When our daughter graduated high school, we didn’t buy her a car. Instead, we bought her a new laptop for college, and I gave her a certificate entitled “Life’s Lyrics of the Month Club.” Each month, during freshman year, I sent her lyrics to songs that held a special meaning in my life. Then, I wrote why I held each song in esteem and added a moral of the story for each. Not only did we bond, but this gift forced her to listen to real music instead of the rap artists she favored at the time.
Music has a way of bringing back both joyful and melancholy memories. As soon as a song comes on the radio, it transports you faster than a time machine. For example, each time I hear “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, I recall junior high gym classes that taught us the latest disco dances. Square dancing was, finally, retired.
Believe it or not, lyrics can be just as wise as Bible verses. “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, for instance, teaches us that our lives are empty pages ready to be filled with our experiences. We are our own storytellers creating our own plot lines, allowing certain characters’ entrances and exits, selecting our settings, and deciding how to react to circumstances out of our control. Equally, OneRepublic’s “I Lived” encourages us to push the boundaries of living fully; for, it is only through jumping in with both feet that you feel pure joy and the depth of sorrow.
Don Henley’s “The Heart of the Matter” illustrates that regardless of how painful relationships and their losses can be, the struggles are worth it. Life is full of love and forgiveness, failure and redemption. “Lessons Learned” written by Diane Warren is along a similar vein. Instead of playing the victim (like most Taylor Swift songs) “Lessons Learned” instructs us to take ownership of our own imperfections, reflect on things we wish we could have done differently, and embrace how errors in judgement helped us grow.
Moreover, the simplicity of “You Say” by Lauren Daigle helped it crossover to pop charts, although its genre is Christian music. Much like “You Light Up My Life” in 1977, Daigle’s hit caught her off guard. Her voice is remarkably like Adele’s, which may have had a bit to do with its success. In spite of the fact that I am pushing 60—nope, not there yet—I find myself relating to its lyrics. We all face times when we question: What do I want? Am I loved or, for that matter, lovable? What is my purpose? Where is God?
Daigle, herself, was asked about the impetus for the song and replied:
“...And so this song for me was just a reminder of identity. It was a reminder that I know when I’m weak, He’s strong—so how do I change that and bring that into my every day life? When I feel inadequate how is it that there’s always these moments where I feel like God just steps in and supersedes my inadequacies. This entire song was so every single day I would get up on stage and remind myself—no, this is the truth, this is the truth, this is the truth. Don’t get buried in confusion. Don’t get buried in waywardness. Just remember to steady the course, steady the course” (ccmmagazine.com).
Whether young or old, pondering our purpose is the million dollar question. Today, the elderly look at the United States and wonder what went wrong after having put so much effort into raising their own families, fighting overseas, following the rules, and working to make their corner of the world better only to find a negative slide in younger generations. They ponder if their lives were squandered.
Especially now, in an age of ease due to technology, high schoolers and college students jumping on bandwagon causes leading toward destruction is senseless. Yet, there is an urgency to contribute to the world. They are looking for meaning without understanding that they are being used for others’ ill-gotten gains. It’s fair to question the nihilism exhibited by our youth when they’ve experienced little strife. All generations, it appears, are at cross purposes.
We could point fingers. But, better still, at least one family member with wisdom needs to pull the misguided by their ear, sit them down, and tell them to set a positive goal to be fulfilled through hard work and determination. Younger generations need to hear and see, via role models, that they are meant for greater achievements than ruination. God has plans for our lives. Each trial is for our betterment.
In other words, our youth need platitudes because platitudes, however banal, are universal truths.
Here are some metaphors from “great” writers: Life is a highway. Life is a box of chocolates. Life is a journey. Life is a path in the woods. Life is just a bowl of cherries. Obviously, the meaning of life is something that everyone in history has tried to comprehend. Sophocles told us, “Fortune is not on the side of the faint-hearted.” Aristotle said, “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” Bono explained, “Pop music tells you everything is OK while rock music tells you it’s not OK, but you can change it.”
In other words, humans wrestle, have wrestled, and will forever wrestle with the notion of a purpose-filled life. Some may have minutes of fortune and fame, but, overall, we simply want to love and be loved. My hope for those barely staying afloat is that you focus on the innate good in all, enjoy this incredible ride, help those who are lost, and allow God into your hearts. BELIEVE even if, like R.E.M., you are losing your religion.
Very well said. I'm sorry to hear about your cancer. I, myself am a THREE time survivor. If it weren't for my excellent education I am not sure I would have mentally survived.
Elitists come in all shapes and sizes. Those who disparage the lyrics and music of the non-Classics dare I say proudly wear their “privilege” as a means to exhibit their sense of superiority over the “great unwashed!”
What speaks to one person may never have been heard by another. Music delivers a message no matter what form or genre it may take. One has to be exposed to the message by whatever means appeal and are accessible to them.
The lyricists of the day be they the Beatles, Bee Gees, Al Green & so many others played important roles in help shaping a generation’s appreciation of the times we lived and are living in.