Man In Black

It’s safe to say I have an odd music collection. Many of us do. Mine’s pretty random. It’s ranges from hip-hop to ska, alternative to acoustic, but it’s all stuff I still listen to. 

              Side note: Have you noticed people tend to dress in the style of the music they like? You see a kid in baggy jeans, most likely he likes rap. Same with the dude in the cowboy hat, he likes rap too. Haha, just kidding, but you never know.  

As my mood changes through life events and evolving seasons, so does the music bumpin’ out of my macbook. I really started getting back into Johnny Cash today. AKA- The first real man to go Goth. Nobody’s music is like that man’s. He sounds like my grandpa, 75% of his songs all have the same beat, and today he’s still one of the best. How does THAT make sense? I thought about it for a second and realized this guy put his heart into every one of his songs. He was genuine and original.

              I felt his pain in Hurt, which I recommend. I would quote the whole thing if I thought you’d read it-

“I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel. I focus on the pain, the only thing that’s real.”

I felt him find himself in God’s Gonna Cut You Down-

“Well, you may throw a rock and hide your hand, working in the dark against your fellow man. But as sure as God made black and white, what’s done in the dark will be brought to the light.”

And everyone knows Walk the Line-

“I find it very, very easy to be true. I find myself alone when each day’s through.”

            I hope I’m not the only one who sees the humor in that quote. Man, although honesty is the best policy, it certainly doesn’t help you make quick friends.

           Even though Johnny couldn’t sing well, he was still a success because he loved what he did and gave it his best. People relate to someone who is so true in their art as well. I always divide the people who really love what they do and want to do their best, from the people who just go through the motions. I don’t think he cared about fame, he just had to get his feelings out and performing was a healer for him. Through this, he was able to help others. It’s been a while since I’ve seen his movie, but that’s the vibe I get from his tunes. 
           I’ve been writing a lot of songs recently for that same reason, to deal with how I feel. I know I’m not a great musician, but that’s not going to stop me. I have thoughts to share if people are willing to listen. If not, at least I helped to make sense of myself and of the world I live in.
           The lesson I learned from Mr. Ca$h and the reason I’m writing is that you don’t have to be the greatest musician, doctor, brother, cousin, teacher, athlete, whatever it is you are, to make a difference. If you have a passion for it, be it a thing or a person, if your heart’s in it, you will make a difference in someone’s life and/or in your own. Don’t aim to be the best, aim to be your best.