Though I have been thinking about wring this for a while, I've just decided to finally sit down and do it.
In 1993, I was 15 and still trying to figure out who I was. Because of problems I had with a catholic school and the fact that I had to be dragged to church every week, I lost my faith. My role model was Axl Rose and I was a teenage know-it-all who didn't need anyone...or so I thought.
I played drums for hours on end on a daily basis learning all the rock songs of the day. But I was very closed minded especially when it came to music.
Lenny Kravitz released the album “Are You Gonna Go My Way”. The title track was one of the coolest songs I've ever heard. It had such a great groove and I've never seen anyone look cooler in a video than Lenny Kravitz rocking out in slow motion. Looking back on the video, it’s timelessly cool.
At the time, I never knew (or cared) what the song was about nor what kind of message it was trying to send. All I knew was it was fun to play on the drums.
In recent years, I've felt a certain void in my life. I felt it lacked direction. Like I have been searching for something but couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.
I started with searching for spirituality without being religious. I liked the positivity that spirituality came with, but still was not ready to rediscover my faith.
While listening to The Adam Corolla podcast, he had the host of American Ninja Warrior on. I have never watched that show and was unfamiliar with this man. But the more he talked, the more his positivity struck a chord with me. When asked how he stays so positive, Akbar Gbaja-Biamila said he listens to preacher, Joel Osteen, a lot. In this stage of my life, I've become opened minded and have tried new things. I figured I'd give this Osteen character a try.
The more I listened to him, the more it spoke to me. He was not like most angry preachers. Here was a calming, acceptable preacher that got through to me.
I decided to listen to “Are You Gonna Go My Way” again. I had heard a rumor that the song was written from the perspective of Jesus Christ. As I listened to it again, the lyrics made sense to me now. I looked up the story behind the song and Kravitz confirmed that he wrote it with the mindset that Jesus Christ was the "ultimate rock star".
With all that is going on in the world, I just think that more people need to listen to this song, and just think about it.
I know that sometimes, lyrics are hard to hear, so I've posted them here along with a link to the video. I just thought it was worth another listen with this new view point in mind.
“Are You Gonna Go My Way” (Lenny Kravitz)
I was born long ago I am the chosen I'm the one I have come to save the day And I won't leave until I'm done So that's why you've got to try You got to breath and have some fun Though I'm not paid I play this game And I won't stop until I'm done But what I really want to know is Are You Gonna Go My Way? And I got to got to know
I don't know why we always cry This we must leave and get undone We must engage and rearrange And turn this planet back to one So tell me why we got to die And kill each other one by one We've got to love and rub-a-dub We've got to dance and be in love But what I really want to know is Are You Gonna Go My Way? And I got to got to know Are You gonna Go My Way? 'Cause baby I got to know, yeah
