I don’t want to get in the habit of quoting myself (a sure sign of descent either into senility or sociopathism), but I wrote this about a month ago:

In a world of true justice, Flying Colors would be blaring from every car stereo tuned to album rock radio across North America.  Not only does SECOND NATURE have the single best album cover of the year, but the album is absolutely riveting.  It’s not quite prog, though, as with the best of AOR, it contains great prog elements.  Everything fits perfectly here.  The lyrics are solid, the vocals are superior.  The final two songs—Peaceful Harbor and Cosmic Symphony (sort of a gospel prog)—alone are worth the entire album.  But, the entire album is, thankfully, worth the entire album.  For me, every time I listen to this album, I’m transported back to 1985.  This would have sounded great next to Power Windows.  And, unquestionably, Peaceful Harbor would easily outdo almost any contemporary worship song should churches look for some good new music.

It’s not strong enough.  The more I listen to this wonderful album, the more I realize just how very prog and how very good it is.  I think the first album–which I admire and listen to frequently (it’s also my oldest son’s favorite album, which doesn’t hurt!)–tainted my view on this new one too much.  That is, I was too willing to dismiss SECOND NATURE as AOR.  Really, really, really good AOR, but still AOR.

May I please revise what I wrote so definitively in 2014?  Please?  SECOND NATURE is way too complicated and deep for AOR.

For some reason, I’ve spent the last three days with SECOND NATURE as my sound track, especially as I prepare for the new semester.  On Tuesday, I had the grand privilege of meeting a Facebook friend, Geddy Lee Israel.  We had a wonderful time, but that’s a different story.  As we said goodbye to one another under very sunny but crisp Colorado skies, we started talking about Flying Colors.  When i told him I thought it was the best AOR album of the year, he corrected me–no, it’s prog. Straight up prog.  He was right.

Now, I know that labels reek, but Geddy’s comment got me to thinking.  What it allowed was for me to see this album for what it probably is rather than what I’d wanted or I’d assumed it would be.

Whether you already like the album or not, I’d encourage you to listen to it again–but, this time, with headphones on and the lyrics in front of you.   Imagine a deeply spiritual Neil Peart or an equally reasonable Kansas–you might come close to the lyrics of Flying Colors.  I really had no idea how beautifully written these lyrics are until my brief goodbye with Geddy.  Holy Moses, these are gorgeous in every way.  Deep, yet ethereal.  Truly poetic.

I hope I’m not violating copyright, but let me just offer this.  This is the best song on the album, Peaceful Harbor.

And, here are the lyrics.

Born into the wind
It makes its way
To the lost and the hollow
Life begins again
Sometimes we lead
Sometimes we follow
Where we do not know
No sky can hold
No end, no border
The wind will fill the sails
And push you through to peaceful harbor
Love, like Heaven’s wind
No eye can see
How it blows in the darkness
Fear may freeze our steps
Loss and regret, every scar turning scarlet
Help to set your course
Through sightless days and violent waters
Love will fill your sails
And bring you through, to peaceful harbor
Chase this rising wind
anchor released
No want of landing
All in deep despair
Come feel the air
In its full finale
And yes, the chase is on
I’ll look beyond
With the bedlam behind me
And i embrace the sky
My soul will cry
May your wind ever find me

Source: Flying Colors – Peaceful Harbor Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Like “Dust in the Wind,” this is the kind of song that makes me wonder if. . . just if. . . a song really could change the world.

May peace reign in this world of sorrows.