Blog #42--More Inspired Lyrics To Contemplate

I used a number of musical lyric references in my book “It’s a Secret, So Pass It On: a Toolbox For Life” because they encourage my own spiritual development and provide excellent reinforcement for the principles I discuss. I have referenced several musical artists and groups in previous blogs. Billy Joel, the Moody Blues and the Dixie Chicks are featured here.

Billy Joel has produced a number of outstanding songs over the years with lyrics that provide excellent food for thought. His all-time classic “Piano Man” is a prime example. Besides describing the various personality types who might frequent a piano bar on a Saturday night, Joel reminds us that we all have dreams and aspirations that may not come to fruition. And there are a number of talented people at all levels of society; not all of them can make it to the national stage. We are where we’re supposed to be.

Joel’s lyrical treatment for “Always a Woman” is one of the best descriptions I’ve seen of our indirect, right brain. The song emphasizes behaviors typical of some women, including aspects that might be considered negative. But it must be remembered that some men are predominately right-brained and some women utilize more of their direct aspects. We all use indirect tactics in our daily lives, some more than others, so the lyrics are potentially recognizable to all.

I talk in my book about how we are all sparks of the original fire of the Universe. Joel reinforces this concept in his song, “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Filled with all sorts of human history, Joel reminds how all these events have a common origin. History simply repeats itself endlessly. And Joel’s song “Honesty” laments the deceit we all use at the expense of truth. Lying is easy, while honesty requires a long-term commitment.

The Moody Blues have also produced a large number of musically brilliant songs over the years. The ones I include in my book are “Late Lament” and “The Question,” but others have memorable lyrics as well. “Late Lament” shares how people decide whether something is real or an illusion. There are many cases where people have agreed on a premise that is false. Majority opinion seems to rule, yet the majority is not always correct.

“The Question” both asks and answers an age-old question regarding prayers. We often ask our creator for answers to our problems, but answers we receive aren’t always what we want. Our egos work hard to block the flow of communication that goes against what we want. We then rationalize that an answer is not forthcoming. The Moody Blues remind us that love is essential for accepting truth.

The Dixie Chicks got caught up in a political firestorm and lost a number of their fans in the process. Regardless of our political leanings, the transformation they went through secondary to this setback is a good example of what can happen to others in similar situations. They went from riches to rags and back to riches.

I first heard them sing “Traveling Soldier” on the “Saturday Night Live” television show. I was impressed by the quality of their musicianship and their overall presentation. Shortly after that, lead singer Natalie Maines induced the ire of political conservatives with a comment she made during a concert. For awhile, it appeared the Dixie Chicks were destined to fade into history.

But a couple years later, they produced an album called “Taking the Long Way” that won Best Album of the Year and catapulted the three women back into the spotlight. They tell their story through their songs, and it is obvious from the lyrics that many hard but important lessons were learned. The title song is an excellent example of how lengthy and tortuous individual life paths can be a blessing in disguise. It may seem easier to follow simple paths laid out by others, but we learn more through trial and error.

Their song “Not Ready To Make Nice” reviews their plight with former fans. It was Song of the Year for 2006. The emotional climax asks how a mother could tell her daughter to hate someone she has never met and then threaten the welfare of the lead singer. Hate and fear are common emotions among many people, but they limit our ability to find higher truths.

The Dixie Chicks enjoyed a meteoric rise up the musical ladder before their fallout. Songs and concert dates came easily to them, as if things would always work out well. The song “So Hard” reminds us how much tougher it is to produce quality work and receive tangible rewards when things are going wrong for us. Anyone who has enjoyed success in life, no matter how small, recognizes how much fun it can be to follow our destiny when the path is clear. But the opposite is true when things don’t fall into place easily for us.

The song “Thin Line” reinforces this concept. The veil separating opposites in this world is really thin and transparent. We decide arbitrarily what we think is right or wrong, good or bad. These opposites tend to blend into one another far more than we are often willing to accept. What may be right one minute may be wrong the next. What might be proper for one person might be counterproductive for another. Refusing to accept both as part of our lives goes against our best interests.

Whether we like the artists mentioned above or not, there are valuable lessons available to us in their inspired lyrics. Those capable of embracing truth wherever it appears can become life-long learners.

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