[geodeticman.5]

Works for me RM

because nothing I turned up makes sense to me, until I find that my results supports your theory, which they do.

The Zen in I'll Tag Along always did make me wonder if Eastern Philosoph(ies) were part of his climb out of the bottle, a hardship few successfully endure. That he was able to do so while canoeing or sea-kayaking for hundreds of miles in near-arctic waters is astounding to me as a tale of strength, self-discipline, and human achievement.

The I-Ching part of this, supports your Zen theory RM. Gotta hand it to ya, It has me otherwise stymied. Its the only viable theory I have heard.

Of course, even the best song-writer at times might use a word because it rhymes and works in the context, and in the process, come up with an occassional huh? - type of word usage, but I think not when I look at the lyrics:

Paper matches in the afternoon
Cups of tea and all of that Zen
I think it's time we took a walk outside
It seems there is no oxygen
This time tomorrow we might all be packed and gone

knowing Lightfoot's strength in lyricism, and the fact that of the two rhyming words above in blue, Zen and oxygen; oxygen is the more likely candidate of a rhyming pair that worked, allthough perhaps might have been hard to come up with, suggesting to me that in turn, Zen, of the two, is the intentional word to start with. No what I mean ?.

Well, enough of that Zen....

~geo steve