Lesson Three: Music

Between all of the visits with family and friends, the eating and drinking and reminiscing there wasn't always as much time as I would have liked to be by myself. As my trip began winding down and I had to start thinking about packing and a new list of tasks, I sat in the car. Just sitting, listening to music. Jason Mraz - of whom I a big fan - "The Boy's Gone" came on my ipod. This introspective ballad from his first album, Waiting for My Rocket To Come, pierced my state of thinking.

I really listened to these lyrics and I felt like this song was about me. Going back to Los Angeles has been very bittersweet and this song outlined that emotional process. The more I'm here, the more this song becomes appropriate. The more it becomes painful. The more it becomes hopeful.

The boy has gone home.

The boy's gone. The boy's gone home.
The boy's gone. The boy's gone home.

What will happen to a face in the crowd when it finally gets too crowded.
And what will happen to the origins of sound after all the sounds have sounded
Well I hope I never have to see that day but by god I know it's headed our way
So I better be happy now that the boy's going home.
The boy's gone home.

And what becomes of a day for those who rage against it
And who will sum up the phrase for all left standing around in it

Well I suppose we'll all make our judgement calls
We'll walk it alone, stand up tall, then march to the fall
So we better be happy now that we'll all go home.
That we'll all go home.

Be so happy with the way you are
Just be happy that you made it this far
Go on be happy now.
Please be happy now.

Because you say that this, this is something else (alright)
I say that this, this is something else (well alright)
I say that this, oh, this is something, this is something else
Oo thi-thi-thi-thi-this is all, thi-thi-thi-thi-this is yeah,
thi-thi thi-thi-thi-this is all something else

Well I tried to live my life and lived it so well
But when it's all over is it heaven or is it hell
So I better be happy now that no one can tell, nobody knows
I'm gonna be happy with the way that I am
I'm gonna be happy with all that I stand for
I'm gonna be happy now because the boy's going home.

The boy's gone home.

Yeah the boy's gone home.
Yeah the boy's gone home.
Yeah the boy's gone home.