Yeah, but ain’t it blessing to do what you wanna do?
I haven’t figured why yet. But, I keep running back to a song I recently discovered by a little-known singer named Shawn Mullins.
This existential period of mine seems to be stretching into more than just a period.
It’s nothing new really. All you ever hear when telling someone , at least somone who takes a moment to think about what’s being said, that you’re retired is that …oh, aren’t you bored…you have to do something!! Or die.
The song is about a singer…an early Bob Dylan type…not making any money – just going from coffee house to coffee house playing for tips. The singer is driving along a road that has a view to the sea…not important where really – but, the title of the song gives it away – it’s near Twin Rock Oregon…an interesting little place on the Coast pretty much due west of Portland. By the way – it’s a fascinating exercise to just ‘google maps’ a location when it takes your fancy…doing that in this case I learned that Washington and Oregon are divided largely by the Columbia river…being a mid-westerner and more a vagabond now than anything else – that tidbit was titillating for some reason…. – I’ve been keeping a list of places I want to visit and now that area is occupying a spot there.
Oh yes, — so, he pulls over to look at the sea round about sunset – yes, there are a couple of rocks that gave the area its name – they’re out there in the pacific…but, the song never mentions the rocks.. – there, a bum or vagabond… — knowing the difference is another thing I picked up from curiosity leading to a google search – anyway – the kind of guy one might call a hobo is hanging out there with a bottle of Mad Dog – watching the sun set… – the two get to talking and sharing the bottle…and the singer laments, sort of, that he doesn’t expect much in the way of economic benefit from his singing…and the wise ol man – who’s not really old…37 – sorta gets a whimsical look in his eyes – or so I imagine…and says the tagline of this post…
Man — it’s what it’s all about…the answer to my existential yearnings… — I just ain’t there yet.
Listen to it on you tube – like 25k others have — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iBEsXMkxcc
Lots of enjoyable live versions there too – peace. – Oh yeah – the song leads one to think the old man is a reincarnation, or perhaps actually is, Richard Brautigan – also a worthwhile Google if you don’t know him – and certain to be another inspiration – of some sort.
dipsnewlife 