Label Me This, Label Me That (words for thought)

Greetings. 

I entitled today’s article label this, label that because I have noticed, especially recently, just how often we (yes me too) give everything and everyone a title of some sort. Not “always” one negative in nature, but we need everything neatly organized in categories with applicable titles.

I (and you?) have been called many things in my life. My newly formed Christian life style, does not allow me to repeat many if not most of those things, but below is a sampling.

Once upon a time, I was called a hippie, a left-winger and a radical.

Now I was never radical but I did have long hair (over my shoulders at one point), wore things like “monster bells” and tie died tank tops, believed in free love (and speech) and smoked weed a few times. I guess that was enough in many if not most quarters to label me a hippie.

In the era after the long hair and all, I found myself being called a cowboy (I liked that), a right-winger, and a fascist. As to that last label, given to me in the early 1990s I think because I voted for Republican or some such thing, I explained that the only time in my life when I even came close to being a fascist was when I was a left-wing hippie. Maybe when I voted for George McGovern?

At times in the 1980s, I did wear things like cowboy hats and boots, ride horses and smoke a lot of cigarettes and drink way more beer than I ever smoked weed.  Maybe in some minds, only right-wing crazies do that.
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Words Mean Things

Labels can paint pictures and those pictures begin with words. I love words, especially when they describe esoteric things like thoughts, moods, euphoria, love, hate, fears and apprehensions.

All of us at times, ignore words that appear frivolous and trite. Words that are simply used in structural sense, or a rhythmic sense. In other words to finish a sentence or paragraph, or to rhyme with another. We gloss right over them, when they may wrap up the whole meaning of a sentence.

I do love words, although I confess, they can be cheap or can be used simply because they sound good.

Two words I love, are evolution and devolution. Not the microbes growing legs a brain, and reciting Shakespeare sort of evolution, but when we self-educate (there are few true educators today), and apply common sense and some wisdom to what we have learned, and grow proportionally. That evolution is a beautiful thing.

Devolution is on the rise, as many humans choose to forget what they have learned, and become the political property of the puppets of anarchy, rather than keep in practice the  knowledge and wisdom of their lifetimes.  Very sad to see.

So if I like words, and labels are made up of words, it must follow that I like labels. Yes, and no.

Labels are often used to give “false credence” to those we like, and to hurt those we don’t.

So many things I could have done, but labels got in the way.

Songs that are sung, are made up of words. They have titles which act like labels.

Below are two lyrically powerful songs.  All lyrically powerful songs should be heard accompanied by the song’s music, but alas, here we will have to settle for the words. If you know the musical sound as I do, play it in your head while you sing the lyrics to yourself. We can all sound great inside of our own heads.

While The Sound of Silence is my favorite set of lyrics from the genius of Paul Simon, Homeward Bound and about ten more are worthy of note.

“Homeward Bound”
By Paul Simon

I’m sittin’ in the railway station, got a ticket for my destination
On a tour of one-night-stands, my suitcase and guitar at hand
And every stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band

[Chorus:]
Homeward bound, I wish I was homeward bound
Home, where my thoughts escape, at home, where my music’s playin’
Home, where my love lies waitin’ silently for me

Every day’s an endless dream of cigarettes and magazines
And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories
And every stranger’s face I see reminds me that I long to be

[Chorus]

Tonight I’ll sing my songs again, I’ll play the game and pretend
But all my words come back to me, in shades of mediocrity
Like emptiness and harmony, I need someone to comfort me

[Chorus repeats 2x]

Silently for me

Bridge Over Troubled Waters was co-wrote by Simon and Partner Art Garfunkel. The song was sung solo by Garfunkel  who had the voice, while Simon usually had the creative talent. However, they harmonized beautifuly when they co-sang, which they usually did.

“Bridge Over Troubled Water”

When you’re weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I’m on your side
Oh when times get rough
And friends just can’t be found

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I’ll take your part
Oh when darkness comes
And pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on, silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh if you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

May God Bless, and let us craft our words to produce labels that are not frivolous but deserved, be they good or bad.
Wayne