Sharp Notes Monday: ‘Blue Sky’

By Jandoli Institute on November 18, 2024 • ( 0 )

By Richard Lee

Bluesky, a social media app that went public in February, is emerging as a popular alternate to X.

According to The New York Times, more than 15 million people have joined the site in November. Experts attribute the upsurge to disappointment with the outcome of the presidential election and frustration with the content on X since Elon Musk purchased the site.

Long before social media, Dickey Betts wrote a song for the Allman Brothers titled “Blue Sky.” Betts wrote the song in 1971 about his Indigenous Canadian girlfriend, Sandy “Bluesky” Wabegijig, who later became his wife.

Although 1971 also was a time long before pronouns became a matter of preference, Betts was thinking about them when he penned the song. The lyrics contain no references to gender.

“Once I got into the song I realized how nice it would be to keep the vernaculars — he and she — out and make it like you’re thinking of the spirit, like I was giving thanks for a beautiful day. I think that made it broader and more relatable to anyone and everyone,” he said, according to Alan Paul’s 2014 book One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band.

Betts’ sentiments provide wise words to live by today and are a good reason to make “Blue Sky” this week’s Sharp Notes Monday selection.

Richard Lee, executive director of the Jandoli Institute, is a former music journalist who often writes about the intersection of music and current events.

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As part of our “Sharp Notes, Sharp Thoughts” music and social media project, we share a song every Monday to start your week.

View previous Sharp Notes Monday selections.

Visit our “Sharp Notes, Sharp Thoughts” music and social justice page to learn more about the project and view videos of our presentations.