Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Lyrics Break Down: Smile - Eyedea & Abilities

Lyrics Break Down: Smile - Eyedea and Abilities

This weeks edition is one of my favorite songs from one of the greatest artists of all time, the late Eyedea.  Michael "Eyedea" Larsen passed away in his sleep on Oct 16, 2010 at the age of 28.  He was an all around amazing person and artist.  He made a name for himself  
first in the battle rap scene.  His free styles were amazing.  His was also an amazing writer.  His lyrics are creative, moving, and very inspirational.  His flow is unique and so well rounded.  He can flow as fast as anyone, and then slow it down just as well.  I am honored to have had the opportunity to see him live on three occasions, but very saddened that I will never have that pleasure again.  But we will always have his music. 

Smile is off of Eyedea and Abilities last album, By The Throat.  It is complex song that in the end has a very simple message. 

Smile - Eyedea & Abilities

A prince in practice moans for the attention that he wants
but most of this town won't even dignify his ignorance with a response
left to a crowded foster home by a 15 year old mom
never been held in any one's arms when you've never been moved its really hard to move on
A young saleswoman sets up shop when the sun sets
she'll make your wildest dreams come true at a price you wont forget
The sadly married set up alibis no harm no regret
hoping they meet an angel in bed that can wrestle the devil right out of their heads
This city runs fast, no one has time to sit with themselves, no time to look into our pain
or see the same despair in everyone else
its here, its there, its everywhere tears soak each card the dealers dealt
But time taught me how to see every second as heaven even though they're perfectly disguised as hell
And I refuse to let past bruises cover the light
it ain't all good, but its all good enough,
so I know I'm alright
agony is truth its our connection to the living I accept it as perfection and keep on existing in the now

I can only build if I tear the walls down
even if it breaks me I wont let it make me frown
I'm falling but no matter how hard I hit the ground
I'll still smile
I can only build if I tear the walls down
even if it breaks me I wont let it make me frown
I'm falling but no matter how hard I hit the ground
I'll still smile

...ear to ear as if that's all I'm here for
despite the wars founded by the rich, funded by the poor
kids barely 18 are dying so billionaires can make more
elsewhere hungry mothers watch their babies starve to death in a beat up shack on a dirt floor
The aged professor quotes "Freedom's without a path"
now he dresses like a widow and preaches "love is dead" in every class
But curiosity killed the cat and taught
the dog in him how to act
and it burned his bridge to Jill so he tries to drown the guilt with a bottle of Jack
Self proclaimed rebels say "We must oppose the system!"
"You gotta take a stand!" "If your not against them your with them!"
signs read "Support the troops bring em' home!" "No more innocent victims!"
but when a homeless veteran asks for spare change your to busy protesting to even listen
And I'm no different I live in conflict and contradiction but it can be so beautiful
when I don't reject what lies within
It's beautiful the way agony connects us to the living
I think of the world when I hurt, and keep on existing in the now

I can only build if I tear the walls down
even if it breaks me I wont let it make me frown
I'm falling but no matter how hard I hit the ground
I'll still smile
I can only build if I tear the walls down
even if it breaks me I wont let it make me frown
I'm falling but no matter how hard I hit the ground
I'll still smile.






Smile, to me, is a very inspirational, uplifting song. To find the happiness that is within the song, you first have to travel through a tragic path that is all around us in life.  In the first verse Eyedea briefly touches several different scenarios that are common in this world we live in today.  Women giving birth at a young age is a common occurrence, and in some cases it turns out rough.  I've had a few friends that have been brought up in foster homes and know it can be very heart breaking and traumatizing.  When you are shipped from house to house, it is hard to feel wanted.  You are constantly being moved from one family to another, when all you really want to is a family to call your own.  We haveall seen or been in a relationship that is going no where.  Unhappy, but afraid to leave and be alone.  All these are the hardships that we face in everyday life.  You have to see the brighter side in everything if you're going to survive.  "It ain't all good, but its all good enough,
so I know I'm alright."
Ain't that the truth.  Not everything is all good, but not everything is all bad either.  You have to find what's good in your life and build off of that. 

Verse two continues with more hardships this world brings us.  We are currently in several wars that effects all of us.  We all know someone who has given years of military duty or even their life and for what? Freedom? Money? I know it has brought a lot of pain and agony to many.  I'm against the wars and violence and wish we could bring them all home too.  We do turn our heads to problems that lie right here within our own country.  Everyday I see homeless people, some of them veterans.  Do I give them money? No.  Unfortunately I'm doing my job and kick them out of my work, just following orders.   "And I'm no different I live in conflict and contradiction."  Again, the truth.  "I think of the world when I hurt, and keep on existing in the now."  That's all we can do is make the best of everyday, and never forget to smile. 

No matter how hard life gets, you have to still smile.  That is the underlining message that makes this song so amazing.  Even at your lowest, you have to be strong and fight through it, starting with a smile. 

Thanks again to those of you who support me and what I'm trying to do.  It means a lot to me that this gets read, even if it's only by a few.  Tune in next week, same time same place, and don't forget to smile... ear to ear as if it's all you're here for!