One of my all time favorite creators, Steve Taylor — singer, songwriter, producer from the 1980s — published the song below around 1987, a little before I left home for college. His cynicism, understanding, and sound were way ahead of his time.
(Music video link for context!)
Feel free to judge me, but I still love this Ska / Punk inspired sound with the electric guitar and saxophone.
As a young man in the `80s, I was pretty lost… I’ll leave that exposé for another time, but it’s enough to say that I felt like my life was going to end, by God’s hand, or by my own.
My faith at the time was interesting because I believed that God wouldn’t leave me, or forsake me (God’s assurance to His people in Deuteronomy 31:6 and Joshua 1:5. ), but I wished he would take me. Emotional pain felt like too much to bear. I knew the world was broken, and I was just as broken. It’s ironic that the title of this song drew me in. I related to it… and it revealed the lie!
There is a lie that permeates our culture United States of America from our founding documents that imply “the pursuit of happiness” is a high calling or purpose. It’s not. The pursuit of a higher calling, a worthwhile goal bring happiness. The pursuit of happiness does not bring about love or joy or peace.
I am NOT encouraging you to give up hope. I am encouraging you to listen to what happens when people pursue happiness. When we pursue a feeling… well,… I’ll let Steve Taylor explain.
Since I Gave up Hope I Feel a Lot Better
Enter the young idealist
Chasing dragons to slay
Exit the hustler
Packing up his M.B.A.
Freshmen scream in a classroom
Was there a sound?
First degree in the vacuum
I’m on college ground
Took a class
Big fun
Modern ethics 101
First day learn why
Ethics really don’t apply
Prof says, “One trait
Takes us to a higher state
Drug free, pure bliss
Get your pencils, copy this:
“Life unwinds like a cheap sweater
But since I gave up hope I feel a lot better
And the truth gets blurred like a wet letter
But since I gave up hope I feel a lot better”
Top of the class sits Ernest
He was brightest and best
Till the professor lured him
To the hopeless nest
Now he lives for the shortcut
Like a citizen should
Tells the class with a wink
“Only the young die good”
“Only the young die good”
He says, “Ideals? Uncouth
Fatalism needs youth
Eat well, floss right
Keep the hungry out of sight
Save face–nip and tuck
Praise yourself and pass the buck
Don’t forget the best advice
Everybody’s get a price
“Life unwinds like a cheap sweater
But since I gave up hope I feel a lot better
And the truth gets blurred like a wet letter
But since I gave up hope I feel a lot better
“While the world winds down to a final prayer
Nothing soothes quicker than complete despair
I predict by dinner I won’t even care
Since I gave up hope I feel a lot better”
Nazis plead in a courtroom
“Pardon me, boys”
Profits fall in a boardroom
Did they make a noise?
Someone spreads an affliction
Company’s nice
Someone sells an addiction
Puts your soul on ice
Half wits knock heads
Candidates in double beds
Good guys defect
“I can’t precisely recollect”
Teacher’s pet theory’s fine
If you’re born without a spine
Can’t you spell wrong?
Sing it to him Papa John
Life unwinds like a cheap sweater, but since I gave up hope I feel a lot better.
And that’s what creators are able to do when we don’t hide ourselves. So many creative people express themselves in odd ways, don’t conform, perhaps cannot possibly conform to group norms. But the hurt is enough to make us wish we could be accepted and to try to conform or find some type of social agreement, some acceptance, some friends. But it’s a spiral downward to pursue happiness, acceptance. That pursuit is hopeless.
But that doesn’t mean Life is hopeless; No, Life is full of hope!
In the pursuit of something else! Creativity reveals God’s greatness and gives us hope!
God accepts me as i am. But better than that, God takes me from where I am to where i need to be to find joy, peace, love…