Gravedigger

  The Dave Matthews Band has always been known for writing songs that have such deep meanings that you literally have to read the lyrics numerous times in order to gain a greater appreciation for the song. Their music has always involved controversial topics that give light on issues that our society purposely attempts to avoid.

A short interpretation would encompass the gravedigger symbolizing death. The characters that the band include in the song (both fictional or nonfictional) display the simple fact that regardless of a person’s age: young, middle aged, or old we are all vulnerable to death no matter what. The band includes “Ring Around the Rosy” which is known by so many of us as nothing more than a childhood riddle. I think that it was included with such serious lyrics to mock the idea of our blissfully ignorant views on death as well as include somewhat of a witty anecdote. The history behind this riddle will give more insight. I think that the chorus about the gravedigger (death) digging him a shallow grave so that he can feel the rain implies the existence of life after death. Overall, this song displays the reality of mortality; life is a fragile essence of being and we need to take full advantage of it before the gravedigger digs comes to dig our own grave.

The Dave Matthews Band

Gravedigger

Cyrus Jones 1810 to 1913
Made his great-grandchildren believe
you could live to a 100 and 3,
a 100 and 3 is forever when you're just a little kid
so Cyrus Jones lived forever

Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger

Muriel Stonewall 1903 to 1954
She lost both of her babies in the
second great war
Now you should never have to watch
as your only children are lowered in the ground
I mean never have to bury your own babies


Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger

Ring around the Rosy
Pocket full of posies
ashes to ashes
we all fall down

Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
oh, Gravedigger

Little Mikey Parsons, 67 to 75
He rode his bike like the devil until the day he died
When he grows up he wants to be Mr. Vertigo on the flying trapeze
oh, 1940 to 1992

Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain

Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
I can feel the rain
I can feel the rain
Gravedigger

Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger

Gravedigger.

(Matthews, 2003)

Reference

Matthews, D. (Composer). (2003). Gravedigger. [D. Matthews, C. Beauford, S. Lessard, B. Tinsley,  Performers, & J. D'earth, Conductor] Charlottesville, VA, US.

Tuesdays with Morrie

After working on this project with Sammee Kleiman, I wanted to just present the movie to everyone and spread the story of such an amazing person! I wish I could have met someone like Morrie before this class, and now after it, I want so badly to find someone. People like Morrie have an amazing way of making you feel like you need to live your life with purpose. After reading the book, and watching the film, I laughed and I cried, but I learned so much about myself. He truly is a person who changes your life!

Watch the first of all of his interviews with Ted Koppel. He is amazing!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcnL2o385Gw

Strange and True Facts about Death

Just some interesting facts about/on death! Enjoy! :)







1) More people are killed by donkeys annually than are killed in plane crashes.

(2) More people are killed each year by coconuts than sharks. Approximately 150 people are killed each year by coconuts.

(3) You are more likely to be killed by a champagne cork than by a poisonous spider.

(4) Fleas have the distinction of killing more people than all the wars man has ever fought. The "Black Death" plague killed 1/4 of Europe's population in the 14th century, caused by germs transmitted from rodents to humans by fleas.

(5) The animal responsible for the most human deaths worldwide is the mosquito.

(6) The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.

(7) A hundred years ago, the average life expectancy in the United States was forty-seven.

(8) Today, only one in two billion people will live to be 116 or older.

(9) Your statistical chance of being murdered is 1 in 20,000.

(10) There are 5 times as many deaths due to the negligence of doctors as there are deaths due to firearms.

(11) On average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year.

(12) Robert Hershey, of Hershey Chocolate fame, died when he fell into a vat of chocolate and drowned.

(13) Dr. Alice Chase, who wrote "Nutrition for Health" and numerous books on the science of proper eating, died of malnutrition.

(14) Adolph Hitler's mother seriously considered having an abortion but was talked out of it by her doctor.

(15) When Mahatma Gandhi died, an autopsy revealed that his small intestine contained five gold Krugerrands.

(16) When Thomas Edison died in 1941; Henry Ford captured his last dying breath in a bottle.

(17) In 1845, President Andrew Jackson's pet parrot was removed from his funeral for swearing.

(18) Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, was present at the assassinations of three presidents: his father's, President Garfield's, and President McKinley's. After the last shooting, he refused ever to attend a state affair again.

(19) When Mark Twain was born on Nov 30, 1835, Halley's comet was visible over Florida, Missouri. Mark Twain predicted in 1909 that he would die when it returned. He was right. When he died on April 21, 1910, Halley's comet was once again visible in the sky.

We All Bleed Red.

Hey guys, I was trying to figure out what my final posting should be about.. And then this new song came on my pandora. It is called "We All Bleed Red" by Robbie Dunn. I have heard this song before, but never made the connection to the true meaning about the song until I just heard it.
The first line of the song is "Let's say we're sorry, before it's too late." In whatever context you take it as, he could be singing about a relationship, religion, or war. I have made the connection to the idea of war and fighting. In general, it is an awakening song about how we are all the same, aside from the stereotypical features. "We all bleed red."
I have always felt a soft spot in community service work and civic engagement efforts, because I always think of how alike our race really is. The only things that differ are our looks, and our beliefs. As some of you may or may not already know, I have started a commitment to the Peace Corps and will continue my studies in Intercultural Relations for my masters. I will be required to study for about 2 years at the University of the Pacific in California, and after that, I will be sent to a host country (hopefully Africa) to live for 27 months and finish up my studies, while actually studying the culture. My main motivation for this dramatic decision is because regardless of our current economic situation in the world, I still do believe peace is achievable. Maybe not in our lifetime, but it can only be reached with effort in understanding the world as a whole, and not as individuals. Moral of the story... I think this song is appropriate and directly relating to me. =]

He said I was in my early forties With a lot of life before me When a moment came that stopped me in my tracks We spent most of the next days Looking at the x-rays Talking about the options And talking about sweet time. I asked him when it sank in That this might be the real end How's it hit you when you get that kind of news Man, what'd you do? He said I went skydiving I went rocky mountain climbing I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu And I loved deeper And I spoke sweeter And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying And he said someday I hope you get the chance To live like you were dying. He said I was finally the husband That most the time I wasn't I became a friend a friend would like to have And all the sudden going fishing Wasn't such an imposition And I went three times that year I lost my dad He said I finally read the Good Book and I took a good long hard look At what I'd do if I could do it all again And then I went skydiving I went rocky mountain climbing I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu And I loved deeper And I spoke sweeter And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying And he said someday I hope you get the chance To live like you were dying. Live like tomorrow was a gift And you got eternity to think about what you'd do with it What did you do with it? Well what could you do with it? Yeah what would you do with it? He said someday I hope you get the chance To live like you were dying. -Tim McGraw; "Live Like You Were Dying" I think this song speaks volumes if we'll let it. So many times we hear things like this, see things like this, and get a mini wake up call, a glimpse of the way things could be, should be... But to have this, we are required to change. A change in thinking. And that requires a change in our actions. And that requires discipline. And that requires diligence. It is my prayer that we no longer just let wake up calls occur and then remain the same -- stagnant. It's time we truly believed that today could be our last day... Because the truth is, death happens whether or not we are ready. Let today be your wake up call. One of these days, tomorrow won't come.

"We're Tuesday People"

I was quite inspired by the group who did their project on Tuesday's with Morrie (thanks, if you're reading this ;)). I read that book quite a while ago and I had forgotten how much I was inspired by the words of wisdom that Morrie offered. I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on my favorite quote from Morrie. "So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half asleep, even when they are busy doing things they think are important. This is because they are chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning in your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning." This quote is so true, isn't it? I feel like a lot of us are constantly waiting for the next best thing: "If I could just get through this week," "If I could just get through college," "If I could just find my future spouse," THEN life can start. THEN I'll be happy. Pardon my directness, but I agree with Morrie: We've got it all wrong. Take a moment and think about what you want your life to look like in the end. I sure don't want to waste my life being half asleep, waiting for the next bigger and better thing to happen. I want to be content with where I am now, completely satisfied with this moment. I think we need to re-train ourselves on the things that are truly important, and re-train ourselves not to waste THIS moment, THIS week, THIS year. Just think, most of us probably dreamed of being in college since we were youngsters (yes, I did just say youngsters) and now, I'm willing to bet that most of us are wishing we were finished and are ready to start the next season of our lives. If we are not careful, we are going to miss out on everything that is promised to us in this season because we are too busy wishing the next season would start. Let's not be people constantly waiting for the next best thing. Let's make an extra effort to live in the moment. THIS moment. For this moment is all we are promised.

"Promising forever, knowing that this moment might be all we ever find." (Just thought I'd throw in a little Tim McGraw in there, country music anyone?!)

Tuesdays With Morrie Quotes

After doing my project on "Tuesdays With Morrie," I decided to reread the book again. It is one of the most touching books I have ever read. You learn so much from Morrie. I would have loved to meet him, from reading the book I feel as if I already know him. His life lessons have made me realize how we take life for granted, with money, time with friends, and time with yourself. I found this video on YouTube, these are some of the quotes from the book that Morrie had said. They are very uplifting positive way of thinking. I marked some of the pages to reread if I am having a bad day. You should invest in the book and read it, it may make you realize how important life truly is.