Image by Getty Images via DaylifeJoanna Young at Confident Writing has been exploring the topic of purposeful questions this month. Her discussion includes a group project asking for examples of questions in poems that have had a powerful impact on us.
I’m not much of a poetry buff, but music and rock lyrics … . In 1975 Pink Floyd released a groundbreaking, haunting, record album (a big black round thing) called Wish You Were Here. Its title cut kicks off with a series of penetrating questions that have stuck in my head for 33 years, and counting.
Do these magnificent questions speak to you, too? How do you respond to them?
So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
(Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here)
For me these questions raise all sorts of issues about careers, authenticity, being true to yourself, the consequences of being taken in by charlatans or lulled to sleep by creature comforts. It’s easy to lose our way. We may lose our way willingly, unwillingly, or unknowingly, and sometimes it is hard to tell the difference.
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Sidebar for Writers …
Check out Joanna Young and Emma Bird’s Writer’s Workshop coming up this October in … Sardinia!
Thanks for sharing this Brad. The search for our path is a recurring theme in many poems and songs, and I guess many powerful questions resonate when they remind us of that quest. The search for truth, authenticity, the right path.
Joanna
Hi Brad,
I like “cold comfort for change” – another expression comes to my mind: life is too short for benchwarming. In my everyday life I see many people being afraid of changes and prefering the good old comfortable ways of living. And sometimes / often I find myself behaving the same way…
One of my favorite Pink Floyd tunes, and one in which I share the interest with you. These are questions that do resonate within and encourage a person to take a look around to see where they are at.
While I’ve always enjoyed the song – the melody & lyrics that is, it’s the words that have begun to rise to the surface for me. It’s that way with many songs I’ve listened to for decades now. All of a sudden, I’m hearing them differently, and I’m getting a different type of enjoyment form them.
Thanks for the moment to think more about this one Brad, have a great day!
Rick
Joanna, Looking forward to your summary report. Should be very instructive.
Ulla, Change is difficult, no doubt about it. Benchwarming is a great description of the downside of standing pat.
Rick, I know what you mean about hearing songs differently. Our stage in life and mood can alter the meaning of words, don’t you think?
Just happened to come across your “Do You Wish You Were Here?” post from almost a year ago, containing the lyrics to a favorite Pink Floyd tune. Certainly powerful and thought-provoking. One of my favorites is Don Henley in both the area of social commentary – “Get Over It” – and personal relationships. Re the latter, Henley’s “Heart of the Matter” lyrics –
I got the call today, I didnt wanna hear
But I knew that it would come
An old, true friend of ours was talkin on the phone
She said youd found someone
And I thought of all the bad luck,
And the struggles we went through
And how I lost me and you lost you
What are these voices outside loves open door
Make us throw off our contentment
And beg for something more?
Im learning to live without you now
But I miss you sometimes
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew, Im learning again
Ive been tryin to get down
To the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think its about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you dont love me anymore
These times are so uncertain
Theres a yearning undefined
And people filled with rage
We all need a little tenderness
How can love survive in such a graceless age?
The trust and self-assurance that lead to happiness
Theyre the very things – we kill I guess
Pride and competition
Cannot fill these empty arms
And the work I put between us
You know it doesnt keep me warm
Im learning to live without you now
…
I’ve never been in a relationship along the lines touched on in this song – thank goodness – but know that many people do go through similar experiences to what Henley so effectively writes and sings about. Strong stuff.