older you get, although the male of the species often gets off scot-free, not looking at anyone in particular!
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I’d never heard this before and there is something very soothing about it, much like the moon itself. I love the fact that we just have one moon and wherever we are in the world, and in whatever century, we’re all still looking or were looking at the same one. I know, talk about stating the obvious but there is something in the magnitude of that which I find comforting and grounding. Please may we never let anyone fuck it up, by trying to own it or build on it or mine it or dump more rubbish on it. etc. etc. etc.
As for George – one of those people for whom I felt genuine sadness when he died. Definitely my favourite Beatle for his quiet, gentle nature. I have it on good authority that he really was an absolutely lovely man – some years ago we got to know someone locally who it turns out was rather closely connected to the Beatles on a professional basis (will tell you more some time, Alyson!) and if anyone could know that I think she could. She said you could just see it in his eyes.
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No you’re not stating the obvious – It’s occurred to me whilst writing these moon posts that when I alert everyone to the fact a full moon (of a certain name) is about to appear in the sky, we are all then looking up at the same one whether in Seattle (like Brian), Denmark (Chris), Orkney (Graeme) or in many of the other places within the UK where we all reside. Kind of comforting as I said above. Crikey, are they really doing that? Thinking of mining it – No, no, no. There’s already enough junk up there, lets keep it as it is.
I am of course intrigued now by your story about George. Sounds like you’ve got a pretty good story to tell there C and looking forward to hearing it sometime. It’s always the same isn’t it, we first warm to the stand out characters in a band but soon veer towards the quiet ones (for me it was Peter Tork in the Monkees and Howard in Take That).
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