In 1978, Molly Hatchet’s self-titled debut album contained a fascinating rendition of Dreams, a tune done by The Allman Brothers Band nine years earlier. Sandwiching the incredible guitar riffs is singer Danny Joe Brown’s observation that the world has gone mad. Brown recalls waking one morning with the blues. Perhaps thinking it would provide some reprieve, he seeks a nearby hilltop for a peaceful, inspiring view. Instead, Brown notices everyone else is in the same boat.
“The whole world was fallin’ down, baby – right down in front of me,” he sings.
Brown ultimately concludes he must pull himself together, put on a new face, and get back in the race.
The More Things Change
The Ford 2018 Trends Report examines how recent shifts toward activism, compassion, and self-expression will shape life in the coming year. The sixth annual report also notes the increase in anxiety and depression, brought on by the constant barrage of news and social media. One of the critical findings is how people feel locked in a stalemate. On one hand, more than 60 percent of adults globally say they feel overwhelmed by the major events surrounding them. On the other, three-quarters believe they can influence positive change by getting involved. “Worldwide, people are polarized,” writes Sheryl Connelly, Ford Global Consumer Trends and Futuring Manager, in the report. “At one end of the spectrum, people are leaning into these changes, championin...