Stoic Music 15

My second favorite song by the great Nik Kershaw, though the first I ever heard by him, back in 1984, and the one that got me hooked.

What a brilliant expression of everything we learn from Stoicism, whether or not Kershaw intended it. Why do we feel unhappy? Because we desire what others have, what is beyond our power, and we tragically neglect everything that is truly our own. And the man who desires what is beyond himself is never content, because he always craves for more.

The fact is, it's fairly simple to live without a care, depending upon what we care about. That second bit is our greatest burden.

This bass line was much easier to learn, but the video is just as cryptic as his others. I enjoy that!

Written in 5/1997

Nik Kershaw, "Wouldn't It Be Good?", from Human Racing (1984)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IHlCmymQ3M

 I got it bad, you don't know how bad I got it
You got it easy, you don't know when you've got it good
It's getting harder just keeping life and soul together
I'm sick of fighting, even though I know I should

The cold is biting through each and every nerve and fiber
My broken spirit is frozen to the core
I don't want to be here no more

Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes
Even if it was for just one day
Wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away

Wouldn't it be good to be on your side
The grass is always greener over there
Wouldn't it be good if we could live without a care

You must be joking, you don't know a thing about it
You've got no problem, I'd stay right there if I were you
I got it harder, you couldn't dream how hard I got it
Stay out of my shoes if you know what's good for you

The heat is stifling, burning me up from the inside
The sweat is coming through each and every pore
I don't want to be here no more
I don't want to be here no more
I don't want to be here no more

Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes
Even if it was for just one day
Wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away

Wouldn't it be good to be on your side
The grass is always greener over there
And wouldn't it be good if we could live without a care

I got it bad, you don't know how bad I got it
You got it easy, you don't know when you've got it good
It's getting harder just keeping life and soul together
I'm sick of fighting, even though I know I should