There are only a few times when I write songs about stories I read in the newspaper. Even fewer where I feel I "succeeded" or did the story justice. "Hate or Love" is one of those songs.
It's interesting to try to decide what story to write about this song. In high school I was inspired by Chad Mitchell's version of this song. Then in college I was inspired to sing this song as the Viet Nam war was escalating.
Among the most important musical and personal experiences of my life were singing and doing social work in New York in 1968 and then years later adding music to tours visiting sites, singing songs and hearing stories of Civil Rights Movement.
