A Taste of Living

1. My Immortal – Evanescence

I picked Evanescence’s song “My Immortal” because it relates to ideas portrayed by Greek philosophers, who we studied and read about this year. The following example illustrates this:

“I'm so tired of being here, suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave
Your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone”

These lyrics tell about someone who is gone, but their presence, or in philosopher terms, their soul, still linger with Evanescence (the artist). In this case, the soul brings back bad memories and pain to Evanescence because it clings to her. This idea of an immortal soul emerged when we were discussing the Greek philosopher, Socrates, in Sophie’s letter. Socrates believed that the soul is immortal, and forever unchanging. It is the soul of someone who still haunts Evanescence. Socrates argued that the unchanging essences in life are the ones that you can only see with your mind. Because these “unseen” things are also unchanging, the soul is classified as one of the unchanging essences of life. While the body changes, the soul remains unseen and unchanged. That is why, in this song, Evanescence does not use a specific bodily form, but rather “their presence.” The soul unchanged still lingers, while the body, inconstant is no longer there.

In addition to the lyrics, this song has a slow tempo that seems to carries on, and the rhythm repeats throughout the whole song. This goes back to the unchanging, eternal soul. The repetition signifies the persistent and enduring soul. For Evanescence, life seems to drag on because of the lingering soul, which is represented by the slow tempo.

2. Misery Business – Paramore

I chose Paramore’s “Misery Business” because it addresses some of the same ideas that we discussed this year. The following example I'm in the business of misery

Let's take it from the top
She's got a body like an hourglass
That's tickin' like a clock
It's a matter of time before we all run out
When I thought he was mine
She caught him by the mouth

These lyrics about girls who use their bodies to get guys, and get what they want. We discussed this when watched and read about Dr. Lerner’s interview, and the way media and even Walt Disney movies portrays the female body. For example, when the little mermaid loses her voice, the only thing she has to win the guy over is her body, which displays a bad message to young girls. Similarly, this song is about the singer whose boyfriend was stolen from her by a “slutty” girl, who used her body to get him. This is also an example of how media distorts the image of a regular woman, and makes her look super human. We discussed how media bends information when talking about the jellyfish in Ishmael. Anyhow, in all of these cases we are confronted with the question of how these things developed in our society today. They have distorted the image of healthy, confident woman, into something that must use its body to get what it wants. In addition, we are not only challenged to see how these things have grown into society, but also how they have had an effect on us.

3. Ants Marching - Dave Matthew’s Band

I picked Dave Matthews’ Band “Ants Marching” because it brings up some of the same topics and themes that we discussed this year. The following example shows this:

He wakes up in the morning
Does his teeth bite to eat and he's rolling
Never changes a thing
The week ends the week begins
She thinks, we look at each other
Wondering what the other is thinking
But we never say a thing
These crimes between us grow deeper

And all the little ants are marching
Red and black antennas waving
They all do it the same
They all do it the same way

These lyrics talk about the repetition in the daily lives of people, and compare it to the way ants are always marching in the same pattern, in the same way. This idea of repetition within someone’s life is represented in the story Our Town. In both of these references we explore the stability of tradition, and the value of simple daily actions. In Our Town we noticed how similar the families did their chores, jobs, rituals, and many other things. Similarly, in this song, the ants all march in the same way to the same beat. Each ant performs its daily action in the same way every other ant does. Both Our Town and this song identify the similar activity of those around them, day after day they remain fairly the same. While although the steadfastness of time brings about external change, the simple daily actions of people and ants stays the same. In both these pieces; however, I do not think they are trying to criticize the repetition of daily activities among people; they are just pointing it out. In addition, throughout this song, Dave Matthews is trying to tell people that you should tell the people around you that you love them, and find peace in every day. At the end of Our Town, the people who had died regretted how they passed each day without telling the people around them how much they loved them. They also regretted not enjoying just the simplest of things in their life.

4. Steer – Missy Higgins

I picked Missy Higgins “Steer” because it explains some thought and ideas that we noted this year. The following example illustrates this:

But the search ends here
Where the night is totally clear
And your heart is fierce
So now you finally know
That you control where you go
You can steer

So hold this feeling like a newborn
Oh with freedom surging through your veins
You have opened up a new door
So bring on the wind, fire and the rain

These lyrics talk about controlling your own life, and taking the course of life that YOU want to take, not the course someone else wants you to take. This idea of you being in charge of your own life was discussed when we talked about Pi being the decider of his own religions, as well as Yann Martels car analogy. The car analogy was that you can put your accelerator in your car, but you’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t know where you’re headed. Martel says that essentially it’s up to you where you want to go in your life, and faith helps you decide that. We see this displayed in his character Pi, after he converts to Muslim, Christianity, and Hinduism. Pi steers his own life and chooses to convert to three different religions. In a similar way Missy Higgins is saying that you do not need to be at the mercy of life’s circumstances, you get to choose where you want to go in your life. Whereas in Life of Pi, Pi used faith from his religions to help realize he could steer his own life, Missy Higgins portrays that faith in yourself will help you direct your own life.

5. Meant to Live – Switchfoot

I picked Switchfoot’s “Meant to Live” because it discusses some topics that we talked about throughout this year. The following example shows this:

Dreaming about providence
And whether mice or men have second tries
Maybe we've been living with our eyes half open
Maybe we're bent and broken, broken, oh

We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside

These lyrics truly say that people are meant to live for more, or in other words, they have like a destiny to fill in their life. This idea of “meant to live for more” is present in the story Siddhartha. Siddhartha followed a life experimenting with different faiths and religions and practices in hopes he would find salvation. Ironically, he found salvation at the most simple place. Anyhow, the whole idea of salvation is living your life in pursue of reaching a a greater place within yourself. This is what Switchfoot is talking about. When you are “meant to live for more” that means you have found a greater place for yourself in the world. In addition, Switchfoot is saying that when “we’ve been living with our eyes half open…” that we shield ourselves from the truth, and do not want to see how we were made to live for so much more. The cave in Plato’s allegory also shows people who shield themselves away from truth (light), because they do not want to face it. They liked staying oblivious and living in the shadows. Similarly, the people Swithfoot is referring to are living with their eyes half open, just the way Plato’s characters stayed in a cave. The similarity is that neither of them has moved to accept the truth. Switchfoot says that once people open their eyes they will see the truth and realize they were meant to live for more.

6. I’m Going Under – Evanescence

I picked Evanescence’s song because it addresses some feelings that a character felt during a book we read this year. The following example shows this:

Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies
So I don't know what's real and what's not
So I don't know what's real and what's not
Always confusing the thoughts in my head

So I can't trust myself anymore
I'm dying again, I'm going under
Drowning in you, I'm falling forever
I've got to break through

These lyrics are talking about someone who is feeling helpless because they are being pushed into something they can’t resist. In addition, this person is confused and not sure if what she is about to do is right or wrong. This feeling of defenselessness emerged when we discussed how Juliet felt about being pushed into marrying Paris. She feels like she has been dragged into marrying Paris and she can’t resist it. Then she feels some confusion when she decides to take the poison that makes her appear dead. This is when the truth and lies start to confuse her and blur in her mind. Juliet’s “breakthrough” is taking the potion, so she can be with Romeo. Rejecting Paris’ proposal and taking the poison is the first time Juliet has really defied her parents, and she is perplexed, but her love for Romeo overshadows this.

In addition, this song is suitably dark and signifies the confusion, but also the strength that this person feels, or in the other case, Juliet. At times the song is high-pitched and fast, while other times it is slow and very deep. This shows the perplexity and racing thoughts, while the steady voice of the singer signifies the strength and determination she has anyway. She knows that she has to breakthrough and defy the forces against her.

7. Fix You – Coldplay

This song represents my learning experience as a freshman in high school. It is not so much about what I learned in school, but rather what I learned about myself. This song is about someone who is trying to do everything right in his life, but he feels that it is never good enough. He realizes that he has lost hope in himself, and needs something to help guide him. The following example illustrates this:

When high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

While although at the beginning of the strong he feels like he will never be good enough, towards the end of the song, he realizes that all that matters is giving it his all. If he were to just stop and say “I’ll never be good enough” than he would stop living his life, and would never realize what he was worth. He would never realize all of the potential of his life.

This is very comparable to my experience as a freshman because there were many times that I felt like giving up, that it was just too hard. However, over time I realized that even if I wasn’t the best, putting my best effort would be enough. If I just gave up I would have missed out on so many possibilities. In addition, I realize that everyone needs a helping hand. You can’t be expected to do everything on your own, sometimes you just have to relax and let the lights guide you. Just believe.

This songs guitar riff is also amazing. It goes from a very sad and slow song, to an uplifting song that really gives you hope. Suddenly, all the things you think have gone wrong in your life, seem to be alright and instead transform into possibilities and opportunities for you to grow as a person.