Reportedly written by Nash while recovering from cataract surgery,was a story of overcoming hard times that itself raised the spirits of countless listeners, with its swelling pop-reggae groove, promise of a "bright, bright sunshiny day" and Nash’s gospel-styled exclamation midway, "Look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies!", a backing chorus lifting the words into the heavens.
The rock critic Robert Christgau would call the song, which Nash also produced, "2 minutes and 48 seconds of undiluted inspiration."was covered by artists ranging from Ray Charles and Donny Osmond to Soul Asylum and Jimmy Cliff, whose version was featured in the 1993 movieto a Windex commercial, and in recent years was often referred to on websites about cataract procedures.
"I feel that music is universal. Music is for the ears and not the age," Nash told Cameron Crowe, then writing for, in 1973. "There are some people who say that they hate music. I’ve run into a few, but I’m not sure I believe them."outlasted Nash’s own. He rarely made the charts in the years following, even as he released such albums as
Sorry to hear. Vale.
A classic. Such an uplifting song. ❤️
Sigh. That was when life is far more simple. Rest in peace.