No one said it would be easy, but no one said it would be this hard. You’re under the gun, so you take it on the run. Leaving only smoke and ashes.
True friends, one question. If it makes you happy, then why the hell are you so sad? That circus tiger’s going to break your heart. I know you’re lonely, but you won’t be lonely long. You belong somewhere you feel free. If you hold on forever, it will hurt your soul.
Snap back to reality. You don’t want to waste your life. Change, change, change.
There’s a place within my heart tucked away from all the pain. Home is where I want to be. I want a lot, not a little. And I will rise from the bottom because He said so. Like I never had my heart broken, like I never saw a door closing. Even the losers get lucky sometimes.
We are strong. Down where the spirit hits the bone. But the bruises on your ego make you go wild, wild, wild. You’ve been wrong before; don’t be wrong anymore. Take the time to take apart each brick that sits outside your heart.
There are money lenders inside the temple. The saints have all left town. Some people so poor all they’ve got is money. We were never meant to run forever. Love will keep us alive. You can’t have it all, all by yourself. And it don’t take money, don’t take fame. We’ll walk this world together, through the storm, whatever weather, cold or warm.
So, I sing a song for the hustlers. We take a chance from time to time and put our necks out on the line. It all might come together, and it all might come unraveled on the road less traveled. Make a little birdhouse in your soul. Let ‘em laugh while they can, let ‘em spin, let ‘em scatter in the wind.
Please, please underestimate me. I keep my visions to myself. I feel stupid, but I know it won’t last for long. I can make my own mistakes and let it bend before it breaks. Once it has begun, I won’t stop until it’s done. Victory’s sweet, even deep in the cheap seats.
I feel a change in the weather. I feel a change in me. I made a tightrope out of twine. It took a whole lot of “Yes, I wills” and “I don’t care.”
I got that sunshine in my pocket. I’ll be alone, dancing. It sure feels good to finally feel the way I do.
We’ve always had time on our sides, now it’s fading fast. I feel like we need to be up to something. Just step outside with me; we can do no wrong today. Shades on, spinning in the summer rain. No chains, no strings, no fences, no walls. Just as free as we’ll ever be. Did you ever look so nice?
Keep your eyes on me. Would you hear my voice come through the music? Would you hold it near as it were your own? Are you ready for your miracle? It’s right outside your door; now testify.
LINK TO PLAYLIST – SPOTIFY
LINK TO PLAYLIST – APPLE
Artwork: The Art of Seth
Endnotes are in the same order as the sentences they refer to.
[1] Crow, Sheryl. “No One Said It Would Be Easy.” Tuesday Night Music Club, A&M Records, 1993
[2] REO Speedwagon. “Take It On The Run.” Hi Infidelity, Epic Records, 1980
[3] Chapman, Tracy. “Smoke and Ashes.” New Beginning, Elektra Records, 1995
[4] Lamar, Kendrick. “King Kunta.” To Pimp a Butterfly, Top Dawg Entertainment, 2015
[5] Crow, Sheryl. “If It Makes You Happy.” Sheryl Crow, A&M Records, 1996
[6] Oberst, Conor. “Lenders in the Temple.” Conor Oberst, Team Love Records, 2008, Track 4
[7] Diplo and Parker McCollum. “Lonely Long.” Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2 – Swamp Savant, Mad Decent, 2023, Track 5
[8] Petty, Tom. “Wildflowers.” Wildflowers, Warner Bros. Records, 1994, Track 1
[9] Brown, Kane. “Learning.” Kane Brown, Sony Music, 2016, Track 3
[10] Eminem. “Lose Yourself.” 8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture, Shady Records, 2002
[11] Counting Crows. “A Murder of One.” August and Everything After, Geffen Records, 1993
[12] Counting Crows. “A Murder of One.” August and Everything After, Geffen Records, 1993
[13] Survivor. “In Good Faith.” When Seconds Count, Volcano Entertainment, 1986, Track 9
[14] Talking Heads. “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).” Speaking in Tongues, Sire Records, 1983
[15] Mendes, Shawn. “Heartbeat.” Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Island Records, 2022, track 4
[16] Hawthorne, Koryn. “Unstoppable.” Unstoppable, Provident Label Group, 2018, Track 2
[17] Diplo, Jessie Murph, Polo G. “Heartbroken.” Mad Decent, 2023
[18] Petty, Tom. “Even the Losers.” Damn the Torpedoes, Backstreet Records, 1979
[19] Benatar, Pat. “Love Is a Battlefield.” Seven the Hard Way, Chrysalis Records, 1983, Track 3
[20] Williams, Lucinda. “Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone.” Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone, Highway 20 Records, 2014
[21] Marshmello and Halsey. “Be Kind.” Astralwerks, 2020
[22] Perry, Steve. “Foolish Heart.” Street Talk, Columbia Records, 1984
[23] Sad Brad Smith. “Help Yourself.” Up in the Air: Music from the Motion Picture, Nonesuch Records, 2009, Track 6
[24] Oberst, Conor. “Lenders in the Temple.” Conor Oberst, Team Love Records, 2008, Track 4
[25] Kershaw, Lily. “Love is a Dark Comedy.” Love is a Dark Comedy, Little Red Productions Inc., 2024, single
[26] Keys, Alicia. “Not Even the King.” Girl on Fire, RCA Records, 2012, Track 9
[27] Childers, Tyler. “In Your Love.” Rustin’ In The Rain, Hickman Holler Records, 2023, Track 6
[28] Eagles. “Love Will Keep Us Alive.” The Very Best of Eagles, Elektra Records, 1994, Track 14
[29] Strait, George. “Living and Living Well.” The Road Less Traveled, MCA Nashville, 2001, Track 4
[30] Huey Lewis and the News. “The Power of Love.” Back to the Future: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack, Chrysalis Records, 1985, Track 1
[31] Eminem. “Not Afraid.” Recovery, Aftermath Entertainment, 2010
[32] Keys, Alicia. “Underdog.” ALICIA, RCA Records, 2020, Track 5
[33] Knightley, Keira. “Like a Fool.” Begin Again: Music From and Inspired by the Original Motion Picture, Interscope Records, 2014, Track 10
[34] Strait, George. “The Road Less Traveled.” The Road Less Traveled, MCA Nashville, 2001, Track 7
[35] They Might Be Giants. “Birdhouse in Your Soul.” Flood, Elektra Records, 1990
[36] Carlile, Brandi. “The Joke.” Low Country Sound/Elektra Records, 2018, Track 2
[37] Rose, Maggie. “Underestimate Me.” Maggie Rose, Big Loud Records, 2023, Track 1
[38] Fleetwood Mac. “Dreams.” Rumours, Warner Bros. Records, 1977, Track 2
[39] Matchbox Twenty. “Mad Season.” Mad Season, Atlantic Records, 2000 Track 6
[40] Carlile, Brandi. “Before it Breaks ” Live At Benaroya Hall (with The Seattle Symphony), Sony Music Entertainment, 2011, Track 4
[41] Merchant, Natalie. “Creepin’ In.” The House Carpenter’s Daughter, Elektra Records, 2003
[42] Oberst, Conor. “Cape Canaveral.” Conor Oberst, 2008, Track 1
[43] Ritter, Josh. “Homecoming.” Sermon on the Rocks, Pytheas Recordings, 2015, Track 8
[44] Ritter, Josh. “Homecoming.” Sermon on the Rocks, Pytheas Recordings, 2015, Track 8
[45] Eminem. “Walk on Water.” Revival, Aftermath Records, 2017, Track 1
[46] McBryde, Ashley. “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.” Girl Going Nowhere, Warner Music Nashville, 2017, Track 1
[47] Timberlake, Justin. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” Trolls: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, RCA Records, 2016, Track 2
[48] Simple Minds. “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” The Breakfast Club: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, A&M Records, 1985, Track 1
[49] Urban, Keith. “Somebody Like You.” Golden Road, Capitol Nashville, 2002, Track 17
[50] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. “If You Leave.” Pretty in Pink: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, A&M Records, 1986, Track 1
[51] 6LACK. “Since I Have a Lover.” Since I Have a Lover, LVRN/Interscope Records, 2023, Track 3
[52] Left Hand Smoke. “Step Outside with Me.” Step Outside with Me, Mackadoshis Productions, 1999, Track 3
[53] Dan + Shay. “Nothin’ Like You.” Where It All Began, Warner Bros. Records, 2014, Track 10
[54] Travis, Randy. “Look Heart, No Hands.” Full Circle, Warner Bros. Records, 1996 Track 11
[55] Zac Brown Band. “Free.” The Foundation, No Reserve Inc., 2008, Track 5
[56] The Samples. “Did You Ever Look So Nice.” The Very Best of The Samples, What Are Records?, 2004, Track 6
[57] McGraw, Tim. “Keep Your Eyes on Me.” Keep Your Eyes on Me, Sony Music Nashville, 2017
[58] Grateful Dead. “Ripple.” The Very Best of Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead Productions, 1970, Track 17
[59] Grateful Dead. “Ripple.” The Very Best of Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead Productions, 1970, Track 17
[60] Chance the Rapper. “Blessings.” Coloring Book, 2016, Track 14
[61] Rage Against the Machine. “Testify.” The Battle of Los Angeles, Epic Records, 1999, Track 1