JOHNNY COME LATELY

The openings stanzas state what I don't want to be: another angry voice, a finger pointer, an empty suit full of rhetoric, a has-been who never really got in the game but thinks their opinion is equally valid, someone who lends voice to a cause but nothing more, someone who is simply waiting on the world to change in order to benefit from it.

I won't list how I have contributed to the benefit of others other than to say that as a percentage of income I give away more than the celebrities you hear about giving a million dollars to some cause or another. Don't get me wrong, it's great that they give. But when comparing apples to apples from percentage of income that million dollars isn't much. From the best I can tell I am topping Taylor Swift's giving (in percentage of income) somewhere between 6 and 10%. This song's namesake tour took in over $65 million in 2019, the same year he "used $3,000,000 of his own money to launch his non-profit foundation." It's not clear how much of the $65 million went to the artist personally but it's probably safe to say that he won't miss the three million. But... Cars. Guitars. Homes. Rolex watches. Women. The 'self' is king!

The point is I'm not waiting on the world to change, I'm doing what I can with what I have.

I often wonder if the efforts of some is not just another way to garner attention. I'll leave it at that. The lyrics (full of double meanings and "easter eggs") demonstrate the point I'm trying to make:

(Background vocals are in parentheses, italics are notes)

"While you're waiting, anticipating

(While you are waiting) - Why are you waiting?

Other people are participating

(Step up)

You coward/cower in your castles with your walls and your gates

(Words are thin veneer)

Let me see you step up and pull some real weight

Stop waiting

(Johnny come lately)

Hoping that the world will change

(Hoping that the world will change)

Don't it seem strange that you sing a different song

(May or may not)

When you're the one getting paid"

So what do I want? I state it in the bridge:

"I want to live a life that makes a difference

That leaves a legacy of significance

Don't give me the beat if it takes my soul

Don't want to get lost in the rock and roll

There's only so much life between death and birth

What we do with our time is what gives it its worth"

I want to do more.