Words paired with instrumental sound can instantly catch your ear, transform your energy, and transport you to another time and place.
Another time and place can be a memory or a future vision, but sometimes, a song sinks you right into the present moment.
Such was the case when I heard 100% Endurance by Yard Act streaming on KCRW.
“It’s hippy bullshit but it’s true”
The cheeky song is a short story about, and commentary on, the pointlessness and beauty of existing on planet earth. Catchy beats had me shoulder-shaking while the song played in the background of our morning routine, but I stopped to hear it again after these lines:
“Today you’re living it, hey, you’re really feeling it
Give it everything you’ve got knowing that you can’t take it with you
And all you ever needed to exist has always been within you
Gimme some of that good stuff, that human spirit
Cut it with a hundred percent endurance.”
Oh, to be a musician, a wizard with words and rhythms that connect people through sound waves. What a gift. Thank you, ears of mine, for hearing it again. Thank you, body, for grooving.
Full Lyrics
I was woken by a bang
And I could already taste the pain
The sudden fear that grips and shapes you
When you face the truth
Whose sofa was this?
Where were my shoes?
What did we do last night?
I don't remember leaving Nathan's house
Ah yeah, how could I forget
Why my pants were soaking wet
When we'd been pissing ourselves laughing at the news
Did you see it too?
It was incredible, they played it on a loop, we couldn't believe it
Basically, thеy'd discovered that therе were others just like us
Other beings, other creatures, other planets with other species
Who had other gods that they believed in
And they interviewed all of them and everyone of them
Not one could give any hint of a clue what they were doing here either
It's all so pointless
It is and that's beautiful, l find it humbling, sincerely
And when you're gone
It brings me peace of mind to know that this will all just carry on
With someone else (someone else)
With something new (something new)
No need to be blue
Everything has already happened, time is an illusion
It's hippy bullshit but it's true
Come on, come on, come on, come on, yeah
Now we're off to meet them, so pack your weapons
Don't want them thinking they can pull a fast one on us
Now do we Graeme?
It's alright, I've fought more wars than I've had hot dinners
Sure you have, but the key to peace lies within us
And we'd already have achieved it
If everyone was as enlightened as me
It's hippy bullshit, but it's true
Watch me explodeIt's all so pointless, ah, but it's not though is it?
It's really real and when you feel it, you can really feel it
Grab somebody that you love
Grab anyone who needs to hear it
And shake 'em by the shoulders, scream in their face
Death is coming for us all, but not today
Today you're living it, hey, you're really feeling it
Give it everything you've got knowing that you can't take it with you
And all you ever needed to exist has always been within you
Gimme some of that good stuff that human spirit
Cut it with a hundred percent endurance
It's all so pointless, sure is
And when you're gone
It makes me stronger knowing
That this will all just carry on
With someone else (someone else)
(Something new) something new
It's not like there's gonna be nothing, is it?