“Golden Ribbons,” another Jim Messina epic, opens with Messina's guitar in the left ear. The song erupts into a driving, gospel feel for a moment before dying down to greet Messina’s gentle lead vocals. Jazzy flute, relaxed drums, and gliding piano contribute to the laid-back feel. But the lyrics of this chorus soon reveal that this song is the furthest thing from mellow: “I see young men my own age in coffins.” This is Loggins and Messina's definitive Vietnam War song.
Messina’s guitar is a lot more melodic here than his usual picky style--he lets it sing. He has a number of smooth riffs that suit the song well. Loggins tackles the second verse, his voice blending beautifully with the melancholic saxophone. I am partial to the live version of this song from On Stage because Loggins really sings his heart out in this section, even more than he does in the studio version.
This song represents another instance of Loggins and Messina dipping their toes into the gospel feel. The first time I listened to the song, I wondered how this song would sound with a legitimate gospel or soul singer. Not that Loggins and Messina lacked any kind of authenticity in tackling a song like this. The Vietnam War was an ever-present factor in both men's lives at the time, as they were both at some point at risk of being drafted into the military. So, to paint the picture, the speaker is at a funeral, seeing mourners and their dead friend with golden ribbons on his uniform. Not a very good fortune.
The bongos instill a moment of mellowness. Each repetition of the lyrics gives them a new meaning. The dynamic range in the vocals is a standout of the song--the first chorus is strong, but the second is quiet, mournful, giving the listeners space to discover what the song is about. The transition from “I see” to “we see” is a genius bit of songwriting that folds the audience into the experience. Kenny's voice shines in the higher octaves in the backing harmony.
On top of delivering the contemplative bassline, Larry Sims sings his first lead vocals on a track (barring a brief “Outta the car, longhair!” from “Your Mama Don’t Dance”). The live version from On Stage is even more affecting. Loggins joins Sims in an eerie but beautiful harmony. Bringing in another voice was a genius move. The song has been about losing young men to war--the innocence of Sims’ clear voice evokes a man lost too young, perhaps the very man in the coffin bedecked in golden ribbons. From: https://www.reddit.com/r/LogginsAndMessina/comments/1eg9zt4/golden_ribbons_review/
