Slow...

Interesting things happen when you’re stuck in limbo for a while, and the pace and purpose of your life is altered. I find myself slowing down when I eat. What’s the rush? I should eat better food (only less of it!) and enjoy it more. I find myself taking the time to notice a beautiful spring sky, or the endless shades of green in the grasses, plants, vines and trees that enshroud Gainesville. And I find myself being more patient with others.

I experienced the effect recently at my neighborhood Starbucks. There always seems to be at least one patron who is oblivious to the fact that the world is, in fact, inhabited by other people. They stand in the way, occupy too much of the barista’s time, and just generally find ways to make the preparation of my cup of coffee take twice as long as it should. On this day, there was a man who was apparently determined to help his coffee achieve the perfect balance of bitter and sweet by adding sugar one granule at a time. Then, he added half and half to the mix as if it were an exercise in alchemy; perhaps that ten thousandth stir might turn the coffee into gold.

It is a tribute to my current state of mind that I resisted the urge to kick him in the shins. I had one errand to do and two hours to do it. I remained patient and pleasant. I waited. Perhaps having no place to go makes people nicer.

I sat down to relax for a few minutes after doctoring up my own steaming brew. Then the worst possible thing happened; classes adjourned at the nearby high school and a dozen noisy teens walked in. I don’t have the patience for that. I ran out the door, in a hurry once again.

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Now Playing:

Slow – Collective Soul


This is an obscure song from the album “Dosage” about ten years ago. It is kind of a strange song, but I like it. I hadn’t heard it in a while, and then stumbled across it one day when I was looking for songs that fit my mood. This one does.

Lyrics:

Mornings like this
Make me feel like I could never float
Glimpses of peace
Portray all that you never could show

(chorus)
I'm not weakened by the fears
That you have applied
See I'm now learning in these walls
That I've been supplied
Slow
Slow down boy
Slow down to control
Slow, slow

Clothed in new costumes
That weather your newfound storms
Staring through reason
Content with your newfound decor

(chorus)

(spoken)
I passed the darkened vaults of
Late doorways as if I were a king
Like this I chain a whisper to my faults

(chorus)


Slow – Fuel


This is very different from the Collective Soul song. It seems to be about quiet desperation – the slow and inevitable disintegration of everything that is important to you. But it ends on a vaguely upbeat note. And, in my opinion, Brett Scallions has one of the better voices in rock – very distinctive, good tone, great range and brilliant phrasing.

Lyrics:

All this time
I thought this coming down was fine
Now everything I fought to grow
Is withered hanging on that vine

[chorus]
And all I wanted
Was all I needed you know
And everything good in my life
If you have to take it all way
Oh, no, take it all away, oh, no no no...
Take it slow.

Everything I try to find
Is every love I'll never hold
And in your garden now
The weeds are choking seeds we've sown

[chorus]

Now you find
Your own savior for a time
And if you try my love
I hope you'll find your cure in time

(chorus)