"Mr. Blue Sky"
Electric Light Orchestra
Composer: Jeff Lynne
From Out of the Blue; 1977
Sky Power
Weeping angels paint
Souls fresh green, purged rainbow clean
God washes our world
God grumbles warning
Angels rearrange black clouds
Surging storm forgives
Low spirits lift
When we believe in something
No rain its glow wanes ----Lisa Cole-Allen.
"Mr. Blue Sky" was performed by the British rock group, Electric Light
Orchestra, popularly known as ELO. Jeff Lynne, the group's founder
and front man secluded himself in a Swiss chalet as he attempted to
write the double album, Out of the Blue. Lynne later recalled, "It was
dark and misty for 2 weeks, and I didn't come up with a thing.
Suddenly the sun shone and it was, 'Wow, look at those beautiful Alps.'
I wrote Mr. Blue Sky and 13 other songs in the next 2 weeks."
The song was released as a single, scoring well on the charts in both
the UK and the USA. Classified as Art Rock, Dominic King described
"Mr. Blue Sky" for the BBC as "Beatlesque" in its arrangement, with
vocals similar to "the Gibbs Brothers." He seemed to approve of the
choir vocals of the Swingle Singers and the symphonic instrumental
finale which he deemed "kitsch, yet truly exhilarating." This review
does not do justice to this brilliant song which was played as a wake-up
call to astronaut Christopher Ferguson on Day 3 of STS-135, the final
mission of the space shuttle Atlantis.
I can't help but wonder whether having his composition dubbed
"kitsch" is the reason Lynne cut this magnificent ending out of ELO's
live performances of "Mr. Blue Sky" and later compilations of their
hits. As we listen to the entire original album version of "Mr. Blue Sky"
and analyze the poetry of Jeff Lynne's lyrics, we will realize the depth
of meaning dwelling within this masterpiece.
"Mr. Blue Sky"
Sun is shinin' in the sky
There ain't a cloud in sight
It's stopped rainin', everybody's in the play
And don't you know, it's a beautiful new day, hey
Runnin' down the Avenue
See how the sun shines brightly
In the city on the streets where once was pity
Mr. Blue Sky is living here today, hey
