Meyer & McGuire
Songwriter Notes
Song
of the Month #28 - “Simplify”
(Track #6 on The
Road Less Traveled CD)
Lyrics: If your web browser does not support
the Flash Player* included with the
Lyrics, or you are uncomfortable allowing/downloading the plug-in/add-on,
you can still listen to this song while you read. Just go to our Downloads
Page and click on the
link, “Buy The Road Less Traveled Songs
from Napster”. Then, click on "Simplify." You
can listen to it for free (not available outside the USA).
*Not being a
techie, I use the term “Flash Player” loosely.
Going
blind at the age of sixteen made me very aware of the limitations I was
destined to confront throughout the rest of my life. Contending with these restrictions has been
very difficult, and although my world is far less frustrating now, I still deal
with many annoying situations every day.
For me, as with most people who are forced into some kind of
confinement, the key to survival has been learning to adapt. I have done this by developing some basic
philosophies to help me cope with my struggles, and one of the key ideas I have
integrated into my life is to live as simply as possible. I came to this conclusion somewhat
intuitively, and my instincts were reinforced when I started reading the works
of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman.
The
transcendental writers, a term often used when referring to Emerson, Thoreau,
and Whitman, were not authors who weaved intricate plots into novels filled
with suspense. More accurately, they
were artists who embedded thoughtful philosophies into their poems and essays. Readers of their works tend to seek inspiration
and guidance from their writings rather than entertainment. I became one of their disciples during my
college years, and I have incorporated many of their ideas into my own personal
philosophy. Of their many beliefs,
realizing the importance of each individual, living in the present, simplifying
life, and acquiescing to whatever happens are the concepts that have been
assimilated into my soul. These notions
have greatly assisted me in adjusting to my limitations, and they continue to
do so every day.
In
addition to assisting me with my own personal struggles, the transcendental
writers helped me be a better teacher and musician. Their ideas inadvertently coaxed me into
seeking out the beauty and importance of each individual kid, kept me focused
better in the classroom, assisted me in creating fewer distractions to take me
away from teaching, and gave me the ability to bounce back whenever I
experienced rejection. Regarding my
music, I have always tried to reach each person in the audience, stay focused
on the music when I am performing, keep the ideas simple, and flow with the
defeats that are eminent in the world of music.
Well,
one day when I was on our front porch having one of my meditative sessions with
God, Henry, Ralph, Walt, and a few other gurus I rely on for guidance, my
thoughts returned to one of my favorite maxims of Thoreau’s, “Simplify,
simplify.” Most likely, my thoughts
focused on this saying because life was getting a little too complex for me,
and a reassertion of my focus on simplicity was necessary. Unexpectedly, in the midst of repeating
Thoreau’s adage to myself, the chorus of “Simplify” evolved. I loved it, and I kept repeating it over and over
again. Unfortunately, I had a great
chorus, but no verses to go with it.
Here is what happened.
One
of the most satisfying experiences for me as a teacher has been meeting up with
students who have found their niche after going through a great deal of
struggle. Usually, these students go
through a process of rejecting what others want them to do in order to discover
where they really want to be. For some,
they find their place by the end of high school, but for most, their role
usually does not emerge until several years later. Having watched many students face this scenario,
I composed a little fictitious story about an intelligent young woman who is
leading a very successful life. Despite
all her success, however, she is not happy, and she changes her life after
being haunted by the words of Henry David Thoreau.
“Simplify,”
pure Americana, is an exhilarating upbeat folk ballad. It reminds the listener to follow his or her
heart when looking for direction, and obviously, it suggests a great deal of
comfort and satisfaction will be gained by simplifying life. By the request of many, Siobhan and I
recorded this song without the help of any studio musicians. In addition to our basic sound of the guitar,
harmonica, vocals, and bass, I gave the recording some depth by dubbing in some
additional harmonies, an electric guitar, and blending harmonicas. Pay attention to Siobhan’s bass in this one,
especially during the instrumental break!
The main character goes through a major transformation, and Siobhan’s
bass playing accents the change beautifully.
Pop this one in your CD player when you are not satisfied with what you
are doing with your life. It will
encourage you to listen more closely to your heart for direction, and it will
definitely suggest living a simpler life is the way to go. Hope you have
time to check out the song! I
like it, and I hope you do, too!
I dedicated this song to all my
students who have chosen to follow their hearts. For a few, this was not a difficult thing to
do, but for most, the journey was a major struggle. Those who had to work hard to satisfy their
souls often had to resist pressure brought on by peers who encouraged them to
go down a contrary path, contend with an educational system that was not
compatible with their learning styles, and fight against opposing parental
expectations. When these difficult
battles were won, a comfortable and happy person emerged. I run into many of these satisfied people
around town, and I correspond with many of them who are spread around the
globe. As a teacher of English, I do not
know how much I contributed to their success, but I know I did my best to get
them to listen to their souls whenever they were looking for direction. For me, reading the perfect essay was nice,
but true satisfaction always came whenever I discovered one of my students had
found his or her niche.
This song was inspired by Henry
David Thoreau. I was introduced to Henry
back in high school, but I did not truly embrace him and his philosophies until
I got to college. In addition to helping
me cope with being visually impaired, he has played a major role in
contributing to my success as a teacher and musician. I still turn to him for guidance, and he
never seems to let me down. I am truly
grateful to him for inspiring this song, and I only hope one of his other
maxims stirs the writing of another one.
I love being able to keep his ideas alive! Thanks, Henry! I look forward to meeting up with you again
during one of my reflective thinking sessions on my front porch!
We recorded this song in 2008 at Rich Cooley Studios,
a little studio in Canandaigua, New York.
Rich Cooley Studios is owned and operated by Rich Cooley, an excellent
singer/songwriter, music teacher, and recording engineer. When you record with Rich, you can always
count on him for a relaxed recording session with a genuine and sincere effort
to produce the best recording possible.
I highly recommend Rich if you are interested in doing some recording on
a small scale level. Rich is most
comfortable when he is recording a solo artist or a duo. Check him out if this is what you need!
Well, there you have it. I’ll have another song of the month for you
next month. If you have any comments or
suggestions, please pass them on to me.
This is a work in progress, and I am always looking for new ways to
improve it.
(E-Mailed 7/18/09)
E-mail us at McRiley@Frontiernet.net