I’m very fond of the Fred Neil song “Everybody’s Talkin’,” which I know, of course, from the Harry Nilsson version. I like the music of it, but most of all, I like the refrain, “Skipping over the ocean like a stone.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard a line that so perfectly sums up having a carefree attitude while heading into doom. I’ve felt that way many times in my life — except without the carefree part.

The song, of course, became a hit because it was used in the film Midnight Cowboy. That’s still quite a watchable film. “Everybody’s Talkin'” is used at the beginning of the film, because it sounds so carefree. I guess that the rock doesn’t know that it is doomed; certainly Joe Buck doesn’t. The song is not used at the heartbreakingly beautiful ending, because the stone is no longer skipping.