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The World at LargeThe song, The World at Large shows many transcendental beliefs. For example a quote from the song is, “work a little harder, work another way”. This shows Thoreau’s belief that everything in life that is meaningful is difficult. Also this shows the Emerson's belief of inconsistency because it says to work in a new way, a way that is different from yesterday. Another quote is “The moths beat themselves to death against the lights./ Adding their breeze to the summer nights. /Outside, water like air was great.”
These lines show the writer’s connection to nature. He is cherishing it because it as well as God is a part of him. As Emerson said, this is his “over soul”. “I pack up my belongings and I head for the coast. /It might not be a lot but I feel like I'm making the most.” These lines suggest the belief of not having a "foolish consistency". He is starting a new life, and moving out of his old routine. Furthermore, he is saying that he does not have a lot, but he is staying positive. This connects to Thoreau’s belief that we should strive for poverty because it makes life simpler. BlurryPuddle of Mudd’s song Blurry, portrays transcendental principals through its rejection conforming to those in society and societal norms. It says, "everyone's so fake/ and everybody's empty/ and everything is so messed up". In these opening lines, the transcendental idea that everyone in society conforms is portrayed. Similar Thoreau’s conclusion of his novel Walden, where Thoreau talks about being left empty and searching for more when talking to being with fake people from society the lines in this song resemble the same idea’s of society being so fake and unreal. Another quote is, "pre-occupied without you/ I cannot live at all". These next several lines show that by consuming yourself with other people you won’t be able to live your own life. All transcendentalists believe that you need to look inside yourself in order to find who you truly are rather than relying on others to tell you who you are or what to be. The lines, "everyone showed you where to turn/ showed you when to runaway" talk about the principal of ignoring society and the pressures it places upon people." People are very easily persuaded and guided by what they are told and in these lines and those that follow it shows that by being a follower it ruins your life.
It's TimeThe song It's Time displays transcendental beliefs through its lyrics. The line "It's time to begin" is showing a new beginning or change of scene. Its expressing that its time to start something new. Like Emerson said, "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds". One must begin a new day and do something new and forget yesterday. Another line, "don't look back" is talking about not worshiping the past. It means to stay in the present, and to not compare today to yesterday. The quote, "turning to rags and giving the commodities a rain check" This is expressing Thoreau's belief in cultivating poverty. Basically, having less fancy items means less responsibility. The line is saying that they do not care about items that people think will satisfy wants or needs.
Call It What You WantCall It What You Want exemplifies transcendental beliefs about truth and possessions. The first quote from the song is,
"Your social guides give you swollen eyes/But what I've got can't be bought so you can just/ Call it what you want", this displays Thoreau's idea that " money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul". The greatest things cannot be bought. One line is, "If it don't conform to what you were born into/Then you run the other way" this shows Emerson's belief of how society does not like non-conformists. Its saying that if something is different, people normally stay away from it. Another line is, "Fake-face smile's got nothing on me" this is saying that people can be smiling, but they are not truly happy. They are not being genuine. This idea expresses Thoreau's quote, "rather than love, than money than fame, give me truth". Fake people can have every possession but that does not make them authentic or happy. To be transcendental is being truthful. |