Through the days of passing years

I walk alone with all my thoughts

This is age, and the feeling that the older you get, some stuff just seems to stick around that you can't get rid of



Softly suffocating as the numbers climb

In summer 2020, the general feeling in the air was that of not being able to breathe. George Floyd couldn't breathe, the air itself was poisoned with the coronavirus, and the feeling of not being able to go anywhere or do anything, all of it felt suffocating.


I imagine better days

Taking solace in the hope of gently

Conquering the vastness of the

Oceans where I float

I remember sitting on my bed, my job was ruined by the pandemic, I had lost my place, my car was broken down and wouldn't run anymore, and I felt adrift in a huge ocean, with nowhere to go, and no idea how things would get better in the future


Among the endless waters crashing

Suddenly appears a boat

To my surprise a cry for help

Emerges from my throat

I realized people all over the world were feeling just like me. I had pretty much stopped posting on social media, it felt like... what's the point? Then I kind of realized, that's how I can get through this. We can't help the virus, but we can help each other get through this thing.


And I say

Hey

I hope your boat is not destroying

All our friends who love to swim below

This is a nod to environmentalism and also coping in general. For environmentalism, I respect the goals of everyone who still believes in saving the planet. The second meaning is just about coping. I don't want to do something to deal with my problems that's going to cause more problems. The friends who love to swim below represent the whole ecosystem of my health, my family, my community, and all of those things need to be accounted for as I make decisions on how to move forward.


And they say

Hey

It's just a simple rowboat made for

All who simply need a place to go

So I say

Hey

I hope you will take me to

A destination far away from home

And they say

Hey

Hop aboard and join us in a

Journey to wherever we may go



The vessel found a distant shore

Forgotten and remote

We mapped the maze of hidden trails and

Mountains capped with snow

This is the part where idealism runs rampant, and I'm all about it. Knowledge and information moves so fast now, and I'm so hopeful that as technology progresses people will solve some of these problems that don't make any sense. Why does poverty exist at all? We could feed the whole world. Why are so many people extremely poor and just a few so rich? It doesn't make sense, and I'm inspired by all the passion I see from people I've met online. For some kind of meaningful change to happen, we have to dream it first.


The sick are never hungry now

The air is filled with sound

When heavy weather comes we run to

Tunnels underground

I look at all these natural disasters, and I'm always so shocked that we are so vulnerable at this point in time. We have the means to protect ourselves. So much of the world's suffering is unnecessary, and I imagine a time when so much of that suffering is eliminated.


I found a place among the souls who

Offered me a rope

Thankful for the day my journey

Came across the boat

I'm reminded every day by people I've never even met in person that it's ok to dream. I've never forgotten, but it always helps to be reminded. All the people I've come across doing Grand Commander, who dig the music, you dig that part of me that I most hope people will accept. So every person who has liked, commented, sent me a message, and become my friend... you have directly inspired this song. You along with anyone else in my life who has offered me help. Friends, family, so many. It's so tempting to say 'I've done this myself,' but when I think about it, anything I've done has been made possible by a huge community of people that I'm a part of, and I'm so grateful for it.


So if you're feeling cast away and drifting

Off to parts unknown

Keep scanning the horizon for a

Vessel will be shown

This is my way of saying hey, I know I'm not the only one. Whoever you are, I hope in some way I can have a positive impact on your life the same way you have had a positive impact on mine. Not only me, but take a look around at the community you are a part of. I didn't realize it until I looked. Maybe you can realize it to, and maybe it can ease part of a burden you may be carrying.


And you'll say

Hey

I hope your boat is not destroying

All our friends who love to swim below

And they say

Hey

It's just a simple rowboat made for

All who simply need a place to go

So you say

Hey

I hope you will take me to

A destination far away from home

And they say

Hey

Hop aboard and join us in a

Journey to wherever we may go