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Sways With the Wind

from Confusing Times by Tyler Shipley

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lyrics

Briefly today I wanted to be in another life
needless to say lately my own hasn’t been a slice
and in a moment of spacey misery this afternoon
I imagined I was in Lower Manhattan in an expensive suit
it was lightly raining and I was in a cafe
I didn’t really care if my clothes got wet because hey
I can always buy some more right? Give me something to do
with the time I take off from whatever rich ass thing I do

The fantasy was sparked by a memory from 2011
when I did a talk at the United Nations
not like the main building, I’m no Ban Ki Moon
it was in a side complex in a small room
but still I felt that day the seduction of power
like I was some important person whose opinion really mattered
and today as I drifted through a miserable day
I thought 'damn what if I’d chosen another way'

It’s all ego, I can feel it
the appeal is externally driven
it's about how I’m seen by others
and the self-image that it colours
but I know it’s an illusion
not even a compelling temptation
the loneliness inside of me now
would follow me there anyhow

So in the midst of this thought stream I opened a cartoon
about spending time with a tree to get a trees eye view
it was meant to be twee and cute but it put a lump in my neck
because I’m trying to be happy I’m trying everything I can
and I’d sincerely like to know how a tree stays solid
how it builds its roots and remains forever grounded
how it sways with the wind and sags with the snow
but in the spring and summer without fail all its leaves will grow

Why can’t I figure out the formula for that?
I’m 38 years old and I’m an intelligent man
but nothing that I do gives me the fundamental shape
of a beautiful old tree just being in its place

credits

from Confusing Times, released February 3, 2024

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Tyler Shipley Toronto, Ontario

Tyler Shipley was the founding member of the Consumer Goods (theconsumergoods.bandcamp.com) and now performs as a solo artist.

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