Why is That Darn Song Stuck in My Head?

Ever have a song that just keeps playing in the background of your mind? Not the kind that annoys the crap out of you because you can’t get it out of your head after you heard it on the radio. I’m talking about lyrics streaming somewhat unconsciously behind all the other chaos in your head. You almost have to quiet the mind to even notice it’s there.

For the last two days, “Waiting for the World to Change” by John Mayer has been playing quietly, almost unnoticeably in the background of my mind. 

When I need to hear a message, it sometimes comes to me in the form of a song. I usually wake up singing it…completely unaware of its origin or arrival.

As the day goes on it might slowly creep into my awareness and I’ll think “where did this song come from?". As I continue about my business I'll realize it’s been there, playing over and over again. Then it will get louder; I will start paying attention. Almost always there is something significant between the song and what’s happening in my life. That’s when I’ll look up the lyrics:

Waiting on the World to Change - John Mayer

Me and all my friends
We're all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing
And there's no way we ever could

Now we see everything that's going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it

So we keep waiting
(Waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
(Waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

It's hard to beat the system
When we're standing at a distance
So we keep waiting
(Waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

Now if we had the power
To bring our neighbors home from war
They would have never missed a Christmas
No more ribbons on their door

And when you trust your television
What you get is what you got
Cause when they own the information
Oh, they can bend it all they want

That's why we're waiting
(Waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
(Waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

It's not that we don't care
We just know that the fight ain't fair
So we keep on waiting
(Waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

And we're still waiting
(Waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
(Waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

One day our generation
Is gonna rule the population
So we keep on waiting
(Waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

No, we keep on waiting
(Waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
(Waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change

With the terrorist attack in France yesterday, it’s no surprise my brain picked this song. There is a lot of conflict and tragedy in the world, and it can feel overwhelming. It makes my heart sad. But “the world” can also mean my own personal world. Things have been crazy at work. I’ve only been with my company of 20 employees for five months, but during that time they have let six people go. I keep waiting for things to change. Hmmmmmmm.

As Mahatma Gandhi said – “Be the change that you wish to see in the world”

Message received. How do you receive messages? And are you listening? Pay attention people, pay attention.