Higher Ground

As a reference for Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.20:

I loved this song the first moment I heard it, just because of the funk. Then I thought about the lyrics. I shared my thoughts with someone I cared about, and I was warned that it all smacked too much of reincarnation.

I never assumed any of that in the song, but even if that is what it says, so what? I always love how people lie, cheat, or steal, but then they get very upset if you mess with their rather narrow sense of religion.

What an incredible tune. I will hum it to myself whenever my day seems to be going poorly.

Stevie Wonder, "Higher Ground", from Innervisions (1973)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ-5bpFkD6w

People keep on learnin'
Soldiers keep on warrin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long

Powers keep on lyin'
While your people keep on dyin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long

I'm so darn glad he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin'
Till I reach my highest ground

Teachers keep on teachin'
Preachers keep on preachin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long
Oh no

Lovers keep on lovin'
Believers keep on believin'
Sleepers just stop sleepin'
Cause it won't be too long
Oh no

I'm so glad that he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin'
Till I reach my highest ground

Till I reach my highest ground
No one's gonna bring me down
Oh no
Till I reach my highest ground
Don't let nobody bring you down (they'll sho 'nuff try)
God is gonna show you higher ground
He's the only friend you have around