The Supremes, "Stoned Love"

Now --

I wanna tell ya
Of a GREAT LOVE ...

It will light up,
It will SURELY light up
Darkened worlds ...

If you just believe ...

Today one of our long national nightmares is over, as George W. Bush leaves the White House for a life of ignominy in Texas and Barack Obama at long, long last officially becomes the 44th President of the United States.

So why on earth am I marking the occasion with a 1970 Supremes song with a pothead title? Because its lyrics apply quite nicely to today's scenario, our country exiting an era of extreme division to declare, "We Are One," if only for a day --

A love for each other will bring fighting to an end
Forgiving one another - Time after time doubt creeps in
But like the sun lights up the sky with a message from above
Oh yeah, I find no other greater symbol of love

-- and the ladies offer a quick message that could easily have been meant for the Commander in Chief:

And to the man
On whose shoulder
The world must depend
I pray for peace and love - Amen.

This is not to say that America is the world or that one's appreciation of Obama's temperament and talents should take on messianic worship of the man. But now that we've seen the damage an incompetent, inept and unthinking president can do, change feels pretty damn good. And with a soundtrack like this thumping, retro Supremes number (retro enough to bring back that farting baritone sax sound; not surprisingly, this was the biggest of the Supes' post-Diana hits), it is all the easier to gaze with hope on the million thronged on the National Lawn and really believe that, for today, We Are One.

Lead us with kindness and wisdom, Mr. President.