Would You Change?

Well, it happened again. Another day, another song to inspire me.

If you've been following along with my blogs lately, you'll know that for me, this summer has been filled with awesome music (concerts especially) that's elevated my heart; lifted my spirits; enlightened my attitude, and emboldened my thoughts. Don't know what it is about music these days, but now, more than ever, I seem to be finding more joy, meaning, and impactfulness than usual. I dig it. After all, music and life just go together - like warm cookies and cold milk.

That said, I was recently moved by the incredibly talented, joyously soulful, poignantly evocative, singularly unique, genuinely exceptional Tracy Chapman (that's her in the picture). Indeed, she's got a boatful of great music, and truth be told - her style goes better with adult libations (assuming you're of age). One of her all time best, most recognizable songs, Change, really got me thinking. And no, the wine had nothing to do with boosting my thoughts; it was the song, and more so, the words, that got me contemplative. Check them out yourself, and see what you think:

If you knew that you would die today
Saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that love can break your heart
When you're down so low that you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?

How bad, how good, does it need to get?
How many losses? how much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget,
Makes you change
Makes you change

If you knew that you would be alone
Knowing right, being wrong,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that you would find a truth
That would bring a pain that can't be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?

How bad, how good, does it need to get?
How many losses? how much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget,
Makes you change
Makes you change

Are you so up right
You can't be bent
If it comes to blows
Are you so sure you won't be crawling
If not for the good why why risk falling
Why risk falling?

If everything you think you know
Makes your life unbearable
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you'd broken every rule and vow
And hard times come to bring you down
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that you would die today,
If you saw the face of God and loved
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you saw the face of God and loved
If you saw the face of God and loved
Would you change?
Would you change?

Granted, lyrics alone, without their accompanying music, just aren't the same. It's like Donnie without Marie; Captain without Tenille; or, closer to my heart, and maturity, SpongeBob without Patrick (perish the thought!!!).

Regardless, the lyrics beg to ask: Given justifiable reasons/provocation/rationale for change - would you change? And presumably, for the better? After all, change for the sake of change for the mere sake of change (you get my drift), is not what it's about. Nope. Justifiable change for the sake of goodness, is what it's all about. And it's important to know the difference.

Good and Justifiable Change is Good.