"Witness", a movie starring Harrison Ford as a fugitive cop on an Amish farm (filmed right here in Lancaster County), was a box office hit. The Wicked Witch of the West, Margaret Hamilton, died at the age of 82. The wreck of RMS Titanic was found after 73 years at the bottom of the Atlantic. The year was 1985, and one more event, one that made me feel like a child on Christmas morning, was destined to happen. A friend from college who recently moved to New York City called. "Melanie is having a concert. Would you like to go?" Wow. My mistaken notion that Melanie must have retired after the 1978 release of "Ballroom Streets" was replaced with the realization that my music idol of 14 years was anything but idle!
It was raining - no, pouring - the night of the concert. Over the years I've come to realize that this must be a trademark of Melanie's shows. All the more reason to come inside for an evening of great music. Upon entering Gerdie's, I notice they're selling 25-year anniversary T-shirts. The front is decorated with a musical staff overlayed with the name of the establishment. The back reads "Performer Roster 1960-1985", along with the names of dozens of musicians who've played there. All the big names in folk, except Melanie. Hmmm… I decided to buy one anyway. After finding our way passed the bar, we reach the "back room". The stage is set, and most of the patrons are already seated. We find a table, and wait anxiously for the show to begin. The day I'd been waiting for since 1971 was here.
Arriving about a half hour late, Melanie was apologetic. No one - least of all me - seemed to mind. Another victim of the weather, and that famous New York traffic. Her playlist included mostly new music, at least from my perspective. Little did I know many of the songs were from albums I didn't know existed, those post-1978 releases. Melanie talked at length about many personal subjects: her shorter haircut, her hair stylist, her dress, even her shoes. My first taste of Melanie's fantastic stage presence and rapport with her fans, topped off by a witty, off-the-cuff response to a request to sing "Cyclone". Pointing toward the door, and the monsoon-like rain beyond it, she said "No, rainstorm!" Backed by her band, Melanie captivated this mostly New York crowd for two hours. She ended the set with a moving, powerful song that I assume is titled "Soldiers Of The Heart". The lyrics go something like this:
Music and Lyrics by - David Pomeranz
The park was a cathedral
As we praised him for his songs
And his contribution to us, one and all
And we lit a thousand candles
And we sang his very best
And we wept to see the greatness of him fall
But just then, all at once I looked around
And recognized my friends
The ones I used to stand with long ago
And I wondered through my tears
Where we'd been for all these years
And how we ever grew so far apart
I swear I'll never know
For we were soldiers of the heart
Fit together hand in glove
Marching in the name of heaven
For a world of peace and love
And just because we're older now
Doesn't mean we've lost the fight
I could feel it in the air that night
We'd be soldiers of the heart
'Til we fill this world with light
So we held each other tightly
And we swayed beneath the sky
And I felt the pain inside begin to free
And I thought if all the planet
Could just hold each other once
What release and revelation there would be
And so we thank you, Master Dreamer
For allowing us that time to remember who we are
And what we're for
For now we stand again together
With a power that's been renewed
There ain't nothin' that can shake us anymore
For we are soldiers of the heart
Fit together hand in glove
Marching in the name of heaven
For a world of peace and love
And just because we're older now
Doesn't mean we've lost the fight
I could feel it in the air that night
1You may say I'm a dreamer
1But I'm not the only one
1I hope someday you'll join us
1And the world will live as one
We'll be soldiers of the heart
'Til we fill this world with light
Soldiers of the heart
Fit together hand in glove
Marching in the name of heaven
For a world of peace and love
And just because we're older now
Doesn't mean we've lost the fight
I can feel it in the air tonight
We'll be soldiers of the heart
'Til we fill this world with light
©1980 W.B. Music Pub Corp/Upward Spiral Music ASCAP
(From a David Pomeranz album titled, "COME HOME". He wrote the song in 1980 after John Lennon's death.)
1(Portion: John Lennon)
How a gem like this could escape all of Melanie's many albums is a mystery. Melanie, please record it! The evening ended with "Friends And Company", and one more hearty request for "Cyclone!" We never did hear that song this evening.
As we filed out the door, we had our own cyclone to contend with. Racing to stay dry, we entered nearby Café Lucca, for a cup of coffee and reminiscing. Just down the street is Melanie's Café, featuring a variety of taste-tempting vegetarian dishes. What a coincidence - does our Melanie own it? Who knows. It just fits with the magic of tonight. Not long after this show, Gerdie's Folk City closed it's doors. So many years waiting to see Melanie in concert, and I made it just in time. I can't help but wonder if there is such a thing as fate.
William Hurt won an Academy Award for Best Actor in "Kiss
Of The Spider Woman", and "Dynasty" was the top-rated
TV show. But for me, 1985 was most notable for this one evening.
The well-worn Gerdie's T-shirt is now safely tucked away in the
attic, a treasured reminder of a wonderful year.