5 Songs About Finding Your Place in the World
Figuring out what you want to do with your life is an unavoidable part of growing up. Choosing the right job, living in the right city, or taking a big risk on following a dream is bound to cause stress. Sometimes you’ll wonder if the classical approach to living is even the way to find happiness. The following songs were written by people who have or had those same misgivings and worries. While they may not have found the answer yet, they’re at least giving it their best shots and made something beautiful as a result.
1. “The Temporary Blues” by The Features
The character in this song is tasked with finding a job to make ends meet but feels trapped in his options. Sung very matter-of-factly, the story begins with a young man going to work on a factory assembly line, foregoing dreams of doing something more personally fulfilling. As the protagonist realizes what the consequences are, the song picks up speed and intensity until he yells, “My God what have I done? / The temporary blues are gonna bring me down”. Rather than having the song end on such an ominous note, singer Matt Pelham concludes with hopefulness that one day he’ll be able to “turn this mess around.”
2. “Make My” by The Roots
Sometimes, even after doing everything ‘right’ and reaching a level of success, people find that they still aren’t really happy. The Roots do a tremendous job of getting that feeling across in this track. The first verse presents the protagonist’s self-indulgent tendencies, including driving luxury cars, seducing attractive women, and eating expensive food. Following up the first, the second verse describes the internal turmoil and moral consequences of continually reveling in the pleasures of money. The somber flow helps illustrate the self-reflection of a character who is reconciling with his past.
3. “Depreston” by Courtney Barnett
In this song off of “Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit,” Barnett walks us through the exhausting and excruciatingly mundane process of buying a new house. Most of the lyrics are lists of things people looking at houses usually consider. But, rather than the excited tone of a realtor or future homeowner, she sings them in monotone to watery and forlorn guitar backing. The unexpected conflict of her lyrics and singing style perfectly conveys the emotions of someone who’s not sure if she’s really ready for this next step.
4. “Own Appeal” by Oddisee
Oddisee is well-known for his tracks about making it as a rapper and creating his own definition of success. “Own Appeal” is no exception. Throughout the verses, he makes constant references to being totally enveloped in his work, trying to live his dream of being a successful musician, and the sacrifices he’s made to see it through. What’s special about Oddisee’s lyricism is that he’s honest about both the highs and lows of chasing his ambition and seems totally content with the trade as evident from the last two lines of the hook, “Excited by the risk and the chances I'm taking / Not sure what I'm putting my faith in but Imma be alright”.
5. "Helplessness Blues” by Fleet Foxes
Usually, Fleet Foxes’ lyrics are heavy in their use of metaphor, but Helplessness Blues is much more specific in its writing. Pecknold’s four-part song structure accurately describes the conflicts of many members of this generation; they’ve rejected the assertion that they’re unique and would rather be part of something greater but are unsure of what that something is yet. They’ve been told they can choose anything to give them purpose but are lost on how to find it, and all they’re sure of is the inconceivability and magnitude of the world around them. The final section of the song illustrates the romantic idea of an ‘orchard’ as any place where they can work hard and be able to see the the fulfilling fruit of that labor.