"Mr. Blue Sky"

Electric Light Orchestra

Composer: Jeff Lynne

From Out of the Blue; 1977

Sky Power

Weeping angels paint

Souls fresh green, purged rainbow clean

God washes our world

God grumbles warning

Angels rearrange black clouds

Surging storm forgives

Low spirits lift

When we believe in something

No rain its glow wanes ----Lisa Cole-Allen.

"Mr. Blue Sky" was performed by the British rock group, Electric Light

Orchestra, popularly known as ELO. Jeff Lynne, the group's founder

and front man secluded himself in a Swiss chalet as he attempted to

write the double album, Out of the Blue. Lynne later recalled, "It was

dark and misty for 2 weeks, and I didn't come up with a thing.

Suddenly the sun shone and it was, 'Wow, look at those beautiful Alps.'

I wrote Mr. Blue Sky and 13 other songs in the next 2 weeks."

The song was released as a single, scoring well on the charts in both

the UK and the USA. Classified as Art Rock, Dominic King described

"Mr. Blue Sky" for the BBC as "Beatlesque" in its arrangement, with

vocals similar to "the Gibbs Brothers." He seemed to approve of the

choir vocals of the Swingle Singers and the symphonic instrumental

finale which he deemed "kitsch, yet truly exhilarating." This review

does not do justice to this brilliant song which was played as a wake-up

call to astronaut Christopher Ferguson on Day 3 of STS-135, the final

mission of the space shuttle Atlantis.

I can't help but wonder whether having his composition dubbed

"kitsch" is the reason Lynne cut this magnificent ending out of ELO's

live performances of "Mr. Blue Sky" and later compilations of their

hits. As we listen to the entire original album version of "Mr. Blue Sky"

and analyze the poetry of Jeff Lynne's lyrics, we will realize the depth

of meaning dwelling within this masterpiece.

"Mr. Blue Sky"

Sun is shinin' in the sky
There ain't a cloud in sight
It's stopped rainin', everybody's in the play
And don't you know, it's a beautiful new day, hey

Runnin' down the Avenue
See how the sun shines brightly
In the city on the streets where once was pity
Mr. Blue Sky is living here today, hey

(Chorus) Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why
You had to hide away for so long, so long
Where did we go wrong? (Repeat)

Hey, you with the pretty face
Welcome to the human race
A celebration Mr. Blue Sky's up there waitin'
And today is the day we've waited for, ah ah

(Chorus)

Hey there Mr. Blue, we're so pleased to be with you
Look around see what you do
Everybody smiles at you (Repeat)

Mr. Blue Sky, Blue Sky Blue Sky, Mr. Blue Sky

Mr. Blue you did it right
But soon comes Mr. Night
Creepin' over, now his hand is on your shoulder
Never mind, I'll remember you this, I'll remember you this way

(Chorus)

Hey there Mr. Blue, Sky, we're so pleased to be with you, Sky
Look around see what you do, Blue
Everybody smiles at you

A radio announcer's prediction, "today's forecast calls for blue skies,"

precedes the music's bouncy beat and pleasant tune which match the

singer's joyous mood that "the sun is shinin' "in the cloudless blue sky.

The rain has stopped, and "everybody's in the play," enjoying being

outdoors on this "beautiful new day."

The speaker observes people bustling about their workdays on the city

streets. "The sun shines brightly" where there "once was pity,"people

gloomily functioning in the inclement conditions. "Mr. Blue Sky is living

here today," the glorious weather is named and personified as a higher

power.

In the chorus, the narrator addresses Mr. Blue Sky directly: "Please tell

us why you had to hide away for so long...; where did we go wrong?"

Was its absence retribution for our foibles, follies or egregious deeds?

"Hey you with the pretty face" refers to the sun shining in the sky,

as a child would draw a picture of a blue sky with the sun sporting

a smile face. The speaker expresses appreciation that Mr. Blue Sky

made its appearance: "Welcome to the human race." Today is "a

celebration," for as "Mr. Blue Sky's up there waitin'" for us to join it

one day, it grants us "the day we've waited for" on earth.

The speaker addresses the higher power in a familiar, friendly

manner: "Hey there Mr. Blue, we're so pleased to be with you." He

marvels, "Look around see what you do; everybody smiles at you."

The speaker now envisions the wonder of the afterlife.

The poem turns as the narrator observes that Mr. Blue "did it right,

but soon comes Mr. Night creepin' over; now his hand is on your

shoulder." The speaker reflects that all things must come to an

end, but he's unfazed: "Never mind... I'll remember you this way."

He will remember the days of blue skies, the good in life. The

"ba, ba, ba" mixed choir harmonies of the Swingle Singers which

follow this passage are triumphant, reminiscent of Handel's

"Hallelujah Chorus."

The symphonic grand finale of "Mr. Blue Sky," omitted from later

released renditions of the song, ties Jeff Lynne's poetry together,

the music bringing the full impact of his meanings to the listener.

The tempo quickens, the melody takes on an ominous tone, the

sound of pounding heartbeat. The music slows as "Mr. Night"

draws near, becoming "blue" and nostalgic, gently ebbing into

serenity.

The song ends with a heavily vocoded voice singing the line, "Please

turn me over," as this is the last song on side three of Out of the Blue.

Yet, these final words, when taken into context with the lyrics, suggest

a plea for "a beautiful new day", a turn-around, the turning over of a new

leaf.