Fantasy & The Gospel Of Maurice White
“We all, will live love, forever … as one.”
Lyric from Fantasy
by Earth, Wind & Fire
Just under six years ago, on February the 4th at 2:57pm Greenwich Mean Time, the band Earth, Wind & Fire tweeted “Our brother Maurice White passed peacefully in his sleep this morning. The light is he, shining on you and me.” Posted along with the statement was a black and white photo of Maurice in Egypt, walking with his back turned, heading towards the Pyramids of Giza. It was a poignant tweet, inferring that Maurice was returning to his spiritual home; a loving tribute from those that were amongst the closest to him.
The picture resonated with me personally because, it was whilst overhearing Earth, Wind & Fire’s masterpiece “Fantasy” - in a crowded supermarket back in 2012 - a few days after my dad had passed from cancer (the disease which also took my mum 18 years prior) that I was able to find comfort for my own grief, in lyrics that depicted a vision of heaven focused specifically on the togetherness of the souls that are there, with no specific mention of a conditional god or deity that required mandatory worship.
As an agnostic, it was a concept of heaven that I could get behind, that chimed with my own ideas/feelings about the spiritual and life after death.
And to think I used to consider the lyrics to “Fantasy” as being meaningless, disco fodder. A set of syllables put to music simply because they fit.
Yet, I had always dug the tune and considered the sophistication of White’s production as being next level mastery - state of the art sonic brilliance on a par with the works of Thom Bell, Quincy Jones & Tony Visconti. In my opinion, it was the most underrated pop production in the age of disco.
Glorious, right from the off and Larry Dunn’s beautifully written harpsichord intro, to the cosmic bass playing of Verdine White & guitarist Al McKay’s funk-imbued finesse. Then there’s Maurice’s samba like shuffle (which he believed to be an influence on Toto’s “Africa”) along with his supporting backing vocals that provide the harmony to Philip Bailey’s pure falsetto as it builds - in summary, the musical track, in itself, is truly epic.
It was just the words, I felt, that let it down - quasi sci-fi extravagance, the poetic equivalent of Buck Rogers boogieing at the space-ball. Or so I thought, understanding now that I had never properly heard the lyrics and hadn’t connected to the sentiment on a deeper level. Something that can’t be forced and for me personally occurred in aisle five, near the cheese selection. Real music heads know what I’m talking about; those that can listen without restlessness, the reward being - if emotions align - euphoria and goosebumps.
It was the part on the chorus that says, “You will find, other kind, that has been in search of you,” which really hit home. That line articulated the feeling I had held ever since my parents had died; of their presence remaining despite their transition. A feeling of never really being alone and the notion – despite not practicing religion - that one day we will all be reunited. That Vera Lynn “We’ll Meet Again” vibe.
I also love the thought (“every thought is dream, rushing by in a stream”) that long after I’m gone and once my kids have fulfilled their own lives themselves, that they too will reunite and be together with their loved ones and ancestors. The beautiful grandparents whom they resemble, two of which they have yet to meet.
Isn’t that a lovely concept? That despite the relentlessness of life’s ups and downs, that one day there’s solace in the company of those who departed, those that have been with them all the way.
The song also addresses the hear & now, of the pursuit of the dream - the victory in “Fantasy.”
The introductory chorus on the album version, missing from the single, that sounds defiant like a protest with its extra bass harmony part. The righteousness of the human spirit. A time when brethren & allies, could still recall standing in line with Martin Luther King, unbowed by hatred, meeting physical force with soul force.
“I like the fact that people hear “Fantasy” through their own life experience,” said Maurice White in his autobiography entitled My Life With Earth, Wind & Fire, rightly proud of the song he says he was inspired to write by watching an early cut of Steven’s Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. “The film’s acknowledgement of a primal spiritual yearning in all of us resonated deeply with me.” Reading the book, which was published, sadly, after White had already passed in 2016, I learnt that I wasn’t alone in relating a spiritual gravitas to the song.
“My Christian brothers tell me that if you replace the word fantasy with heaven you will understand what the song is about. To Buddhists it’s about nirvana and Muslim’s say it’s about paradise.” Maurice explains, saying that “Fantasy” is a continuation of a long line of EW&F songs that celebrate the equality and fellowship of humanity.
As a music journalist, and devotee of soul & funk, I of course aspired to interview Maurice as well one day; touch the hem of his jewel encrusted waist coat. I imagined myself in the foyer of some swanky hotel, at a press junket to promote his band’s latest project whilst clutching my original pressing of All N’ All. Once called to the interview room, I would have hoped to find a brief moment within the standard 15 mins, to ask Maurice to sign the record sleeve & mention to him (off the record) in a manner as cool and as nonchalantly as someone with a flushed neck could muster, how much I had loved his music, how much it had meant to me and what a comfort it had been.
I feel nothing but gratitude to Maurice White and the band, for all of the music they have made and to pay tribute I have put together a Spotify playlist focusing on the creative output of Maurice himself, his writing and/or production work. My personal favourites (you can probably guess the opening number) that I would like to share with you here via the link below… to behold, to your soul.
“Fantasy” - All 'n All (1977)
Columbia Records
Written by Maurice White, Eddie Del Barrio & Verdine White
Produced by Maurice White for Kalimba Productions
Beautiful Japanese single cover
Words by Dan Dodds | “Fantasii” Art by Paul Pate
Originally Published on Soul Jones Mar 1st, 2023
