Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In

Dusty

May 3

For more of my random posts on random topics (PSAs, Ads, music, miscellany), click HERE:

Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In (medly)

lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni
music by Galt MacDermot
performed in musical, Hair (1967)
released as a single by The 5th Dimension (1969)

[Part 1: Aquarius]
[Intro]

[Verse 1]
When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

[Chorus]
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius
Aquarius

[Bridge]
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius
Aquarius

[Verse 2]
When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

[Chorus]
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius
Aquarius
Aquarius
Aquarius

[Part 2: Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)]
[Instrumental Bridge]

[Outro]
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in
Let the sunshine (oh, let it shine)
Let the sunshine in (come on)
The sunshine in (now everybody just sing along)
Let the sunshine (and let the sun shine on in)
Let the sunshine in (open up your heart)
The sunshine in (let it shine on in)
(And when you're lonely)
Let the sunshine (Hey! Let it shine, yeah)
Let the sunshine in (you got to open up your heart)
The sunshine in (and let it shine on in)
(And when you feel like you've been mistreated)
Let the sunshine (and your friends turn their back upon ya)
Let the sunshine in (just open up your heart)
The sunshine in (and let it shine on in)
(You've got to feel it)
Let the sunshine (you've got to feel it)
Let the sunshine in (ahh, open up your heart and let it shine on in)
The sunshine in
(And let me tell you one thing)
Let the sunshine (I want you to sing along with the 5th Dimension)
Let the sunshine in (Hey, open up your heart)
The sunshine in
(Aww, come on)
Let the sunshine (Let it shine)
Let the sunshine in (Everyday)
The sunshine in (Hey, you got to feel it)
Let the sunshine (You got to feel it)
Let the sunshine in (When you open up your heart)
The sunshine in (You gotta let the sun come on in)
(And I see in the mornin')
Let the sunshine (And late in the evening)
Let the sunshine in (Open up your heart)
The sunshine in (Hey!)

____________________________

I've always thought of this song as kind of a novelty - a joke we all collectively sort of refer to when looking back at the hippie movement era of the Baby Boomer generation. The culture of my era has only reinforced that view on my part. I assumed this song was kind of well-known, but not really symbolic of a generational mood or aspiration. When I started looking into it, though, I was stunned to learn that it was a MASSIVE hit in 1969.

In a decade, absolutely oozing with great music from all directions, this odd song about astrology was the #1 song of 1969 (Billboard ranks it as the #2 Hot 100 Single for the year, behind "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies, but Aquarius actually outsold it.)

Charts

Weekly Charts

Chart (1969)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	3
Austria (Musikmarkt)	11
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)	23
Canada RPM Top Singles	1
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary	1
Ireland (IRMA)	15
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	14
New Zealand (Listener)	6
South Africa (Springbok)	3
Sweden (Kvällstoppen)	3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	4
UK Singles (OCC)	11
US Billboard Hot 100	1
US Billboard Easy Listening	1
US Billboard Rhythm & Blues Singles	6
US Cash Box Top 100	1
West Germany (Musikmarkt)	2

I guess before I judge the Baby Boomers too harshly for this anomalous song, I should remind myself that they spent their entire childhoods practicing for nuclear annihilation - in a world built by their parents and grandparents - via hiding under their desks at school. Maybe they deserve for some slack to be cut. Also, my generation was responsible for the Macarena being one of the most popular songs of all-time. Stones, glass houses, etc.

Did this song mean something to that generation? Judged by its popularity, it obviously did. Let's look at the message more closely. As the Boomers were reaching adulthood, they (some of them at least) were rejecting the world into which they had been born. Maybe it was all the "duck and cover" and the daily news reminder that they could die at any moment, but the young Boomers saw themselves (or aspired anyway) being the vanguard of change. In a world that had recently been hot with two world wars, and now was cold with another that was producing proxy hot wars... and the very real threat of the end of humanity in a nuclear winter was discussed regularly... they wanted to represent the dawning of something new and... sunnier. That's actually both understandable and endearing.

Can we learn anything from the astrological message of the song? Disappointingly, no. (via wiki)

The lyrics of this song were based on the astrological belief that the world would soon be entering the "Age of Aquarius", an age of love, light, and humanity, unlike the current "Age of Pisces". The exact circumstances for the change are "When the moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars." This change was presumed to occur at the end of the 20th century; however, astrologers differ widely as to precisely when.

Astrologer Neil Spencer denounced the lyrics as "astrological gibberish", noting that Jupiter forms an astrological aspect with Mars several times a year and the moon is in the 7th House for two hours every day. These lines are considered by many to be merely poetic license, though some people take them literally.

So... the lyrics are nonsensical poetic license. I guess that is to be expected. But when does the Age of Aquarius actually begin?

There does not appear to be a consensus (because as Prof. McGonagall says, divination is one of the most imprecise forms of magic.) Here is what I can find, though:

(wikihow.com)

Some astrologers say it will begin in 2597.The Age of Aquarius occurs when the sun's location shifts from Pisces to Aquarius. This happens during a change in the earth's rotation called precession. As the earth wobbles slowly in a new direction, the sun shifts from 1 constellation to another according to the zodiac. It spends about 2,000 years in each constellation. Since the Age of Pisces began in 68 B.C.E., the Age of Aquarius will begin in 2597.

Did anything significant happen in 68 BC? Well... that was right in the heart of the fall of the Roman Republic (and thus, the start of the rise of the Roman Empire.) You can make the case that the Roman Empire has been the dominant world culture of the last two thousand years (i.e. the Age of Pisces.) You can make a case that the Republic was officially doomed when Crassus and Pompey became co-consuls in 70 B.C. Less than a decade later, Julius Caesar joined them as part of the first Roman Triumvirate. Augustus Caesar - the first Emperor - was born in 63 BC.

In addition, and as long as we're not being too precise on the dates, it's worth noting that Pisces is a fish. The world's dominant religion began a generation after this date and one of its key symbols historically is that of a fish.

While one might be able to make the case for astrology getting something (or a lot of things) about Pisces right, it is worth noting that if this above provided date for the Age of Aquarius is correct, The 5th Dimension's song may have jumped the gun a bit on its "dawning." However, there are other guesses about the starting point of Aquarius.

Many astrologers suggest alternative dates, but there's no consensus. The I.A.U.'s dates and calculations are based upon the notion that the constellations are different sizes. Many astrologers disagree, believing that each constellation is of the same size. Because of this, the dates and calculations for when the Age of Aquarius will begin are much different. Some even believe it already happened, based upon their own interpretations of the zodiac calendar.

Some astrologers believe the Age of Aquarius began in 2012. These astrologers' calculations suggest that the boundary between Pisces and Aquarius reached the Vernal Equinox point at this time.

Others believe it occurred during the Great Conjunction of 2020, when Saturn and Jupiter met in Aquarius.

Now there we go! If it feels as though the world has been unraveling a bit, over the last decade, you might consider that the Age of Aquarius has dawned and a new era is on its way. Obviously for that to happen, the old age must end to make room. Maybe we're all just going through the turbulence of a Great Dawning / Awakening at the moment?

What do astrologers expect from The Age of Aquarius?

(starts at about 11:50 )

I'll readily admit that I'm not a believer in Astrology generally, however, I know that a lot of people do believe and have believed for thousands of years. I also know that even within my own faith, even though the practice of astrology is forbidden (Is. 47:13-14 & others), there does seem to be evidence that it can be accurate, too. Christ was visited by star-gazers soon after his birth, hailing him as King. There's also actually a compelling case that Revelation 12 is explained in astrological terms. So... I'm not a believer, and I won't be practicing personally, but I'm not wholly dismissive, either. In any case, we won't really know if a New Age started until there's been a lot of hindsight to look back upon. Even then, the specific dates might feel a bit imprecise.

The song itself, though kind of goofy, is also a bit of an earworm. Let the sunshine in. Enjoy.