“The World” is a song that was inspired by a trip that my wife and I took to a First Nation community in a remote area of Canada. First Nations are the various Aboriginal peoples in Canada and are some of the indigenous groups that first settled the country long before the Europeans arrived. To compare, in the United States the Native Americans were the first settlers of this land and similarly the groups and tribes of the various First Nations in Canada were the first settlers of their country.
Back in 2010 I got an email from a community organizer in St. Theresa Point, Manitoba, Canada. The email was asking if I would like to perform at their annual festival that they have in town and some of the details surrounding it, etc. Not knowing anything about the festival or the area, I started to do some research. After looking at the map and finding out that this area was only accessible by plane, I knew that if I was going to make this trip, it would definitely be an eye opening experience and one that I would never forget.
To make a very long story short (and I really need to write another blog documenting the whole experience) my wife and I had a wonderful time in this remote region and were able to experience a different culture and way of life. The people of this small town were some of the friendliest we had ever met in our lives, yet they lived with much less than what we are used to here in the United States. Despite having to live with very little, they seemed to be even more grateful for the things they did have and for their families and community.
After we got back from this trip I knew at some point I would write a song about the experience. One day I was thinking a lot about the way we live in the US and how many times we make our small problems seem like they are the “end of the world.” The cliche stuck in my mind and is the basis of this song. It’s a song about my reflection of our American culture and how it could definitely stand to change its ways when it comes to the obsession of material things and money in this country.
My experience on this trip was something that I will never forget. It’s a trip that I think would do every American some good in terms of putting things back into perspective. My hope for the song is that it can maybe make the listener stop and think about what is really important and to try to keep these things in perspective, even as “the world” seems to forget on a daily basis.
lyrics
Son it’s not the end of the world
It keeps on speeding up and we just spin around the curves
Son it’s not the end of the world
You told me once before but you know I just never learn
How are you gonna see?
Cause it took just one day and I said
The world could stand to change its ways
How are you gonna see?
Cause we’ve been led astray and I said
The world could stand to change its ways
Son there’s more to life than this
We all inhabit this same place yet we take and rarely give
Son there’s more to life than this
You told me this before but please just tell me once again
How are you gonna see?
Cause it took just one day and I said
The world could stand to change its ways
How are you gonna see?
Cause we’ve been led astray and I said
The world could stand to change its ways
A far off land that’s out of sight
But it’s no movie it’s their life
Son it’s not the end of the world
Son there’s more to life than this
Son it’s not the end of the world
You told me once before but please just tell me once again
How are you gonna see?
Cause it took just one day and I said
The world could stand to change its ways
How are you gonna see?
Cause we’ve been led astray and I said
The world could stand to change its ways
The world could stand to change its ways
The world could stand to change its ways
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