"(Hello) I'm a Truck": When the Bakersfield Sound and sound science collide
The red truck that appears above looks rather rustic and benign. Not so with the one I was recently faced with. Through no fault of my own, I nearly had a low-speed head-on collision with a big red 18-wheeler diesel truck while cruising past Buck Owens Blvd. the other day, and the irony of it all was that at that very moment I turned around the bend and saw the collosal red vehicle right in front of me, a Red Simpson song called Burnin' Up the Road was playing from my car audio system. There's a song in there somewhere, and I'm going to find it. I think I'll call it Red-on Collision.
Speaking of collisions, I have selected careers and semi-careers (no pun intended) that involve me constantly having to change hats and shift gears (pun intended). As a psychologist, I am a scientist-practicioner. As a singer/songwriter, I play the role of artist. As a university instructor and writer, I allowed the luxury of constantly juxtaposing and attempting to integrate artistic and scientific approaches, concepts and phenomena in general. I encourage my students to do the same. We live in a world where we have access to all of the great tools, the tools of science, allowing us to reinforce the delusion of some sort of control over phenomena that is outside of the realm of our control. And we also have the key to door that opens the arts, allowing us to gain a sense of existential mastery over internal and external elements we often experience as chaotic.
I happen to be a big fan of the Bakersfield sound, so I turned to three songs representative of that genre and discovered within them, three scientific hypotheses which, if developed, could have the potential to become full-blown scientific experiments.
The first is Red Simpson's classic, (Hello) I'm a Truck. This song got me curious about identity and truckers. The hypothesis that followed was this: The type of truck one selects, the way in which one takes care of that truck, and the extent and manner in which one soups up or "pimps" one's truck reflects the personality of the truck driver or truck owner.
The Susan Raye song, LA International Airport inspired this hypothesis: A big, crowded place tends to intensify one's sense of being alone and isolated following the a heartbreak.
Here's a third one: One of Penny Marie's brand new songs, I'm Not Going to Stay led me to this hypothesis: When a relationship between two individuals is complicated by the relationship between one individual in the dyad and alcohol, the decision to leave the alcoholic person in the relationship is often followed by an intense urge to reverse that very decision.
There you have it, three country songs, two Bakersfield sound classics and one from a relatively new Bakersfield sound-grounded artist of the younger generation, and three corresponding scientific hypotheses looking for a full-blown scientific experiment that will confirm or disconfirm each one.
Why don't you try this for yourself so that you can find a bridge for yourself that will link science and music? Listen to some songs, old and new, and use those songs to spawn scientific hypotheses. Use the music and the lyrics to prime your cognitive pump to create new science.
I would suggest you start by listening to Bakersfield and Beyond tonight, 8/20/09, beginning around 6:40 pm. If you're out of the FM range surrounding Marin County, stream the show here:
KWMR
For more information, visit here:
Bakersfield and Beyond
Whether you find the songs here, or elsewhere, why not take two country songs, one old and one new, and generate your own hypotheses, one from each.
Then take an old rock, pop or R&B song, and a new one, and from these, generate two additional hypotheses. If you come up with four hypotheses, you'll have beat me by one. Offer your song choices and your concomitant hypotheses in the comments section below, and then tell me this: Which genre and which era of music did you find most fruitful in terms of yielding songs that most easily lent themselves to hypothesis formation?
Categories: bakersfield sound and science, science and music
Tags: Red Simpson Penny Marie bakersfield sound Susan Raye
Being one of my favorite C&W singers Marty Robbins was the natural choice as the pick of the old C&W singer. His song El Paso was written in an old 1957 Cadillac while driving through El Paso Texas on way to a gig in Phoenix Az.
The hypotheses that I propose it that there are two basic emotions that drive all humans. Love being the first emotion, and Hate being the second. Love compels humans to partake in actions that are not in the human pyscheye such as cold and calculated murder. In this song the cowboy is in love with a Mexican girl named Felina and she shuns him. She will flirt with anyone who can further her cause namely herself. The cowboy is so in love with her that he challenges another cowpoke to a shootout in which he kills the other. He runs to New Mexico to avoid prosecution. As time go on the love and loniness he feels for Felina becomes overpowering to the point he does not care if he lives or dies. He decides to go back to El Paso to see her once again. When the cowboy gets to El Paso he is riding his horse to get to the Catina where she works when he is shot by a Posse. His love drives him on but unfortunately he does make it all the way to the Catina. He is dying and Felina realizes that he loves her and takes him in her arms and kisses him as he dies. In this ballad the emotions of love and hate come together to tell a story of what human are capable of when emotions drive them to do things they did not think they could do. And of the feelings of loniness and love can be overbearing to the point of not caring whether a person lives or dies.
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The contemporary C&W artist that I picked is Lee Greenwood. In the song God Bless the USA what he describes what he would do to help further the cause of Democracy. This song brought out a national sense of pride in the United States and continues to do so today. The take that I got out of this song is that he would put the United States of America above his own personal safety. What would cause a man to do this sort of thing? The answer to that question is ideology. When someone believes in a cause so much that he would give his life to further that cause (fanaticism?). Survival is ingrained into each person, and when a cause transcends that emotion people think about other persons before themselves. Being existential in nature and believing in what Jesus said 2500+ years ago to paraphrase the Bible if a man gives his life for another man he will truly have everlasting life in Heaven. This particular song happens to be all Troops, Sailors, and Airmen and women adopted song. This song tells about the pride one feels when they think they are doing the right moral act. These people risk their lives each day for something they believe in, just as our forefathers believed in Democracy, so much so that they give their lives for the greater good. What makes us do this? My opinion is that men are basically good. It may take awhile to find the good in a person but it is there. As therapists-in-the-making we have to believe that man is good, that is why we are in this field in the first place. What drives men to do what they do each day? It is one's belief in something that they may not see at the moment but in the future (faith)
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POP Music
Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight & The Pips (Old)
The Hypothesis that I came up with is becoming a star is very difficult. The individual in the song went to LA to attempt to become a star. He was unsuccessful in his attempts, so he went back to his comfort zone where he knew he could survive, which was Georgia. It appears that he got over all of his hopes and dreams to return to a much simpler life in Georgia. He tried to become a star and it didn't’t work, so he picked himself up and went to back to Georgia where his love one would be waiting for him.
Gone ‘Til November by Wyclef Jean (New)
The hypothesis that I derived from this song is this individual did not know how to handle his responsibilities. This individual seems to run every time things get difficult. It seems that he gets his money by hustling because he told his girl that he could not work a nine to five, so he don’t make his money by working. It appears he softens the blow by telling her what he is going to do when he gets back in town. He hopes he could make his new born son’s graduation seems to state he is not coming back for a while. It appears he is ditching his responsibilities by leaving town.
These two songs talk about the struggles of life, but it seemed that the newer generation made it easy to discover a hypothesis because the artist starts off by stating the problem. He tells her he has to leave and advised her not to cry. He also tells her the reason he has to leave in the first verse of the song.
County Music
Johnny Cash- Folsom Prison Blues (Old)
The hypothesis I gathered from this song is a man with regret. This man sit in Folsom prison being tortured by the fact that life is passing him by. He is stuck doing the same old routine every watching time go by slow, while people are on the outside enjoying the cares of life. He wishes he would have listened to his mother when she told him not to play with guns when he grows up. He imagines what he would do if he was a free man, but he realizes that would never come to pass.
Blake Shelton- Ole Red (New)
The hypothesis I formed from this song is love is a powerful emotions. Hurt by the infidelities of his wife, love caused him to commit a crime that caused him to spend the rest of his life in prison. It appears he felt betrayed by his wife actions, so he took matters into his own hands. While on the second years of his prison term, he began to skim about who he would escape from his prison came in Georgia. The warden placed him in charge of taking care of the tracking dog “Ole Red.” Convinced that love could make people do just about anything, he tried his experiment on Ole Red. He had his cousin bring down a pretty hound. He allowed Ole Red to sit with this hound. He kept Red away from this dog for approximately four days. At this time Red was going crazy to see that old pretty hound. He figured this would be his perfect time to escape from the pris
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In reply to the old rock song I picked "Oldies but Goodies", for obvious reasons. I lived through those years in which Rock and Roll was the "Devil's music". What I see in this song is that no matter where you go, what has happened to you, and how long it has been certain songs will trigger memories good and bad. In this song the writer actually states this. "The songs they were playing I will never forget". They bring back memories of a simpler time and what one was doing at the time the songs came on the sound chart. American Bandstand was were you could hear songs that artists sang.
Music can also trigger thoughts of love and relationships that you had experienced at certain times of your life or of break ups during that time period. Music is one of the arts that can stand the test of time. For instance Bach, Tchaikovshy (love the 1812 Overture), or Brahms. Music correlates and can activate mental and emotional responses of the past, present, and future events as we go through life. These responses actually predict future responses of a person that is not willing to change their way of thinking, so they can expect the same results.
Our job is to work through those feelings and emotions and help change the clients thinking to better their lives. Music can help in therapy by breaking that circle that the client may be stuck in.
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There are 2 major instances of “Triangulation” in the movie Juno.
The first occurs with the desire of Vanessa and Mark to expand their family by adding a child. I believe that this was more of Vanessa’s longing than it was Mark’s, which further contributed to the weakness of their relationship to begin with. Vanessa feels as though a child might bring them closer together, as many copes often do. She realizes, during the process of getting to know Juno and as the pending adoption nears the true weaknesses and faults of the union and as a result the couple decides to end the relationship.
The second aspect of “Triangulation” is related to the process of bringing a child into the relationship and involves Juno herself as the stated third party. Juno is straight forward, blunt, and experiences life through with a more raw innocence than either Mark or Vanessa have the ability to. Both Vanessa and Mark view Juno from a different looking glass. Mark sees in her a sense of youth a freedom, and realizes that raising his own child will result in him having to give up more of his own identity and freedom. Mark’s realization further weakens his relationship with Vanessa and ultimately leads all of the characters to realize that he was “not all in” as far as raising a child.
This movie provides a poignant look at the hardships of teenage angst, as well as a very real look inside the wants and desires of a married couple. It proves in the end that raising a child really is about the desire to care for another person and putting the best of yourself into someone else.
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The most obvious (to me) example of triangulation in the movie Juno is the dynamic that occurs between Mark and Vanessa, a married couple and Juno, a pregnant teenage girl who enters their life to bring them an apparently very wanted child. In the beginning, it seems that Mark and Vanessa have a strong union, and desire to adopt Juno's child. Quickly it is revealed that Mark is not so fulfilled in his marriage, as Juno unwittingly points out areas of his unhappiness. For example, his love of music, his guitars, his beloved rock T-shirts, and his gore movies have been reduced to "wow, a room in your very own house." Vanessa sees Mark's love of gore movies and his dream to be a rock star as immature and frivolous and she wants him to grow up and be ready to be a father. But he is not ready. And being with Juno (even though their relationship is platonic) points out things that are missing from his marriage and his life in general. The triangular relationship ends up spurring Mark to admit he is not ready to be a father, is not ready to give up his dreams, and ultimately, to leave his marriage to Vanessa.
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Old Country: Cocaine Blues by Johnny Cash - Main figure in song describes male individual who has normal cocaine use and in a reactionary move killed his girlfriend over a rage felt over learning that she was romantically seeing other men. He was also under the influence of cocaine during this murder. The main figure though was fully cognizant of his behaviors and knew of the wrong he did or at least of the legal ramifications as he attempted to flee the country this demonstrated his ability to discern right from wrong. The main figure was ultimately apprehended in Mexico. A possible hypothesis emerges as to a Axis I disorder 292.89 Cocaine Intoxication; 304.20 Cocaine Dependence. Axis II would possibly be 301.7 Antisocial Personality Disorder. Evidence for these clinical determinations would be for the facts listed as too his apparent daily routine of cocaine use and its affects on the main figures behavior. Also, for the Axis II diagnosis would be the criminal behavior, used of weapon (gun) to kill girlfriend, lying to authorities about his identity (use of aliases), no social support network, aggression/irritability and inability to appropriate cope with such emotions.
New Country Song: Love Story by Taylor Swift - This song will be anayled somewhat different. I will utilize the lyrics provided, but also incorporate a misunderstanding I originally had about the meaning of this song when it first came out. The song is talking about a female and her romantic interest in a male. However, when I first heard this song months back I did not correctly heard the words so the misunderstanding will be apparent in how I chose to analyze this song. The main figure is a young teen female develops an intense romance with another young teen female. The main figure has already some family discord and this relationship brings further disruption to her interaction with her family and more specifically her own father. She continues to see the other teen female despite her father's attempts to correct her behavior and lies to hide her behavior. There is some indication that there was some confusion on the part of the main figure if the other female truly was going to remain steadfast in this romance. This uncertainty did cause anxiety and doubt. But such worries were elevated when the other female asks that the two become life partners and runaway together. The two runaway in their romance. There seemed to be no planning beyond such move, and it seems that it was only an act of desperation to escape home problems and the stigma of being two young female lovers. I would need further information about the main figure's thinking and emotions and more personal background to make a clinical judgment, but was is obvious is the immediate need for stabilization such as housing, financials, education, and the legality for her to be away from her family at such a young age (possible emancipation). Still, I thought it was an interesting song.
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Old Emo Song: Say It Ain't So by Weezer - Main character is male individual who is an alcoholic and also with family history of alcoholism (father and stepfather). The song is a lament to himself and the suffering and internal turmoil he is experiencing. Other personal facts noted are the infighting that occur between he and his family, including his family, anger coping issues and a longing to reestablish a relationship with his father that he apparently has not heard of for a long while. The alcoholism is describes in terms to indicate a general life dysfunction and a cry for help. Axis I possibility is 303.90 Alcohol Dependence, with Physiological Dependence. Possible Axis II include either Histrionic Personality Disorder, R/O and Dependent Personality Disorder, R/O. Axis III None, Axis IV possible V61.10 Parent-Child Relational Problem, V62.2 Occupational Problem, V62.3 Academic Problems. Axis V GAF = 50
New EMO Song: Smother Me by The Used - Song of main figure who is a male individual who recently emotionally hurt former girlfriend. This song describes his remorse and intense romantic feelings. Main figure is pathological in the sense in how he has come to cope with loss of girlfriend and his current view of attaining her back and now "smothering" wish to be there and only there for her and have her now be only there for him. It is an idealistic view of romance with dangerous predictors of an emotionally unstable figure who now is seeming dead set on getting her back, but at what costs. His macabre descriptions of his love for her only add concern as too how destructive a state he may currently be in. Axis I is possibly 297.1 Delusional Disorder, Erotomanic Type or 309.0 Adjustment Disorder, with Depressant Mood. These Axis I possibilities are due to the fictional belief in how things are going to be ok and nothing is really wrong and that the feelings are mutual and in the preoccupation with the other and disruptive nature to such preoccupation; or it could simply be a coping issue where the main figure needs time to adjust appropriately to the breakup. Axis II is possibly Schizotypal Personality Disorder due to difficulties in interpersonal relationships, unusual thinking, eccentric describions of emotions. Axis III None. Axis IV V.61.10 Partner Relational Problem. Axis V GAF = 70.
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Juno and Triangulation: In Vanessa's view a baby would complete her own perception of what a perfect family would be and give her the purpose that she feels has eluded her. Mark also was going along with this idea, but internally had emotionally and interest-wise gone separate ways from his wife Vanessa. Enter Juno the young temptress, tomboyish, and slightly gay-questionable character who with her coming fetus presents a seemingly solution to Mark and Vanessa's marital struggles. Problem: the marriage is over, no baby would bring the couple together. The now real and soon to come baby only adds to the mental division between the two and sets in Mark's view a clear cut fork in the road where his perceived "youthfulness" and freedom, career aspirations are now in serious doubt as he would definitely have to abandon some of those notions if he would be fully committed to a new baby. Also, this confusion stirs in him pedophillac emotions towards Juno where he sees her youth as freedom and possibly as his escape from facing the real issues and envisions a world where he and she could run away to the city and live their indie/emo rock n' roll lifestyles. Vanessa while needing a baby to complete her, has only pleasant feelings toward Juno but her dream can only be realized when she leaves Mark and accepts that her "family" notion, though possible, will look different from what she originally planned for. Juno seems only a by standard to the issues of Mark and Vanessa though clearly she is a portal in the triad between all of them and holds the key. Her role is the weak fix to keeping the marriage together, but the kick in the foot to find happiness without each other and accept the solution of breakup.
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My Country Songs
1) Willie Nelson, Always On My Mind
The hypothesis that I came up with for this particular song is that this man found it very hard to declare and/or disclose his feelings of what this woman meant to him. It appears that within this song, he confesses to all the things he didn’t do when he was with his lady and now through this song, he is giving a confessional of what he would have done different to keep his love.
This song depicts a picture of a man, who finds it difficult to confess his feelings to a woman, and as a result, ends up losing his love because he is unable to fulfill a meaning of love, therefore ends up leaving him with grief and loss.
2) The Judd’s, Grandpa
I would guess that this song is about a young girl who is having some trouble, maybe some adjust experiences and confides in her grandpa as moral support to help her through these tough times that she is experiencing. It appears that her grandpa is her strong support system and provides her with reassurance that everything will be okay.
My songs
1) Aretha Franklin, Respect
I would hypothesize that these lyrics are about a woman who has been struggling with a relationship and the boundaries within that relationship. This woman appears to be in a relationship with a person who appears to be abusing his relationship with his lady and all she is asking for is for him to pay her some respect.
2) Beyonce, Irreplaceable
This is a woman who appears to be dealing with a breakup. These lyrics present as if the other partner was caught cheating on his girlfriend and/or fiancé. She catches him and leaves him. Through the lyrics, he appears to put her down, telling her that she will never find anyone else. She appears to find empowerment through that breakup and lets him know that she could have better.
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In Willie Nelson’s song Mamas “Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys”, Nelson suggests that cowboys never find love, stay at home, or be professionals such as doctors and lawyers. Also, Nelson suggests that that Cowboys will not participate in wholesome activities, instead Cowboys prefer smoky old pool rooms and girls of the night. Therefore, based on Nelson song it could be hypothesized that if a mother allows her son to grow up to be a cowboy he will break her heart and the hearts of all the people in his life.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers must have written the song “Scar Tissue” during an intense period of loneliness. The song suggests that they are experiencing a lonely view that is shared with the birds. Stating that he shares the loneliness with the birds could be a metaphor about how he would commit suicide by possibly jumping off a bridge or building to experience the same flight as bird’s experience. However, the song does suggests that the writer may have experienced some intimacy with a young Kentucky girl in a push-up bra and possibly a southern girl with a scarlet drawl, but nothing that seemed to cure his loneliness. Therefore, it could be hypothesized that the writer is so lonely that if he does not find substantial intimacy soon he will commit suicide by jumping off of bridge or a building.
Pink Floyd’s song “Wish You Here” discusses the significant changes that have occurred between him and someone that he cares deeply for. The song suggests that the two people used to believe in positive things such as heroes, hot ashes, hot air, and the other person has traded those things for negative things such as ghosts, trees, cool breezes and a lead role in a cage. The writer suggest that the people are now lost souls and he very much wishes the other person would not have changed; because even though they are now separated the writer suggests that they have found nothing but the same old fears. It can be hypothesized from Pink Floyd’s song that although people change and form new belief systems ultimately the path will be met by many of the same fears as those that did not change their belief systems.
In Taylor Swift’s song “You Belong with Me” she is adamant that the boy she has a crush on belongs in a relationship with her instead of the girl he is currently dating. Swift suggests that she has more in common with the boy; she likes t-shirts and sneakers, whereas the girl he is currently dating likes high heels and cheerleading. Also, she suggests that she comforts him when the other girl does not. Swift goes on to express her frustration in the fact that the boy does not see her as a possibly dating candidate and how hurt she is by that fact; she hopes that the boy will realize the differences and believe that she is the one he belongs with. After listening to Taylor Swift’s song it can be hypothesized that the boy she has a crush on would be happier in a relationship with her.
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I'm having trouble with this one because I'm not into knowing the names of artists or their songs. All I do is turn on the radio or "borrow" a friends cd and listen to what sounds good at the time. I do believe that songs can tell us a lot about the singer/composer and the people who listen to them. For example, if I'm feeling sensual or romantic I listen to love songs, if I'm pissed off I listen to songs that express anger, if I'm in a goofy mood I listen to dad's songs about an alligator getting paddled, and so on... So as far as hypotheses go I don't really have one except that music can only give you a glimpse as to what someone is thinking and feeling at one specific point in time.
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New Pop Song - "Hot N Cold" by Katy Perry. This song depicts the ups and downs of a relationship. It started out good, but has gone bad. However, she cannot bring herself to leave the relationship. As the song say, they fight, they break up, they kiss, they make up. The hypothesis here is that the majority of women seem to find it hard to end a relationship and stick to their decision, even if they are unhappy in the relationship.
Old Pop Song - "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield. In this song, he is in love with his best friend's girlfriend. He feels guilty about it because Jessie is a good friend, and is also so frustrated that he cannot find a woman like that for himself. He does not understand why she is with Jessie and not him. The hypothesis is that men (and women) who have feelings for their friends' significant others have mixed feelings of guilt, anger, and frustration, along with jealousy and longing.
Old Country Song - "Jackson" by June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash. This song is about a couple who married quickly and had a lot of passion that fizzled out. Now that the passion is gone, they threaten one another that they are going to leave and go to Jackson, where they can party and leave their married life behind. One can hypothesize that people in bad marriages always think the grass is greener on the other side and wish to leave their cares behind to start over.
New Country Song - "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood. This song is about a woman who has been cheated on repeatedly by her boyfriend/husband. She has had enough of it and has decided to get back at him by ruining his truck and leaving him for good. One can hypothesize that "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." In this case, a woman who has been cheated on decides to harm her man's prized possession, his "pretty little souped up 4 wheel drive" in order to get back at him.
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In the movie Juno I found that the triangulation was between Vanessa, Juno, and Mark with the Juno's baby in the center of it all. Vanessa wanted a baby to complete her life, Juno just wanted to be rid of the baby but just did not want it to go into a non-loving family like what she had. Mark seemed indifferent to the whole idea of having children As the due date came closer Juno found that she could be herself with Mark instead of her own family. Vanessa became more obsessed with the baby and transferred that obsistion into doing things her way. Mark became more indifferent as time went on. Juno "clicked" with Mark and would come over to the house to hang out using excuses. Finally it all came to a head when Mark said that he was leaving Vanessa because he was not ready to settle down and be a father. This blew Juno's conspection of the perfect family for her baby and Vanessa was facing raising a baby alone. This was when Juno's realized that she was in love with the child's biological father and not with Mark. This film gave me an insight into what children who have children go through, making adult decisons that they are not equipped to handle.
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Martin Flores
Movie: Juno
Subject: Triangulation
An interesting triangulation that I observed was between Mark, Vanessa and Juno. Vanessa wanted to have a baby, but she couldn’t, while Mark was undecided at the beginning of the movie. As time progressed Mark become more interested and focus on his music and carrier than being a father. Juno seems to be the character caught in between their decision to keep Juno’s baby and their carrier. Juno becomes the synthesis of their problem and the same time of their solution. Once Juno realizes that she is caught in between, she makes a decision and does not loose her individuation versus Mark who feels incomplete and decides to follow his musical carrier, while Vanessa fulfills her desire to become a mother.
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Let us hypothesize about a couple of Jace Everett songs that are short and to the point.
“A LITTLE LESS LONELY” – is the story of a man talking to his friend (presumably female) about crossing the line between friend and lover in order to ease their mutual loneliness. My hypothesis is: Spending time with a platonic friend can lead individuals to consider a sexual relationship if an emotionally vulnerable state exists.
“BAD THINGS” – This song speaks to the instant animal attraction that often occurs when someone spectacular walks into the bar after an individual has consumed a few drinks. My hypothesis is: Exposure to an individual with an exotic persona will cause a subject to engage in risky or socially unacceptable behavior if the subject is experiencing a vulnerable physical or emotional state.
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The oldest country song (excluding Johnny Cash) I have in my library is “Amarillo by Morning” (1975) by the late, great Chris LeDoux. I was fortunate enough to see this great performer before he passed away in 2005. LeDoux mostly sang songs about being a rodeo man and “Amarillo By Morning” sure has that theme. The song refers to a cowboy who is headed to Amarillo, Texas to ride in a rodeo. The man in the song is so addicted to getting that 8 second ride that the rodeo has completely consumed him. He has lost a wife, a girlfriend and his saddle and also broken his leg along this journey. “I aint got a dime, but what I got is mine. I aint rich, but lord Im free” is a very powerful line that can be interpreted in a few ways. 1) He is truly here for the thrill of the perfect 8 second ride, or 2) He may be trying to convince himself he doesn’t need what he has lost in his process of following his dream…. Has it been worth it?
We never hear what happens in Amarillo and one might feel sympathy for the rodeo man and hope that he does catch that dream he has been following. The same emotions can be applied to life in general. Most of us follow that dream of “making it” one day to be truly happy. “Once I graduate, I’ll be happy. Once I get that great job, I’ll be happy. Once I get married and have kids, then I’ll be happy.” But do we really ever “get there” and feel satisfaction or do we continually hope for more and more goals to be accomplished to feel happiness? There is an old saying “life is a journey, not a destination” and I firmly believe in that. If you keep busting your butt to be happy then you’re going to miss the life that’s happening right now.
A newer country song that is wonderful (btw- I am a huge country fan), and kind of fits in with the first song I mentioned is “Life aint Always Beautiful” (2005) by Gary Allan, also known as the “Surfing Cowboy.” I have been following Allan since he emerged in 1996 and absolutely love his sound and style. “Life aint Always Beautiful” is sort of a self-help song with a positive message; “No,life aint always beautiful. Tears will fall sometimes. Life aint always beautiful. But it's a beautiful ride.” Gary Allan released this album after his wife committed suicide and one can almost feel the ache in his heart as he sings. This song can be about anything in life that has been disappointing or unexpected. It could relate to a break-up, death or someone moving away. What Allan tries to convey with the lyrics is the events that happen to a person, good or bad, are all part of life and everything a person experiences can make him/her stronger in the end. “But the struggles makes me stronger. And the changes make me wise. And happiness has it's own way of takin' its sweet time.”
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