So back when I was but a little Merch, I joined a swim club. I was like 12 but for some reason had to swim with the high schoolers. Every day in practice I got my but kicked, made fun of (I was a skinny kid with long arms), and would bike home.
In meets, I would swim the back and again get my ass kicked. I was a 12 year old , swimming with 17 year olds, and an outcast from there group. After practice and meets, I would bike home and have my headphones on listening to my walkman.
I listened to the same tape before every meet and before practice, especially one song – Don’t Look Back. At first, I think that my coach would always yell at me “MERCH KEEP YOUR HEAD BACK!!!!!! DON’T LOOK AT ME!!!!! DON’T LOOK BACK!!!”. So the song just re-enforced what I needed to do.
Well, then I started to listen to the song and the lyrics. One set really grabbed me.
I can see
It took so long just to realize
I'm much too strong
Not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I'll turn it around, oh yes I will
At age 14, I was extremely competitive and 15 – 17 I was undefeated for 3 seasons. And I always listen to that one song before a meet and it got me fired up and focused.
Through out my life, this song has been playing in the background, whether a new job interview or first day at college or first date with my wife. The song reminds me to quit holding myself down and sometimes to enjoy the ride if you are on the right road.
Today on my way to work, I heard this song and I feel all fired up and ready to tackle what’s next, because:
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I'll turn it around, oh yes I will
Do you have an anthem? Does it change depending on where you are in life?
If I had to rewrite the lyrics, I would change “Don’t look back” to “Won’t go back”. The whole lyrics:
Don't look back
A new day is breakin'
It's been too long since I felt this way
I don't mind where I get taken
The road is callin'
Today is the day
And I can see
It took so long just to realize
I'm much too strong
Not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I'll turn it around, oh yes I will
I finally see the dawn arrivin'
I see beyond the road I'm drivin'
It's a bright horizon but I'm awakin'
Oh I see myself in a brand new way
The sun is shinin'
The clouds are breakin'
'Cause I can't lose now, there's no game to play
I can tell
There's no more time left to criticize
I've seen what I could not recognize
Everything in my life was leading me on
But I can be strong, oh yes I can
I finally see the dawn arrivin'
I see beyond the road I'm drivin'
Far away and left behind, left behind
(guitar bridge)
Oh the sun is shinin' *and I'm on that road*
(guitar solo)
Don't look back
A new day is breakin'
It's been too long since I felt this way
I don't mind where I get taken
The road is callin'
Today is the day
I can see
It took so long just to realize
I'm much too strong
Not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I'll turn it around, oh yes I will
I finally see the dawn arriving
I see beyond the road I'm driving
Far away and left behind
Don't look back
Don't look back
Don't look back
Don't look back...
My Anthem
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