When I first hear this on the radio, I didn't really pay attention
to the lyrics, and thought it was a little strange. A song with no
one singing, only speaking, then never gave it much thought again.
Then a friend of mine had it on CD and we listened to it in the car...and
I mean *really listened*. It was still a song with someone speaking
instead of singing, but this time it really spoke to me. One of the
lines is "Do one thing everyday that scares you." I'm trying my best,
but it's a lot harder than you might think.
Everybodys
Free...to Wear Sunscreen
Class of 99: wear sunscreen. If I could
offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long
term benefits of sunscreen has been proved by scientists, whereas the rest
of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own, meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.
But never mind, you will never understand the power and the beauty of your
youth until they've faded. But trust me, in twenty years, you will look
back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now, how
much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You
are not as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future or worry
knowing that knowing that worry is just as affective as trying to solve
an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life
are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind. The kind that
blindsides you at 4 PM on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing every day that
scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other peoples'
hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealously. Sometimes
you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and in the end,
it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive, forget
the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love
letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what
to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at
22 what they wanted to do with their lives; some of the most interesting40
year olds still don't. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you'll
miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe
you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe
you'll dance the 'Funky Chicken' on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever
you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either.
Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body. Use it everywhere you
can. Don't be afraid of it or what other people think of it. It's the greatest
instrument you'll ever own.
Dance. Even if you have nowhere to do
it but your own living room.
Read the directions even if you don't
follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines, they will
only make you feel ugly.
Brother and sister together we'll make
it through. Someday our spirit will take you and guide you there. I know
you've have been hurting, but I've been waiting to be there for you. And
I'll be there, just helping, well, whenever I care.
Get to know your parents. You never know
when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings. They are your
best link to your past and the most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go. But
for a precious few, you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography
and lifestyle, for the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave
before it makes you hard. Live in northern California once, but leave before
it makes you soft. Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths: prices
will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old and when you
do, you’ll fanaticize that when you were young, prices were reasonable,
politicians were noble and children respected their elders. Respect your
elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse but you'll
never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair or
by the time you're forty, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be
patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing
it is a way of wishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting
over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth. But trust
me on the sunscreen.
Brother and sister together we'll make
it through. Someday our spirit will take you and guide you there. I know
you've have been hurting, but I've been waiting to be there for you. And
I'll be there, just helping, well, whenever I care.
Everybody's free, yeah, oh everybody,
oh yeah.
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