A Mix of Variety

1. Drones

I picked Rise Against’s “Drones” because it particularly connected to the topics brought up in Ishmael. The following lyrics illustrate this:

“The drones all slave away
They’re working overtime
They serve a faceless queen
They never question why
Disciples of a god
(I won’t come back!)
That neither lives nor breathes
(I won’t come back!)
But we have bills to pay,
Yeah we have mouths to feed!
(I won’t come back!)
I won’t change back!”

I truly believe that this connects to Mother Culture and the lifestyles of Takers/Leaver that Ishmael so often mentions. In today’s world, as the title of the song suggests we are “drones”- we work so that we don’t starve. “They” is everyone in modern day society. The “faceless queen” the song refers to is Mother Culture. She tells us that if somebody is starving, send them food, yet this only makes the problem worse because they reproduce and need even more food in the future. How do we grow more food? We destroy forests and make room for agriculture. Thus, we are destroying the world in which we live in and all of nature for the simple reason of having more people on Earth, for the simple reason of keeping anyone from suffering, for the simple reason of choosing the “easier” path. However, we just go along with Mother Culture blindly because it’s all we know. We don’t question why things are the way they are, extending back to the basis of our culture and the way it works. “I won’t change back” means returning to the simple lives, that of the Leavers. Why won’t we go back? ...Because Mother Culture prevents us. In the end, if things continue as they are and our technology can’t save us, then everyone will suffer.

In addition the lyrics, the instrumental piece of the song is intense. Just as Ishmael tells us that humans have boarded a flying contraption that isn’t actually in flight, but in free fall that is rapidly crashing into the ground; the rhythm of the song blends with this. The intense from the hard beating of the drums, from the fortissimo chords of the guitar and the fast tempo illustrate our crashing into the ground.

2. The Beauty of Gray

I chose Live’s “The Beauty of Gray” because of its connection to the concept of “Race as an Illusion.” The following lyrics exemplify this:

“The perception that divides you from him
Is a lie
For some reason you never asked why
This is not a black and white world
You can't afford to believe in your side”

These lyrics emphasize that ideas are not as concrete as they seem to be. This idea of false perception appeared when discussing race as an illusion. Race is not biology, but something we ascribe to biology. We go through this world apart, distancing ourselves from each other, and putting up barriers for “protection.” We claim things to be black and white, good and evil, light and dark, when in reality it is all shades of grey. Social institutions “make race” by disproportionately directing resources, wealth, and wealth to white people, and directing violence, inferiority, and negativity to black people. The media forms a clear division between races; however it’s simply not like that. There are differences among people of the same region genetically, and similarities between distant races genetically. However, our emphasis on appearance blinds us from recognizing this. As the song says, “you can’t afford to believe in y our side”, our ideas have consequences. We have to recognize the “swirling of colors” to understand the beauty of the world. If not, we miss out on what the world has to offer to us, our thinking becomes narrow, and our mentality becomes imprisoned.

I can also connect this to the Global Citzenship Project. The goal of helping others for the benefit isn’t a goal separated by culture or by country. We are all on this one world together and for us to carry on we must assist each other. There is no use for divisions; that is the beauty of our world. It is a mix of all races, and we have an obligation to help as many as we can.

Along with the lyrics, the song has a lot of blending. In the beginning, the instruments were separated but as the song continued the instruments began to blend more and more. This suggests that different ideas our swirling and maybe we can break the illusion.

3. The Pyramid Song

I picked Radiohead’s “The Pyramid Song” because it related magnificently well with the book Siddhartha. The following lines show this:

“I jumped in the river and what did I see?
Black-eyed angels swam with me
A moon full of stars and astral cards
All the figures I used to see
All my lovers were there with me
All my past and futures
And we all went to heaven in a little row boat
There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt”

The lyrics reflect to us about life in totality. Just as the river in Siddhartha represented life, so does the river in this piece of poetry. When you jumped in the river, you were born once again. Siddhartha found spiritual enlightenment in the river and his soul was renewed and reborn again. The “black-eyed angels” represent demons or our hardships in life. We know life is full of that. Similarly, Buddhism teaches that the path to enlightenment is through suffering. When the song refers to “lovers” and then in the next line talks about the “past and future”, it is strengthening the idea that the river contains the past, present, and future. Siddhartha looks into the river and sees the reflection of his father, his son eventually arrives at the river, and he himself finds union with it. Finally, the song mentions reaching heaven in a little row boat. Siddhartha had the ferryman to transport him from the ordinary world to enlightenment. In the same way, we will travel on a boat to reach our heavens.

In combination with the lyrics, the other artistic touches support the idea of the river representing life. The slow tempo and the delicate movement of the song faintly remind us of the flowing of a river and its calmness. The unique background songs occurring at various parts of the song illustrate the many sounds a river has. The chords that alternate from high to low notes represent the ups and downs that we have in life.

4. This Is Our Town

I chose We the Kings’ “This is Our Town” because of its connection to Thornton Wilder’s playwright Our Town. The following examples show this:

“This is our town
This is who we're meant to be
This is our town
Where our roots have grown so deep
This is our town
This is where we're meant to be
This is our town
We'll keep coming back because...”

Other than the obvious title and references to “our town”, this song in a deeper way relates to Wilder’s play. We The Kings wrote this song in dedication to their hometown of Bradenton, Florida. It talks about the place where they grew up, the people that can never be replaced, and the memories that can never be forgotten. The safety of their town is something they can always return to. Similarly, Our Town also focuses on one single town called Grover’s Corners, yet we know that is not all that it is to be. Both Bradenton and Grover’s Corners represent our own hometowns. Both works of art allow the audience to form a personal connection to the descriptions laid out. When the song mentions “where our roots have grown so deep” this emphasizes the idea of repetition found in Our Town- the same daily events occurring because that’s the way it has always been. Furthermore, the song goes on and says “we’ll keep coming back because...” illustrates that there is no valid reason to leave our town. The people of Grover’s Corners rarely left their precious town, and if they did, they would eventually return to it sometime in their lives.

5. You Give Me Something

I used James Morrison’s “You Give Me Something” because it addresses some of the same ideas brought up in Life of Pi, Romeo and Juliet, and The Epic of Gilgamesh. This excerpt from the lyrics illustrates this:

“You want to stay with me in the morning
You only hold me when I sleep
I was meant to tread the water
Now I've gotten in too deep
For every piece of me that wants you
Another piece backs away

'Cause you give me something
That makes me scared, alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
'Cause someday I might know my heart”

The lyrics tell a story of uncertainty and how it develops that is present both in the relationship between Pi and Richard Parker and between Romeo and Juliet. The first stanza is talking about initial uncertainty. This was felt by Pi from the very first glimpse of Richard Parker. He was intimidated. As his relationship with the tiger developed, he became even more uncertain because of the fear that held him back. Likewise, this is how Romeo and Juliet’s relationship began at the party. The new and powerful feeling of love brought doubt with it. When Juliet says, “O gentle Romeo, / If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully” (Act 2, Sc. 2, 98-99), she’s saying that she doesn’t want to get into a strong relationship unless she knows Romeo truly loves her back. This is exemplifying the uncertainty in true love. Then, the second goes on to explain how uncertainty is overcome. Pi eventually overcomes his fear of Richard Parker and learns to love him. We, as the audience, know that Pi probably would not have survived if it was not for Richard Parker. In this way, Richard Parker “gave him something” that allowed him to live-the courage, determination, and faith to continue on. In the same way, Romeo and Juliet were afraid in their relationship. The hardships they had to face- their warring families, friends, and Romeo’s banishment injected fear into their love. However, their love for each other provided the will to overcome these struggles and eventually die for each other.

In another aspect, this song is also talking about the idea of love as a powerful force if you interpret “something” as love. “ ‘Cause you give me something that makes me scared, alright” meaning that I have never felt this way before. This new feeling causes change. Enkidu changes from a wild man into a noble one because of Gilgamesh, and their friendship similarly transforms Gilgamesh from a tyrant to a hero. Thus, this idea strengthens the theme of companionship.

Finally, the melody of the song helps listeners picture various themes in their minds. The soft melody and delicate voice symbolize the beginning of a relationship. Throughout the song is a steady drum beat, which symbolizes us being able to stick through the relationship and it remaining constant. Then, towards the end of the song, it picks up with more jubilant and free instrumental sounds. This shows our overcoming of our uncertainty and finding what we’ve been looking for.

6. I Will Follow You Into the Dark

I picked Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” because it paints a beautiful picture of the feelings present in Romeo and Juliet. The following lyrics show this:

“Love of mine some day you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark

No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark”

These lyrics illustrate the passion and sacrifice that come with true love. When the song says “No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white, just our hands clasped so tight, waiting for the hint of a spark”, it means that when true lovers die they won’t see death; they will just have each other and their memories. The part with “hands clasped so tight” so faintly reminds us of the scene at the party -“For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, / And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss” (Act 1, Sc. 5, 110-11). In both works of art, love is symbolized through the joining of hands where the union of two becomes one. Death will come to everyone; it came to Romeo and Juliet far too soon. When Juliet appeared dead, Romeo had no choice but to follow suit in order to preserve their love. Likewise, Juliet does the same for Romeo when he dies. Thus, they both entered into the “dark” to be with their one and only love. Death does not mean a thing to them and it holds no barrier; all that truly mattered was being with each other.

In addition to the lyrics, the meaningful sounds created come out at you straight into your soul. The soft strumming of the guitar and the voice filled with longing force you to nod your head with you eyes closed. It almost forces you to cry. The simple melody represents the simple entering into death in the name of love.

7. Any Other World

This is the song I chose to reflect my personal journey through this year’s freshman Academy English. This year has been full of struggles, in more ways than one. I first came into the year new to high school, new to Academy, and new to the type of thinking we did in Academy English. I was overwhelmed. At first, I didn’t think I truly belonged to Academy. I was struggling, I was stressed, and I didn’t know how I was going to continue. However, as the year went on, I began to think that maybe I was fit for this, particularly because of Academy English. This English class has been unique from any previous one I have ever had. The rich discussions that we’ve had, the fiery debates that were conducted, and the self-learning that took place is something that changed me during the year. I learned to almost “free” myself of the negative type of thinking that was floating in my mind. I’ve tried to become more positive in the outlook that I have on things.

“ ‘Cause it's all in the hands of a bitter, bitter man
Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in
Take a bow, play the part of a lonely lonely heart
Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in
To the world you thought you lived in

I tried to live alone
But lonely is lonely, alone
So human as I am
I had to give up my defenses

So I smiled and tried to mean it
To let myself let go”

Personally, I picture the” bitter man” as a symbol for my personal hardships that have surrounded me the entire year and throughout life. In the beginning of the year, I was so isolated in a sense and I was afraid to open myself up. Now I have begun to change and saying goodbye to my past ways. This old world is also my old way of thinking. Academy English has taught me to get away from thinking that is so narrow and unconnected. I used to think ideas or objects only had a single purpose. This year has showed me that ideas open up a whole new world- a world of connections, consequences, and journeys. I realized I could no longer live the way that I had before, and I had to succumb to change. I have finally begun to let myself go.