So I've needed a lot of time away from Daily Kos of late because of, uhm, stuff. Not pleasant or fun stuff, but political and personal stuff, equally. No big - pretty common shit, I'm sure.
I think it's mucho helpful to take needed time to gain perspective on otherwise confusing, and infuriating, life crap. I s'pose that makes me a DFH but, ya know, like that's any surprise to you guys. :P
Heh.
Often, I find the exact heartsource I need by turning to music. I have a degree in it and, aside from writing my guts out on a dorky political blog sometimes, music is another place I go to work out my inner shit.
Today, it worked. I love it when that happens. Ann Wilson (she of Heart fame) once described this feeling as "hitting paydirt in my soul".
I can dig it.
Since about 4th grade, I'm been a Rush junkie. Seriously. When I was a kid, there was this neighbor boy who turned me onto them and, even though 2112 freaked me out, I kept occasionally listening and, in Rush, I discovered a stunning truth and a scary realism in music that had gone heretofore unnoticed by me.
We used to play Rush in my 'hood. For fun. It was pretty hilarious - I wonder if anyone has pictures? (Joan, Julie, Sue, Stacie, Missy, Brian: I'm looking at you!) Dan (the one who introduced me to the group) was always Geddy Lee, Mike was always Neil Peart, and I was always Alex Lifeson. Because, of course, Alex could also be a girl's name.
Ah, air guitar. Good times, good times.
I wasn't really a Moving Pictures person; I was more of a Permanent Waves person. Don't give me fake enigma: give me the real fuckin' deal.
And tonight, I'm intermittently singing and finding music for a new playlist (because that's how I roll), when I came across a fantastic tune called "New World Man". I hadn't heard this song since the 90s, when it was first released on the Signals album.
Well, Jesus H. Christ in a Boston subwoofer! It's Barack Obama in art form! Check it out! (I have no idea why the song is on there twice, but hell, at least I figured out how to put it on here. Thanks, SuperbowlXX!)
NEW WORLD MAN
by Rush
He's a rebel and a runner
He's a signal turning green
He's a restless young romantic
Wants to run the big machine
He's got a problem with his poisons
But you know he'll find a cure
He's cleaning up the systems
To keep his nature pure
Learning to match the beat of the Old World Man
Learning to catch the heat of the Third World Man
He's got to make his own mistakes
And learn to mend the mess he makes
He's old enough to know what's right
But young enough not to choose it
He's noble enough to win the world
But weak enough to lose it
He's a New World Man
He's a radio receiver
Tuned to factories and farms
He's a writer and arranger and a young boy bearing arms
He's got a problem with his power
With weapons on patrol
He's got to a walk a fine line
And keep his self-control
Trying to save the day for the Old World Man
Trying to pave the way for the Third World Man
He's not concerned with yesterday
He knows constant change is here today
He's old enough to know what's right
But weak enough not to choose it
He's wise enough to win the world
But fool enough to lose it
He's a New World Man
Learning to match the beat of the Old World Man
He's learning to catch the heat of the Third World Man
He's a New World Man
He's a New World Man
...
I KNOW!
This is the only thing I've found lately that lets me be mad at him even remotely less. And that's good, because the dude is far from perfect, but he's also not the devil.
Perspective is good. I likez it. I can haz more?