Story Behind The Song
It was a gorgeous, hot day in the Florida Keys and I thought about how perfect it can be having been born and raised into First World privilege. I combined the gratitude with a responsibility to focus on the rest of the world along with a desire to do what we can to encourage sustainability and deeper personal humanity in light of the world's increasing speed, convenience and unchecked technology.
Song Description
A celebratory classic-pop/rock 70's song with R&B horn riffs and a bit of harp over electric and acoustic guitar that questions elements of modern life and climaxes at the end with the repeated call: "do what you can to slow it down..." The song speaks of being fortunate in the First World but calls for compassion and responsibility to the rest of the world, and encourages more human contact and more reflection, and less ambition and unrestrained technology.
| Song Length |
4:29 |
Genre |
Rock - General, Pop - Rock |
| Tempo |
Medium Fast (131 - 150) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Glad, Joyful |
Subject |
World, Liberal, Progressive |
| Similar Artists |
Beatles, Fun, Tears for Fears, Arcade Fire, Fleetw, Coldplay, New Pornographers, U2, George Michael |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1970 - 1979 |
| |
Lyrics
Do what you can
(breathe ...)
to slow it down
(breathe ...)
don't you wanna be forgotten
What do you do now
your time has come
it's a convenient life
but there's a sacrifice
you have everything
you could ever want
and when you look around
you see nothing wrong
it's a clean machine
it's a green machine
Come along for the ride of your life
take a shot at a real opportunity
you could be the long-awaited missing link
between responsibility and prosperity
it's a good time, it's the right time
and you'll never be forgotten
cruising down the coast
with the wind blowing in your hair
singing a love song
it's a love song for everyone
and everything is alright in the first world
what do you do to slow it all down
go and talk to a stranger in a faraway place
challenge yourself to find something more
no one is keeping score
so what are you waiting for
it's a clean machine
it's a green machine
but it could be a dream machine
Do what you can to slow it down
come along for the ride of your life
listen to the sound of your leaves in your trees
you could be the unexpected missing link
between human possibility and artistry
it's a good life, it's the right life
and don't you wanna be forgotten
careful, respectful, vanishing into the sea
singing a love song
it's a love song for you and yours
and everything is alright in the first world
Breathe, breathe ...
Do what you can to slow it down
do what you can to slow it down
Breathe, breathe ...
Do what you can to slow it down
do what you can to slow it down