Just Add Context: Pop Culture Mixology

Every once in a while, a song will get used in a movie or television show that not only solidly defines just what the story is about, but will also re-define the song for the viewer personally.

For me, the song in question is James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain.”

The movie is Sidney Lumet’s “Running on Empty.”

“Running on Empty” (also the title of a Jackson Browne song that isn’t used in the film at all, oddly) is about a family – Judd Hirsch, Christine Lahti, River Phoenix, and Jonas Abry – who are living off the grid due to the militant activities the parents participated in as activists during the Vietnam Era. This family is reaching a crossroads, as their oldest son (Phoenix) is reaching the point where he needs to stop running and become his own person.

“Fire and Rain” is one of those songs that can mean many things depending on context, and the song itself represents at least three different things to its author.

When I first saw the scene below I thought it was a very tender scene of a family who loves each other so much, despite – or even because of – the situation they are in. It takes place during a dinner to celebrate “Annie’s” birthday, and where “Danny’s” new girlfriend (Martha Plimpton) is first introduced to the family.

The song is repeated as a coda during the final scene of the film. The family has to run again, but they have made arrangements for “Danny” to be Michael once more. This scene is where my mind goes every time I hear the song, and I am flooded with memories of people I’ve known in my life that just drifted away. Whether through accident or design, you always think you’ve got more time. Then you don’t. You never know.

This is ultimately the point of Taylor’s song. There will always be something you can’t get back to. There will be people or places or situations in your life you’ll want to revisit and can’t. We don’t know if Michael and his family will ever be together again, but they loved each other enough to say goodbye. There wasn’t a more perfect song to capture the moment.

“I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain. I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end. I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend. But I always thought that I’d see you again.”

This song, and this movie, will forever be linked to each other in the Pop Culture Stew inside my head. Two great tastes that go great together.

I want to hear from the other Pop Bunker contributors. What is your Pop Culture Peanut Butter Cup?

P.S. – If you haven’t seen this movie, you’re missing out on greatness. I saw it again recently, and I got mad at River Phoenix for dying all over again.

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