For this little homily song on our journey through life, I have chosen a few pictures from my own travels. This song niggles at me whenever I’d rather hide away from the world, trying to “sit out the dance”. Perhaps subconsciously we write about the challenges we know from experience are hard to meet. Having spent much of my working life helping people deal with the future, it’s always been worth remembering that whatever the future, or present, you have to work with it. That way you also have a chance of shaping it! It’s not the first song I’ve written that has made me think I should practice what I preach!
Decisions, decisions
So we start with an obvious train-track image setting out clearly the long journey ahead: but I just love the chap standing bang in the middle of the tracks as if he is wondering what to do next – well, he is on the phone to someone trying to find out perhaps. Of course the alternative could be to take the road on the left….
Some like to know where they’re heading
Some rather just leave it to chance
But however you tackle the future
You know you can’t sit out the dance
Rich or poor, you still have to play the game
Whoever you are, you still have to play the game you are in.
It may be a ball, with champagne on ice
It may be a barn dance, with the straw and the mice
Whatever your fancy, whatever your home
You can’t sit out the dance
Life keeps you jumping
I love this photo of the boys playing cricket on the endless beach of Chennai, India. Wherever the ball goes or is coming from you have to play the game. Though sometimes when you are young you are directed where to go, like these Japanese schoolchildren.
Life keeps you jumping, rest when you can
Between boredom and surprises, between dry toast and jam
Keep smiling and look forward, celebrate and applaud
All those who keep dancing, sweet lady, sweet lord
The dance of life follows many rhythms
You can be on your toes, you can wallow in the mud, but you are still in the dance.
You may like the polka and wear little red shoes
Or something much slower, dance to the blues
Whatever you do, dance!
Move with your partner, sway with the band
Take your place for the dance
Thank you for reading and listening! Enjoy the dance!
Ok, life’s a puzzle….
