Juggler...thanks so much bringing Hughes's Motto poem to light! A direct reference for sure! As well as the date of Hughes death. Wow.

It's pretty well-established that Brian was experiencing paranoia during that period (numerous anecdotes, plus Brian's own statements to that effect in interviews as early as 1968).  Did Hughes' death bother Brian in some way? 
 

I too wonder if Hughes death bother Brian. At this point, it seems to me that the connection with Hughes seems to be more so with VDP.

Another thought about "THREE SCORE AND FIVE"...1865 was when the Civil War ended...thus, at "three score and five" America till had the jive to survive as a country.
"On December 2, 1865, Alabama became the 27th state to ratify the 13th Amendment, thus giving it the requisite three-fourths majority of states’ approval necessary to make it the law of the land. Alabama, a former Confederate state, was forced to ratify the amendment as a condition for re-admission into the Union. On December 18, the 13th Amendment was officially adopted into the Constitution–246 years after the first shipload of captive Africans landed at Jamestown, Virginia, and were bought as slaves.

Forgive my excitement, especially if I’m woefully late to the party of further “uncovering the cornfield”, but Van Dyke Parks just affirmed my hunch (by replying to me on Twitter) that Langston Hughes’ “Let America Be America Again” was a direct inspiration (at least to his contributions) to SMiLE. I feel like this poem by Hughes is a key that unlocks so much of SMiLE...and can certainly be seen as a “railroad track” (forgive me) for interpreting AND sequencing SMiLE (from Heroes And Villains to Cabinessence to so much more)!!! The map is there! This poem, coupled with Dale Carter’s essay “All That Road Going”...and the light of understanding is shining brighter than ever.