My name is Robert Bruce Sterk '71and this is my Southwestern story.

“So long, Frank Lloyd Wright. I never laughed so long. So long… so long.”

Even today, we hear the music and are instantly snapped back into the most confusing, delicious, violent, poetic, contradictory, creative, frightening, and ineffably beautiful four years of the 20th century. Our music is what I remember above all. This is my remembrance for Johnny and Ann, Doug, Joe, Glen and all the others who listened to the songs with us and heard, woven into and through them, the Music of the Spheres.

1967 – 1968
Hail Alma Mater, glory to thy name.
Groovin’ on a Sunday afternoon, Sunday will never be the same.
All you need is love, Love; love is all you need.
We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee; we don’t take no trips on LSD.
Strawberry Fields Forever.
We walked on frosted fields, juniper and lamplight. Incense and peppermints.
There’s a man with a gun over there, telling me I’ve got to beware.
Is this a dream? Am I here? Where are you? Tell me…
Stop, children! What’s that sound? Everybody look what’s goin’ down!
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly…the girl with kaleidoscope eyes:
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
What did we do that was wrong? We didn’t know it was wrong.
And, here’s to you Mrs. Robinson. Jesus loves you more than you will know.
She’s leaving home…bye…bye…

1968 - 1969
Loyal voices blend to sing thy everlasting fame;
I know I need a small vacation, but it don’t look like rain.
Everybody’s talkin’ at me; I can’t hear a word they’re sayin’, only the echoes of my mind.
I’ve looked at life from both sides now, from up and down, and still, somehow,
Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end.
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. Let the sunshine in!
Pornographic priestess, boy you been a naughty girl, you let your knickers down.
Who finds the money when you pay the rent? Did you think that money was heaven-sent?
Number Nine…Number Nine…your grandfather?…Number Nine…Number Nine…
You say you want a revolution? Well, you know, we all want to change the world.
Good morning, starshine. You say “goodbye” and I say “hello.” The Earth says “hello.”
If that’s all there is, my friend, then let’s keep dancing.
When Jesus washed, He washed our sins away!
I Am The Walrus. Oh, happy day!

1969 - 1970
Hail to Southwestern, ever thine are we.
American Woman, get away from me!
When you’re down and out, when you’re on the street,
I don’t need your war machines, I don’t need your ghetto scenes.
Boy, you’re gonna carry that weight, carry that weight a long time.
By the time we got to Woodstock, we were half-a-million strong,
And everywhere there was song and celebration.
Your time has come to shine; all your dreams are on their way,
Turning into butterflies above our nation.
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the Garden.
Anyway, you’ll never know the many ways I’ve tried.
And in my hour of darkness, there is still a Light that shines on me,
Speaking words of wisdom, “Let It Be.”

1970 - 1971
Hearts of youth ever sing thy truth, and be faithful unto thee.
Hare Krishna, my sweet Lord, Hare Rama, Hare Krishna, Hare, Hare...
I never understood a single word he said, but he always had some mighty fine wine.
I’ll light the fire. You put the flowers in the vase that you bought today.
One toke over the line, sweet Jesus, one toke over the line.
Long ago, and oh, so far away, I fell in love with you before the second show.
I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain. I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end.
Life used to be so hard, now everything is easy ‘cause of you.
Your guitar, it sounds so sweet and clear. But you’re not really here; it’s just the radio.
And I always thought that I’d see you one more time again.
My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue; Fiery gems for you,
Only for you.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares we have already come.
‘Tis Grace that brought us safe thus far, and Grace will lead us home.