Original Song: This Is Living

Month 94 of original song-a-month project. The lyrics for this one came together while walking the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail, a 5-day hiking/camping trek. There’s something about being out in the wilds that does make you think a bit more, and while weight was a premium, I did make sure to take a notebook to jot down some ideas. The string section idea was also a new one for me, but I think it works okay. As usual I listen to it now and realise how much more I could do to create a bit of dark and light in it, but I guess I’ll leave that for a band to interpret at some point in the future!

THIS IS LIVING
©2019 Chuck Smeeton

The solitude of the trail
Taking in all the detail
There’s nothing here where you can fail
There is no goal, no holy grail
Time becomes an abstract
Carry all that you have packed
There is no plan, there’s just react
Simplified for full impact

(Chorus)
Don’t think about the future, don’t think about the past
Don’t think about tomorrow, cos time just goes too fast
This is living
This is living
This is living
This is living

Observation of location
No temptation just sensation
Adaptation, application
Lost in silent conversation
The purity of solitude
Of every scene that you have viewed
It’s all about the attitude
That crashing wave of gratitude

(Chorus)
Don’t think about the future, don’t think about the past
Don’t think about tomorrow, cos time just goes too fast
This is living
This is living
This is living
This is living

Appreciation, celebration
Conservation, exploration
Information, inspiration
Jubilation, liberation
These are the things I take with me
These are the prizes that I see
This is the guarantee
And all of it is free

(Chorus)
Don’t think about the future, don’t think about the past
Don’t think about tomorrow, cos time just goes too fast
This is living
This is living
This is living
This is living

About the original songs
In January 2012 I commenced a goal of trying to write and record at least one song from scratch each month – sometimes it comes easily, sometimes it’s a real challenge, but I love the discipline it creates. I managed to complete the year, but it was so much fun that I’ve decided to keep it rolling for as long as I can.