Today’s classic song of the day comes from the former lead singer of Paul Revere & the Raiders, Mark Lindsay. The song is “Miss America” and it was released in April of 1970. It was a moderate success, peaking at #44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.
“Miss America” was written by a guy named James Jerome Kelly, of whom I know nothing. The song is about America, sort of, in an allegorical way, a country that once ran wild and free but was eventually corrupted and abused. I mean, it doesn’t say that outright, but it’s there, kind of. In any case, the lyrics end on a hopeful note:
I’ve seen her in the forest
And she’s singing peaceful songs for you and me
And I’ve heard her in the hills
And I’m glad to say she’s still alive and free
Oh lord her loving eyes
Casted ripples ‘neath the sun without a sound
And she mirrors a clearing sky
As her children dance along the rain washed ground
Do you miss America
Miss America
Miss America
I know I do
I particularly like the dual meaning of the phrase “miss America.” Is it about a person or country, or is it about missing that person or thing? Ah, the beauty of words.
In addition to his hits fronting the Raiders, Mark Lindsay had a handful of solo hits in the late ’60s/early ’70s, including “Arizona” (1969), “Silver Bird” (1970), and “And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind” (1970). One should also count “Indian Reservation” as one of his, as he recorded as a solo project but it was released under the Raiders name. Mark Lindsay is still kicking around today, performing on the oldies circuit and hosting the American Revolution show on SiriusXM satellite radio.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, an extremely rare clip of Mark Lindsay lip synching “Miss America” on the June 14, 1970, episode of Something Else, a half-hour variety show hosted by comedian John Byner. The clip is so very, very 1970, complete with long sideburns, turtlenecks, bell bottoms, and fringed jackets, it almost makes me ache for that long gone time. Or maybe that’s just the song doing its thing…
