Bookends & Golden Slumbers: The Legacy We Write
Songs of Our Generation: How SNL's 50th Anniversary Captured Our Legacy
The 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live was a celebration of comedy and comedy legends. However, it was primarily a celebration of legacy and the culture that shaped that legacy. It offered anyone watching across generations the opportunity to reflect on their coming of age and how those times and experiences shaped their lives.
Saturday Night Live is an institution built on the pillars of sketch comedy, some of which have been revered for decades; political and cultural satire; talented and relevant guest hosts striving to reach the five-timers club; the weekend update; and, perhaps most importantly, the popular musicians who are paired with the hosts.
Our generation's two Pauls, universally admired and loved by all generations, brilliantly encapsulated the SNL journey and our own through their bookend performances. Paul Simon opened the night with "Homeward Bound," a song about longing for familiarity, for the places and people who shaped us. Paul McCartney closed it with "Golden Slumbers," a lullaby of transition, of moving forward while carrying the past with us. Two legends, two songs, and two sentiments perfectly encapsulate SNL's legacy and our own.
The legends further solidified their legacy through their appearances. After seven years of retirement, Paul Simon is coming out and has announced a new tour. Paul McCartney’s next tour will be in 2026.
Homeward Bound: The Power of Looking Back
When Paul Simon sang "Homeward Bound" with Sabrina Carpenter, I couldn't help but think of where I was when SNL first aired: young, wide-eyed, and part of a generation watching something new unfold before us. The show was fresh, irreverent, and boundary-pushing—precisely what we needed then.
Watching SNL with my young adult friends was a ritual. We discussed our favorite skits and musical guests whenever we were together. When the stars broke out into the mainstream, most significantly with the Blues Brothers, we reveled in our youthful culture as a counterbalance to the political upheaval of the time.
Now, 50 years later, Simon's voice brings back the essence of that time: the feeling of being tethered to a past that shaped us, of looking back on roads traveled and people met along the way. Legacy writing also captures our history, emotions, and sense of home, preserving it for those who come after us.
Golden Slumbers: The Journey Continues
Then came McCartney, closing the show with "Golden Slumbers." If "Homeward Bound" was about the longing for what was, "Golden Slumbers" was about the gentle passage of time. "Once there was a way to get back homeward…" he sang, reminding us that though we cannot go back, we carry home within us.
There stood Paul, bringing back memories of the Beatles and their breakup, which shocked our nervous system and remains dormant until we recall that time. Paul reminded us that we have second, third, and fourth acts. He invoked memories of when we saw him in person. Paul McCartney stands as a touchstone for us all in some way.
It was a fitting way to end the night—and a powerful metaphor for storytelling. Legacy writing is not just about reminiscing; it's about finding peace in the journey, documenting our experiences, and understanding that our stories live on beyond us.
SNL, Our Generation, and the Stories That Last
The anniversary of SNL was nostalgic, reminding us of the passage of time. SNL, now a cultural institution, evolved from rebellious and visionary beginnings. The show's ethos is the spirit of storytelling, humor, and music.
Legacy is what we leave behind, what evolves and is passed down. SNL is a legacy, and its legacy shows us how it is done and how the critical parts of our lives are passed down from generation to generation.
Bringing It Back to Legacy Writing
In many ways, Saturday Night Live, Paul Simon, and Paul McCartney embody what I strive for in legacy writing. Their stories, music, and impact have stood the test of time. They remind us that what we create today can resonate for decades, even generations.
We all have our "Homeward Bound" moments—stories of where we came from and how those places shaped us. We all have our "Golden Slumbers" reflections—the moments of transition, of looking ahead with wisdom and gratitude.
The question is: Will we write them down? Will we preserve the laughter, lessons, and memories for those who follow? As SNL has shown us for 50 years, the best stories are the ones we keep telling.