02 May 2006

I am a man, dammit.

I like boobies and I like vodka.

I swear and I like to shoot guns.

I leave the toilet seat up.

I never fold my gym clothes.

That doesn't mean I don't have a sensitive side.

Take the lyrics of Don't Stop Believing by super group Journey. What does it mean?

At first we are introduced to the seemingly mundane life of a small town girl - she's livin' in a lonely world.

What does this mean to us. Steve Perry (P.B.U.H.) lays it out for us, not with words but with rock! She's taking a midnight train - and baby, it's goin' anywhere. This is where we are introduced to the genius of Journey. You see, he's a city boy but Journey sets us right with the knowledge that his life...its just as bad. He's taking that train too.

Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere

This next verse is a personal favorite because we see how the cynical realities of the world they inhabit struggle to destroy the souls of the youth that exist within. The smokey room is merely a metaphor for the coquettish arrogance of youth and Journey is trying to tell us that like Romeo and Juliet these kids, with their youth and their spirit - they can beat it. They're not jaded by the cruel hypocrisies and banalities of this travesty called life. No - they believe in love, they want to give it a shot and for a smile they can share the night. This verse ends with hope - it gives a message of faith and ultimately...redemption. Only if it would go on and on and on and on...

A singer in a smokey room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on

The following part of the song is indicative to the story of Job. What the people lament is what makes the people who they are. Journey is telling you to take your star bucks liberalism and your harry potter ideals of justice and shove them far up your ass. These strangers that they speak of, these shadows searching in the night, well they are just as real as you and me. Its like Journey challenged us to look deep in to the abyss of our souls, to try and shine a spotlight into the truth of what makes us who we are - and then played four minutes and nine seconds of rock over the muffled cries of our inner child. Fuck Yeah!

Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people, living just to find emotion
Hiding, somewhere in the night

This last part of the song I usually skip because I'm still too busy rocking to the first parts. For the sake of argument - I will say that its really a reflection of who we are as a people and the merits of the choices that we make. I feel that Steve Perry (P.B.U.H.) really lays out our options and tells us that the choices we have to make aren't always the choicest of choices. What Journey means by this is that sometimes, our options are always the best option to option. We're all payin anything to roll the dice, just one more time. Sing that without crying.

I dare you.

Working hard to get my fill,
everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice,
just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

Of course the chorus is a mere repetition of the basic themes of the song - one of youth and young manhood. One of beauty and loss, of the duality of man. Of the burdens of duty and desire. This is the music that the heart beats to, it what gets you up in the morning and puts a smile on your face when you sleep. This is the stuff that makes you straighten your posture and become a better man. It's like Chuck Norris sang falsetto then learned how to play a synthesizer and formed a super group with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mr. T.

It is a homage to all things awesome and a sacrificial offering to Elvis at the temple of Rock!

(chorus)

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to the feelin'
Streetlight people