June 15, 2005

This is normally something that would fit better as a "Quote of the Day" but to call this a quote would be like calling the "Declaration of Independence" a neat idea yet too rebellious and misguided to make a difference.

• Sometimes a good idea
• Just isnt enough
• Youve got to do the work
• Now get your ass up
• There isnt really such a thing as bad luck
• Yeah, but once I shot an arrow
• In the sky and it stuck

[chorus]

• Youve got to keep movin
• Youve got to keep pushin
• Youre never gonna get back
• Anymore than youre givin
• Life is for the living
• Youve got to be willin
• A song aint a song
• Until someone starts singin

[Full Lyrics are in the extended part of this entry.]

If ever a son has taken the raw yet naturally anthem-based and soul-driven energy made available in abundance in the Zimmerman(Dylan)-brand of family genetics I doubt its been documented well enough to enable a proper comparison to that of Bob Dylan and his son and The Wallflowers front-man, Jakob Dylan.

One of the things I believe helps us make a determination between the good and the truly Great is really quite simple:

The Great Ones deny every being anything more than a lucky hack who never deserved the attention and certainly wishes he/she never did get it in the first place. To be called a "voice of a generation" is something they loathe or at very least push away as a rediculous sentiment.

Sounds about right. We make our own choices, they're not made for us.

But sometimes they are wrong. Well, wrong is a bit to heavy of a word. How about, sometimes they inspire more than they realize? The words they write and the emotions they ensue do encourage change. But its our own self that makes the decision to listen or not and to take action or not.

When I need a quick "life change" (read:kick in the butt thats hard enough to get me off my butt and moving forward again) I play this song over and over and over until I'm back on task.

Take a look at those two verses again and you should get a good feel for why. Don't let yourself sell yourself short in life. If you accomplish something, enjoy it. Be proud of it. Remember it. Then move on to whats next. Give yourself a pat on the back that lasts just long enough as to not make people wonder if they should call security but still allows you that moment that helps you realize you're a lot more than you ever give yourself credit for.

What if you find you have an over abundance of personal achievement awards given to you by none-other than yourself? My guess is maybe you think you've accomplished more than you really have. Maybe not. But probably.

---
[Artist:The Wallflowers]
[Album: Red Letter Days]
[Title: Too Late to Quit]

[NOTE: The written lyrics leave out the constant background verse:

Too late to quit to soon to go home.
[repeated several times in blocks now and then continually throughout the song.]

Takes all my might
To find a hole that feels right
To bury myself
In a deep sleep at night
I hear a voice
Coming from the hillside
Says Ill show you the way
I will show you the light

But Im tired
Im tired
Im much too tired
Im tired

Hes says I know where you were headed
And youre half way there
But youve got to be careful
Youve got to beware
Some people want to hurt you
Some people dont care
But Im never gonna give you
Any more than you can bare

[chorus]

Theres nothing left here to rise above
Were not talking bout that kind of love
Youve got people here counting on you
Nows a good time
To learn how to pull through

Sometimes a good idea
Just isnt enough
Youve got to do the work
Now get your ass up
There isnt really such a thing as bad luck
Yeah, but once I shot an arrow
In the sky and it stuck

[chorus]

Youve got to keep movin
Youve got to keep pushin
Youre never gonna get back
Anymore than youre givin
Life is for the living
Youve got to be willin
A song aint a song
Until someone starts singin

[chorus]