“Those Were the Seventies” — the story behind the lyrics (and the full lyrics!)
Back in high school in the 1970s, my friends and I had a real garage band. We never really played out anywhere, but we had a blast. We practiced, we jammed, and we even wrote a few original songs. It was loud, messy, and perfect.
Now here we are decades later… and the world is wild.
Because of the advancement of AI, we can take a song we wrote and played back then and have it reproduced in a professional-sounding manner today. Not “replacing” the humans — just upgrading what we already created, like taking an old demo tape and finally making it sound like it always deserved to sound.
One of those songs is “Midnight Dreamin’” — which we’ve copyrighted and will be releasing soon. And honestly? I’d love for someone to record it and put it on an album.
But while I was writing my book, something else happened.
I kept coming up with these little short phrases — random words, memories, and ideas that were pure 70s. They were basically “sticky note reminders” so I wouldn’t forget to work them into the story.
Then a few years ago, I read through some of them and realized:
This isn’t just book fuel… this is song fuel.
So I decided my ultimate 70s book needed a matching ultimate 70s song — a true homage to the decade. A song packed with references that people who grew up in the 70s will instantly recognize… and younger people might not understand at all, but they’ll be curious.
That’s the point.
The lyrics are fun. They’re loaded with little time-capsule moments. And it’s the kind of song you want to sing along with even if you’re like, “Wait… what in the world is a clacker?”
Now that the lyrics are finished, I’ve pinned down the sound I want and sent everything to Stayton. He’s going to record it as an original song made 100% by humans — the way we would’ve done it back in the day.
Then I’m going to feed that human-made recording into an AI program and use AI as a tool to add extra instruments and polish it into a professional recording.
After that, the plan is to pitch it to artists who might want to record it and release it — just like “Midnight Dreamin’.”
This song is copyrighted. And once we have the final locked-in version, I’ll release it so you can help me get it into the right hands.
In the podcast episode, I walk through the verses and explain the references for anyone who didn’t grow up in the 70s — and for those of us who did, it’s a straight-up trip down memory lane.
And at the end of the episode, I’ll play part of the song so you can hear what it might sound like.
Alright… let’s get into it.
[Open]
Hey, Hey, Hey! These were the seventies! – This is an homage to the Fat Albert Saturday morning cartoon
[Verse 1]
We were marooned with a Skipper, – Although made in the 60s we watched the Gilligan’s Island reruns religiously
Used a fondue dipper, – Fondue was a quintessential party food in the 1970s
Heard a Monkee named Davy Jones. – The Monkees was a TV show ending 1968, reruns kept the group’s popularity alive in the 70s
—
There was a bunch named Brady, – The Brady Bunch was possibly the most popular kid sitcom in the 70s
That bionic lady, – The Bionic Woman is a classic 1970s sci-fi action series (1976–1978) starring Lindsay Wagner as Jaime Sommers
A trek with a doctor Bones. – Star Trek found a new audience in the 1970s, making it a cult classic and establishing the fan base of Trekkies
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
We took a stairway to heaven, – “Stairway to Heaven” is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on 8 November 1971
Thanked 7-Eleven, – “Oh Thank Heaven for 7-Eleven” is a famous, long-running advertising slogan for the 7-Eleven convenience store chain
We Hustled just for fun. – “The Hustle” is a disco song by songwriter/arranger Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony. It went to No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100
—
The Banana Splits danced, – The four Banana Splits are Fleegle (a dog), Bingo (a gorilla), Drooper (a lion), and Snorky (an elephant)
While Tattoo romanced, – Hervé Villechaize, the actor who played Tattoo on Fantasy Island, he yelled “De plane! De plane!”
During seasons in the sun. – “Seasons in the Sun” is a 1974 international hit song by Canadian singer Terry Jacks, topping charts in over 12 countries
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
We ate boxes of Zingers, – Dolly Madison snack cakes (chocolate, vanilla, raspberry) often advertised with Peanuts characters
Wore t-shirts with ringers, – Ringer T-Shirts exploded in popularity in the 1970s
Hung angels made by Charlie. – TV’s Charlie’s Angels were Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Jaclyn Smith, also popular pinup poster girls
—
There was a band out of Boston, – Boston is an American rock band formed in 1975 in Boston, Mass
A punk named Rotten, – Johnny Rotten was British-born singer and lead vocalist of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols
The Beach Boys were gettin gnarly. – The Beach Boys are an American surf rock band
[Bridge]
Amazed by Evel’s feats, – Evel Knievel was a defining 1970s cultural icon, famous for death-defying motorcycle jumps
Sat on banana seats, – Banana seats, defining 1970s youth culture, were long, padded, and tapered bicycle saddles
Everything was avocado green. – Avocado green was a defining, ubiquitous color in 70s interior design, symbolizing earthy tones
—
There were Barbies, G I Joes, – Iconic 1970s “dolls” for boys and girls
And bell bottom clothes, – Bell bottoms were iconic wide-legged pants, symbolizing counterculture, disco, and rebellion
Jarts with Clackers were obscene. – Jarts and Clackers were iconic, high-risk toys of the 70s that defined a “survival of the fittest” era
[Verse 4]
We welcomed back a Kotter, – Welcome Back, Kotter was a popular sitcom about a teacher and his unruly students known as the “Sweathogs”
Knew Presley’s daughter, – Lisa Marie Presley was a famous child in the 1970s, known as the only daughter of Elvis Presley
And found old Scooby Doo. – The iconic theme song phrase from the 1970s cartoon is “Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you?”
—
Space Food sticks with Tang, – Space Food Sticks and Tang were space-themed products marketed to children as futuristic and astronaut-approved
The Orphans were a gang, – The Orphans are a minor, low-ranking street gang in the 1979 film The Warriors
Bonds compatriot was Q. – Q provided James Bond with a variety of specialized gadgets for his missions as 007
[Chorus]
[Verse 5]
Meat Loaf by the dashboard, – “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” released on Meat Loaf’s 1977 album Bat Out of Hell, is a, 8-minute rock epic
Vader was a Sith Lord, – Darth Vader first appeared as a terrifying Sith Lord in the 1977 film Star Wars: A New Hope
Halloween was a movie. – John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) is the definitive 70s slasher movie, featuring Michael Myers’
—
Knee high were our tube socks, – Tube socks were knee-high length, white cotton-blend fabric socks with distinctive red, blue, or yellow stripes at the top
Kids played with Pet rocks, – The Pet Rock was a 1975 fad that sold over 1 million, $4 smooth stones as, “hassle-free” pets
Shag made everything so groovy. – Shag carpet, known for its deep, plush, long fibers, came in vibrant or earthy colors
[Chorus]
[Verse 6]
We were raised on Watergate, – The 1972 political scandal at the Watergate Hotel that caused President Nixon to resign
Told we had to clean our plate, – Children were expected to eat everything served because “there are starving children”
Quint had the biggest jaws. – Quint is the grizzled, obsessive shark hunter in the 1975 film Jaws who operates the boat, the Orca
—
There was Saturday Night Fever, – The 1977 disco movie that defined the 70s dance craze starring John Travolta
The Wright dream weaver, – Gary Wright released the song Dream Weaver in 1975
Bandit broke the speeding laws. – Smokey and the Bandit movie in 1977. Smokey drove a Pontiac Trans Am
[Chorus]
Sunshine rays were never wasted, – Meaning we rarely let a sunshiny day go by without being out in it doing something
Ripe melon juices never tasted, – Kids were always eating watermelon and cantalope in the summer
As sweet as the memories, – Growing up in the 70s left us with the best memories
Of those seventies summers. – Carefree 70s summers were the highlight of the year
[End]
Those were the seventies,
Oh how we love the memories,
Take us back to our old friends,
One last time before it ends.
PODCAST
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