Rod Mckuen

April 29, 1933 – January 30, 2015

Rod Mckuen has left the room. But certainly, and especially for those who during the ’60’s became aware of the impact song lyrics could have on life and “love,” the gritty, worldly, gravelly voiced singer and writer will remain in memory.

As a lyric writer, singer and performer—there is no doubt, Mckuen enriched the generation in which I grew up. His song lyrics formed a foundational component  of my outlook, analysis, the basis, of my own “poetic” writing style, and those of successful writers, “poets” with whom I kept (and still keep) company.

The writings (song lyrics only, here) most remembered (out of almost 400 titles, performed by him and a cornucopia of other monumental contemporary names):

Love’s Been Good to Me

Summer Song

500 Miles

World I Used to Know,

Doesn’t Anybody Know My Name

Forever Young

Kisses Sweeter than Wine

Movin’ Down the Line

There Will Never be Another You

Wayfarin’ Stranger

…his poetry—many more memorable selections (for another discussion.)

Adios, Rod…

Max tdc