Salad Days, Beatles, Taylor Swift, and Poe

Welcome to Episode 318 - Salad Days, the Beatles, Taylor Swift, and Poe.

And yes, this podcast has returned to the subject of Edgar Allan Poe - and I know you will enjoy the ride as this podcast delves deeper into the life and works of America’s Shakespeare.

I hope you had a great 2024, and have an even better 2025.  This year, one of my New Year’s Resolutions (in addition thoroughly cleaning my apartment) is to try and release an episode of Celebrate Poe every Monday and Friday - starting with today - there is so much fascinating information out there.  In a sense, Celebrate Poe has spent largely 300 episodes covering the first half of Poe’s life - his formative years.  Now I hope to really take a deep dive into the exciting part - his incredible literary accomplishments in the midst of sometimes devastating challenges.

Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Transcript

Welcome to Episode 318 - Salad Days, the Beatles, Taylor Swift, and Poe. 

And yes, this podcast has returned to the subject of Edgar Allan Poe - and I know you will enjoy the ride as this podcast delves deeper into the life and works of America’s Shakespeare.

I hope you had a great 2024, and have an even better 2025.  This year, one of my New Year’s Resolutions (in addition thoroughly cleaning my apartment) is to try and release an episode of Celebrate Poe every Monday and Friday - starting with today - there is so much fascinating information out there.  In a sense, Celebrate Poe has spent largely 300 episodes covering the first half of Poe’s life - his formative years.  Now I hope to really take a deep dive into the exciting part - his incredible literary accomplishments in the midst of sometimes devastating challenges - in other words, he made monumental achievements in the midst of a really tough life.

Now this podcast episode covers a lot of territory - and it may seem like much of it doesn’t have anything that much to do with Edgar Poe - but I hope by the end of this podcast episode, it will all come together as we really get into the more productive period of Poe’s life in this podcast.

Now, This may sound a bit off topic - but let’s start with the phrase “salad days.”

The phrase "salad days" originates from William Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra, written around 1606. In the play, Cleopatra reflects on her youth, saying, "My salad days, when I was green in judgment" (Act 1, Scene 5). Here, "salad days" refers to a time of youthful inexperience and innocence, symbolizing a period characterized by freshness and naivety, like the green leaves of a salad. The term lay dormant for nearly two centuries after its introduction but saw a resurgence in the 19th century, where it began to be used more broadly to evoke nostalgia for carefree youth. The imagery of being "green" not only emphasizes youthfulness but also suggests immaturity and lack of experience in judgment, as Cleopatra contrasts her past self with her present. 
Thus, "salad days" has come to signify a time in life marked by enthusiasm and idealism, often looked back upon with fondness.  And salad days is a versatile phrase that can effectively capture the formative years of almost any writer, actor, or musician.

Now, by this point, you might be asking what does the phrase “salad days” have to do with Taylor Swift, the Beatles, and Edgar Poe?

Let me go for a little digression here - I never personally met any of the Beatles - but I do have a somewhat personal Beatles story to tell.  You see, my father was a railroad engineer, and he told me that every weekend he enjoyed talking with a British man who was waiting for a train that went to his home in New York.  My father was a railroad engineer in Charlottesville, Virginia - a town about 30 miles from my home in Staunton, Charlottesville was home to quite a few celebrities who were popular then - such as actors Sissy Spacek and Rob Lowe, most of the members of the Dave Matthews Band, and the authors John Grisham and formerly William Faulkner - they all had or have very expensive homes in Charlottesville. Anyway, my father only knew this man as John, and John would come to Charlottesville to check on his herd of cattle.  Then one day, my father told me that John did not come to Charlottesville for several weeks.  He said that this John had a young son and a wife’s name that he thought was very unusual - Yoko. I told my father that was John Lennon, one of the Beatles, but my father told me there was no way this man could be one of the Beatles - his hair was very short.  And then I told my father that John Lennon had very short hair near the end of his life, and unfortunately I doubt that he would ever see his friend again.  And looking back, I can imagine how this person by the name of John must have really enjoyed talking with someone who did not treat him differently - who did not know he was famous.   So that’s my story of how I met a Beatle - once removed.

Now jumping back to the Beatles as a group - In 1960 - years before “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was released -the group was invited to play in Hamburg, Germany. Hamburg didn’t have rock and roll clubs at this time; they had strip clubs. The Beatles were seen performing by a club owner, who asked them to come play in Hamburg. These clubs didn’t pay well; the acoustics weren’t good and the audience didn’t care much about what they were listening to. What made this experience exceptional was the sheer length of time the bands were expected to play: sets were 8 hours long, and they played seven days a week. By the time the Beatles began having major success in 1964, they had played live performances approximately twelve hundred times (more than most bands today ever play live in their lifetimes).

In other words, the Beatles the spent so much time performing in Hamburg, Germany that they ended up playing long sets in clubs, honing their musical skills and developing a unique sound. Their relentless practice and performances laid the groundwork for their later success. It wasn't until they returned to England that they began to gain traction with hits like "Love Me Do.”  So when they first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, the group appeared new, fresh, but at the same time quite polished.

Taylor Swift also has an interesting story. In her case, her parents (like John Allan) were very wealthy.  But unlike Taylor Swift’s parents, Poe’s father was not supportive of offspring’s literary aims. In contrast, Taylor Swift’s parents moved the family around the country until she found her style.  They were determined that she would succeed.  While much of Swift's career is well-documented, her "salad days" could include:

Her early years performing at local events and festivals
Writing songs as a young teenager
Her initial move to Nashville at age 14 to pursue a music career
The release of her self-titled debut album in 2006

These experiences laid the foundation for her future success.

And by the way, I am not going to talk about Taylor Swift anywhere as much for the simple reason that I do not know as much about her as a group like the Beatles.  But apparently she still went through that period of her salad days - and it certainly has paid off for her.

I do know that Taylor Swift began writing songs at a relatively young age and moved to Nashville as a teenager to pursue her dreams. Her first album was released when she was just 16, but it took time for her to build an audience. Swift's evolution as an artist is marked by her willingness to experiment with different genres and her dedication to songwriting. Each album reflects her growth and experiences, leading to her current status as a global superstar.

So it is a truism that behind every successful artist's story is a foundation of hard work, perseverance, and often years of effort before they achieve recognition - in other words, success is often a long journey rather than a sudden event - most of the time, you can’t get by without paying your dues.

GHOST SOUND

Why it’s the Ghost of Mr. Poe.  The podcast was just talking about “salad days” and what one might consider your best work - the idea that it can take years to develop your skills as an artist.

Yes, Mr. Bartley - I remember one of the very first poems that I wrote. I was about 15 years old. and it was found on the back of a list of accounts in John Allan’s 1824 business papers.  It is just a short, two-line composition.

Last night, with many cares & toils oppress'd
Weary.. I laid me on a couch to rest—

Ah Mr. Poe - would you repeat that poem.

Certainly - Last night, with many cares & toils oppress'd
Weary.. I laid me on a couch to rest—

One would hardly expect that this was the literary output of a future professional writer.

Mr. Poe - you never know.  Now, Mr. Poe you certainly paid your dues - first working in Baltimore and then in Richmond for the Saturday Literary Messenger - developing a style that would make you one of the greatest of all American poets.

Although not one of the highest paid.

When I think of another artist that I was just talking about - the collective group known as the Beatles - I can see that you never really earned the financial rewards that you deserved.

Ah, Mr. Bartley - Despite the popularity of my most well-known work, The Raven,  and my newfound fame, my financial life remained precarious. I continued to earn very little from my writings and lectures, and my total lifetime earnings as a writer, poet, editor, and lecturer were about $6,200, which was equivalent to less than half the poverty level of my time.

Mr. Poe, regarding the Beatles, I think back about their song Yesterday, and how it is about a person who regrets the loss of a love - and how your poem The Raven deals with a similar subject.  However we cannot really examine the words to Yesterday because the Beatles have signed with Apple Recording Company and the company strictly prohibits the use of the lyrics to such songs as Yesterday.

As well they should.  Copyright could have been very beneficial to my work.

But since The Raven is public domain, and - in my opinion - basically deals with the same subject - the loss of a loved one - would you favor us with the poem.

Certainly, Mr. Bartley.
 
But I must point out that I was paid only $9 for the poem, which, even adjusted for inflation, is approximately $236 to $269 today. This was an extremely meager sum and did not alleviate my financial struggles.  The success of "The Raven" did not translate into financial security for me. I remained in a state of financial hardship until my earthly demise in 1849.

Both the song Yesterday and The Raven deal with loss and longing - and I implore that you favor us with a reading of The Raven. And by the way, Mr. Poe, didn’t the poem's unique style, themes, and atmospheric elements influenced many writers in the 19th century. From what I understand, the Raven became a cultural touchstone, and its impact can be seen in the works of later writers who explored similar themes of loss, grief, and the supernatural.  So would you favor us with at least the first portion of The Raven - a work of art that many people consider your masterpiece.

Certainly, Mr. Bartley.  After those words, I can hardly refuse.

The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. “
“'Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this, and nothing more.”
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, “
“'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—
This it is, and nothing more.”
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the door;—
Darkness there, and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore!”
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”—
Merely this, and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice,
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
'Tis the wind and nothing more.”
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore—
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!”
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

Mr. Poe - that gives me chills.

Ah, Mr. Bartley - I have decided to stop there in my rendition of the poem.
I have no doubt that we will examine the entire literary work in the future.

No doubt, Mr. Poe.

And Mr. Bartley, as you know, the poem's central theme of loss and grief was deeply personal for me. My wife, Virginia Clemm, was suffering from tuberculosis at the time when I wrote the poem, and some have said that the narrator's longing for Lenore can be seen as a reflection of my own feelings of impending loss and grief.

The narrator's emotional state and his descent into madness mirror my own struggles with depression and the loss of loved ones.The poem also reflects my critique of my own tendency towards an uncontrolled imagination, which some have said I viewed as both a creative force and a destructive one. This theme is evident in the narrator's irrational and self-destructive behavior in response to the raven's presence.

So Mr. Bartley, some might claim that The Raven was only made possible by such experiences as my time at the University of Virginia (1826,) my       first published works, including "Tamerlane and Other Poems" (1827,) and
my brief stint at West Point and subsequent focus on writing (1830-1831.)
I believe it is fair to say that these periods were marked by experimentation, financial struggl  es, and the development of what I hoped to be a unique literary style.

Well, Mr. Bartley, with those words, I must take my exit.

Farewell, Mr. Bartley.

Goodbye, Mr. Poe.
GHOST SOUND

I wish that Mr. Poe could have enjoyed during his earthly life how the The Raven’s unique style, musicality, and supernatural atmosphere resonated deeply with the public. It became a cultural phenomenon, with references to the poem appearing in various forms of media and popular culture almost immediately after its publication.

Despite mixed critical reviews at the time, the public's favorable response ensured that "The Raven" became Poe's most famous and enduring work. It has continued to inspire artists, writers, and the general public for over a century and a half. The public's ultimate reaction to "The Raven" was one of enthusiasm and widespread admiration, marking a significant turning point in Poe's career and solidifying his place in American literary history.

"The Raven" helped America establish a distinct literary identity separate from British and French literature. It marked a shift from the era of neo-classicism to the Gothic genre, focusing on dark, mysterious, and supernatural elements.  And Poe's work contributed to the development of a uniquely American literary style, which was characterized by its emphasis on the macabre, the supernatural, and the exploration of the human psyche. "The Raven" even solidified Poe's place as a master of the Gothic genre, which had its roots in the 18th century. The poem's success helped popularize Gothic literature in America, influencing later writers, artists, and creators to explore similar themes of loss, grief, and the supernatural.

In other words, "The Raven" played a crucial role in shaping American literature by establishing a unique literary identity, popularizing the Gothic genre, influencing various literary genres, and leaving a lasting impact on cultural and literary practices.

In conclusion, you may have experienced your OWN personal salad days. Remember that behind every successful artist's story is a foundation of hard work, perseverance, and often years of effort before that person achieves recognition.  

True success is most often a long journey rather than a sudden event - whether in literature, music, or any other endeavor.
And if you are pursuing your own creative endeavors, never mentally stray from the belief that persistence and dedication are the key components of success.

Join Celebrate Poe for episode 316 - in which this podcast takes a surprising look at some of the connections between Edgar Poe and Bob Dylan.  This is an episode you won’t want to miss - especially if you are a Poe fan or Dylan fan or both.

Sources include: Sources include The Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe by Hervey Allen, The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe, by Edgar Allan Poe, edited by James Albert Harrison, The Poe Log: A Documentary Life of Edgar Allan Poe by Dwight R. Thomas and David K. Jackson, The Reason for the Darkness of the Night by John Tresch, Poe in His Own Time by Benjamin F. Fisher, and The Afterlife of Edgar Allan Poe by Scott Peoples.

Thank you for listening to Celebrate Poe.