Two contrasting Independence Day-related tunes have been alternating in my mind today. The more sobering of the two is "Mama, Look Sharp" from the "1776" soundtrack. It reminds the listener of the human cost of war. The more uplifting earworm is Bob Dorough's "The Shot Heard 'Round The World," from the animated "Schoolhouse Rock" series. It acknowledges the tribulations of the Revolutionary War briefly but mostly keeps the focus on the soldiers' bravery and ultimate victory.
It's appropriate to have both perspectives in mind on America's 245th birthday.
