I’ve blogged about this song before, but just found the best live version of it (granted the video/audio quality aren’t the greatest. sorry). This song is powerful in that it best describes our society - as a whole - and the collective frame of mind when it comes to the plights of others - both home and abroad. Out of sight - out of mind as it were. I’m not gonna lie - I’m guilty of it, and peg myself in that category, too.

Here’s the video - amazing performance.  The song is Seek Up.  The band is Dave Matthews Band. The date - July, 2001 @ Saratoga Springs.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=ekJO0honXs0[/youtube]


Watch and listen, and share your thoughts.

My buzzword for today was “optimistic.”

Determined to put the past few stress-filled days behind me, I started my morning optimistic that the day would progress uneventfully. That was at 8:15am. By 9:00am - although determined to maintain a degree of optimism - things were already starting to go awry. Just little things. And then more little things.

By noon, I was in need of a liquid lunch. Especially with mental images of a Joelle perfect martini wetting my thirst.

“Bartender please - fill my glass for me.”

Since I’m nowhere close to Southern Cal (and highly doubtful Joelle would be up for a stranger popping into her home asking for her special martini), I had to settle for a non-mentionable local restaurant chain and their less than stellar offering. I think they fired their bartenders, ’cause the drinks just aren’t as good as they used to be. Nevertheless, after having too easily polished off one cocktail, I would’ve had a second - but figured it wouldn’t be a good idea. Especially in light of the soured optimism from the morning.

My thought as I was driving back to the office - too bad it wasn’t an extended lunch. One that extended through the remainder of the afternoon.

I was listening to some Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds again tonight - Seek Up to be specific. The lyrics ring of the irony society has in material wealth, selfishness, and complacency in general. We recognize the plights of others, and realize it takes action to result in action. Yet, for the most part, we do nothing. Truly, we do nothing. Where’s our moral conscience?

Talk is cheap, and good intentions are meaningless. It’s time to step up, and pay it forward. Make a difference. For as it’s said below, when we’re gone, we’re all swept away. Find a worthwhile cause, and follow through - you can make a difference. For me, it’s St. Jude’s. What will it be for you?

Seek Up (Dave Matthews Band, performed by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds 3-20-03, Univ. of Rhode Island)

Sometimes I feel like I’m falling –
Fall back again. fall back again.
Fall back again. fall back again.

[audio:seekup-pt1.mp3]

Life it seems - the struggle between what we see and what we do
Well I’m not going to change my ways just to please you or appease you
Look at this crowd - six billion proud willing to punch it out
Right, wrong, weak, strong — ashes to ashes, all fall down.
Look around about this round about this merry-go-round and around
Well If at all God’s gaze upon us falls –
It’s with a mischievous grin, look at him.

Forget about the reasons and the treasons we are seeking;
Forget about the notion that our emotions can be kept at bay;
Forget about being guilty, we are innocent instead –
For soon we will all find our lives swept away.

Look at me in my fancy car and my bank account –
How I wish I could take it all down into my grave,
God knows I’d save and save.
Man, take a look again, take a look again,
All the things I have collected –
Well in the end it all will pile up so tall to one big nothing - only nothing at all.

Forget about the reasons and the treasons we are seeking;
Forget about the notion that our emotions can be kept at bay;
Forget about being guilty, we are innocent instead –
Soon we will all find our lives swept away.

You seek up an emotion and your cup is overflowing.
You seek up an emotion, sometimes your well is dry.
You seek up a big monster for him to fight your wars for you.
But when he finds his way to you,
the devil’s not going–ha ha, ha ha.

Where’s the blasted boot to kick myself in the arse for not going to Warren’s Christmas Jam! I had an invite (and backstage access), and turned it down, seeing that I would be at Warren’s NYE Bash at the Beacon in a couple of weeks. All my favorite men were there, too - Warren, Dave, and Taylor.

Here’s a clip of Warren and Dave - Cortez the Killer.

[Edit: link removed]

Well, to all those who were there - hope you had a great time! I am immensely envious!