The Pied Piper, the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin
The Pied Piper of Hamelin also known as the Pan Piper, the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin) is the subject of a legend from the town of Hamelin , Lower Saxony, Germany, in the Middle Ages.
The earliest references describe a piper, dressed in multi-coloured (“pied”) clothing, who was a rat-catcher hired by the town to lure rats away with his “Magic Pipe”.
“When the citizens refuse to pay for this service, he retaliates by using his instrument’s magic power on their children. Leading them away as he had the rats. This version of the story spread as folklore and has appeared in the writings of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the Brothers Grimm, and Robert Browning, among others”.
There are many contradicting theories about the Pied Piper.
Some have been proposed suggesting he was a symbol of hope and salvation.
The Saviour
Hope for the people of Hamelin, which had been attacked by plague.
He moved all the rats out from the town of Hamelin, thus saving the people from the epidemic disease. He was the town saviour from the dreaded infestation.
“The earliest known record of this story is from the town of Hamelin itself, depicted in a stained glass window created for the church of Hamelin. The rendition, which dates to around 1300 AD. Although it was destroyed in 1660, several written accounts have survived”.
This Was My Pied Piper
Led Zeppelin
When I was just a young guy, 11-12 years old, lad, living back in Colorado Springs, the influences of my life certainly wasn’t the types that we found at home.
Those that our generation had been subjected too!
Most of us were indoctrinated with ABC, CBS, NBC, as well as shows like Wonder Woman, Dragnet and The FBI. Leave it to Beaver or The Walton’s and Bonanza .
Nope, as I grew into my addiction, the influence which guided me the most, was the music we all loved and spent hours listening too.
Mostly that of the lyric’s and music of Robert Plant, Jimmie Page, David Gilmore, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest.
Many stories have been written and told about the days of SEX,DRUGS,AND ROCK’N ROLL!!!!
My Scrambled Eggs
“I’m not sure quite which came first, my addiction or my music.
Doesn’t really matter much anymore. My eggs got scrambled. The old Humpty- Dumpty thing”.
I suppose one of the difficulties I had was that I did not know my egg was broken.
The hours spent with Led Zeppelin in my head was such a shift from the drudge of the every day drone in my head during my growth.
Life did not seem to fit with my universe. Or I did not fit into this one!
Screamed Out
When I was sequestrated into conforming to the wants of authority, my psyche screamed out.
The family unit of which I belonged to was intensely emotionally void, but full of drama and extortion.
As soon as I came across the passion and release of Rock n Roll, the lion was unleashed.
At the ripe old age of 11, my hunt began.
Under the bride across from the junior high I attended in Colorado Springs, Colorado, I first met the nip of the whiskey and took the breath of the weed.
Nothing like a good long shot of Jack, during our lunch break. Back then kids were not surveyed as they are today. allowing us to get away with all types of delinquencies!
Lunchtime at School
1St Day — LUNCHTIME AT SCHOOL : WHISKEY & WEED
2nd Day — AFTER SCHOOL : WHISKEY & WEED & A HIT OF WINDOWPANE
3rd Day — I CAN’T REMEMBER!!!!!!!!!!
And so it started, my journey into oblivion, from the very beginning.
I began to hear the call of the “Pied Piper”, gently but constant.
The Promise
The promise of relief and fulfillment overwhelmed my spirit and hijacked my soul.
“Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run,
There’s still time to change the road you’re on!
And it makes me wonder
Your head is humming and it won’t go, in case you don’t know –“The Piper’s” calling you to join him”
Needs and Desires
As it was with most of my crowd, I had many needs. An over abundance of desires, and unrelenting, incessant wants.
None of which, nourished or satisfied.
The ever present thirst for more, more, more became my obsession.
The year was 1970 and if I could have known what the next 49 years would hold in store for me I might have taken the advice I knew so well.
There’s still time to Change the road you’re on!!!
My Own Piper
Over the years, not only did I follow the Piper, I became a “Piper” of my own.
But it was more of a “Fried EGG Piper“.
“MY BRAIN ON DRUGS”
In the delusion my addiction, I fantasied and studied the lyrics of Led Zeppelin hoping to find the hidden messages.
Seeking an answer to the riddle of my existence.
Surely they would have the right solution that I was after.
If I could just get the right combination or mixture , I would survive my addiction.
Well I might have been wrong — YOU THINK?????
Below is a video from BBC a few years back about the writing of Stairway to Heaven. Just thought you might like it. I think it’s pretty cool.
Thank You!
Well, thanks for your time today and I hope the Piper quit calling you and
Never forget…….. “There really is still time to change the road your on”
FINAL WORDS: If you need help to silence the “Piper’s” call — — get a hold of one of us!!! There are thousands upon thousands of us. We are everywhere and will do anything to help. Any time and any reason. 24/7
Take it easy , Chris France | Chris France Media Ltd.