Feels Like War

Feels Like War is the title of my new song. I’ve been working with Rob, the owner of Zelinsky Studios and bassist of the band Strange Cocktail, to produce a definitive recording.

The song has a ska feel, and the opening lines establish a lyrical rhythm. Using the -tion word ending for texture was a big part of the formation of this work.

“This meditation, born of the world, written for all nations in a time of great suffering. This rumination, taken from the human soul, it’s the realization of the power of the physical.”

I wanted the song to acknowledge global human suffering, and stand for human agency through the power of action. In the past few years I’ve read quotes from the Pope, the Dalai Lama, and other spiritual leaders, imploring people to take action, reminding us that prayer is not a physical solution to our global problems, especially those which are human-caused. It’s a frustrating and confusing time. We are witness to a growing betrayal of facts and scientific knowledge. Sometimes we lose faith in ourselves and what we know to be right. Doubts inhibit our actions, and we stumble between daily life and the power of praxis.

I am critical of the notion that “things change but things stay the same,” or “people of every time always think it’s the worst time.” I retort with three crises which are novel to our time: plastic in the oceans; anthropogenic climate change; and nuclear radiation. I decided to share one of those fears related to human action using the spiritual theme,

“What are the words of the afterlife? The hands of the clock approach midnight! Atomic Radiation.”

We are agents of change by nature and our decisions are have influence. The consequences of our actions are real, whether big or small. This is the truth of the watercourse way, the natural motion of energy throughout the universe. If I take an action, it makes an impression. Each action leads the way to more action as the smallest rivulet of rain anticipates the course of a mighty river. In this way, we are never truly separate. The line in the song “source of all relationships” refers to dichotomy as the inception of conscious experience.

“Every single action moves with one thousand hands. Follow the reaction to the source of all relationships.”

Feels Like War is also a response to our online sharing culture and the dramatic need to adapt new technologies to new situations. We’re in the “information age.” We can no longer tolerate the excuses given that “we didn’t know” or “the answers are still coming.” Take a look, read, listen, ask, and understand. Make a decision, trust yourself, and take action. We can’t ever really know unless we take some time to reflect. If we take the time, the truth is inevitable. How can you change a point of view? If you refer to ethics or personal morals when measuring your leaders, those ethics can be argued or denied even though you are right. This is a big problem. My solution is to expressly demand patience, kindness, and solidarity from leaders and followers everywhere.

“How do we bring the truth to light? Take a quick look around the joint! Patient observation. All the information is right there at our fingertips.”

I’ve included a challenge to listeners with some extra encouragement.

“What do we get if we give up the fight? It’s not the only end in sight! Total ‘nihilation.” 

As for the chorus … take a listen! It was released in March of 2020. You can find the track at www.reverbnation.com/gregsinn.

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”     –  Andy Warhol