Lyrical Lyrics - Wasted
I hope to have regular blog entries with song lyrics that speak to me.
Kenny Chesney - Wasted
One of my favorite songs, performed by Kenny Chesney, written by James T. Slater, Bobby Hamrick & David Lee Murphy. The title makes it sound like a drinking song - so far so good, perfect for the Caribbean. But in the first verse, we learn that the writer has met someone who used to be rich and famous, but now can’t afford a beer at the bar. The man readily admits he’s gone through his money rather quickly. In a polite conversation, it would be impertinent to ask, but these are guys bullshitting at a bar, so of course the writer asks ‘How?!’
The poor guy then describes all the things he spent his money on, and what a list he has. All the things that make live interesting - call them vices, call them passions, it really depends on the point of view of the person spending. And that’s the key to the entire song, and to life really - just be happy with your choices. In the last line of the chorus, the poor guy tells the writer that the money he DIDN’T spend on that long list of wild adventures, was WASTED. To him, the list he rattled off was NOT WASTED. So that’s his point of view. Some would call it foolish or irresponsible. To most of us in the islands, sitting behind a desk for 30 years hoping one day to have enough savings to actually do the wild things - that’s foolish.
The second verse starts out with the poor guy laughing at himself, another indication he isn’t all that upset about not having the money now. He’s still at the bar, and he’s got shades on, so he’s probably at a BEACH BAR of course. Knowing Kenny, it’s probably The Beach Bar on St John. But the poor guy is still living ‘the life’, just more cheaply. Sounds like he’s got his health, he’s got some friends because at least the band bought him a beer. How bad is it, really?
Then in the second verse, we find out a big clue to HOW he lost all his money. He had a BIG BOAT! Ah ha! It’s specifically mentioned in a verse, not the long list of items in the chorus. One can see how I’d identify with this song just a bit. But once again, he’s more excited about having all those memories than having the money sitting in the bank somewhere. He’s having fun thinking about the adventures; I’m trying to write about mine.
The two lines of the bridge re-emphasis that he knew he had options, and he chose what he chose, and isn’t regretting one dollar spent, be it US dollars, Pesos, Euros or Eastern Caribbean currency.
In the final Chorus, he swaps out a few items for some others, expanding his list ever further. I’m sure he could keep going if the song were long enough, maybe even write a book or two.
The final lines summarize perfectly his priorities. If he wasn’t lovin and livin, it was WASTED.
While I don’t identify with all the items in his list, I realize it’s just a list of fun things that happens to rhyme. I don’t have to check every box to identify with the song. I’ve never been into fancy cars. First class tickets only happen if I get upgraded on standby, but I could just as well miss the flight and sleep on the airport floor. I’m not a big gambler, but like so many things in the song, the roulette wheel could be in a casino, or just another metaphor.
I’ve always assumed a double meaning with this song, and the final lines are my indication - the song is referring to wealth and money, but it could easily be referring to TIME. Listen to it again, and think of spending TIME not money. You can’t put time in a bank, but you can invest it. Be present in the moment, be mindful of your surroundings, live in the now as much as possible. When it’s spent, it’s just gone. I’m choosing every day to have grand memories for my investment.