Ask Yourself Lyrics
Never needed the proof
Just followed the rules
I pick up the paces and move my feet as fast as I can
I'm always falling behind
Just float in the lines
You want more and ambition's taken it's toll on you
Well hey your confidence is fading with your youth
That dreamers always get what they desire
Well I've found
The more I want the less I got
Is this the life you've been waiting for
Or are you hoping that you'll be where you want with a little more
I know 'cause I clean up the mess every now and then
Fold the line along the seam
Force a smile and never say what you mean
You're in the promised land in someone else's dream
If you want more
And you'll get there
Throw a quarter in the well
It's ok, you're fine
ambition's not a crime
That dreamers always get what they desire
Well I've found
The more I want the less I got
Is this the life you've been waiting for
Or are you hoping that you'll be where you want with a little more
I love this song because it reminds me of someone in my family.
To me this song is about constantly chasing money and the next promotion or what have you. Mark is basically saying you have a choice, you can spend your life chasing paper and prestige or you can slow down and actually experience life for what it is. In my experience I would gladly make $30k/year and have free time than make $60+ a year and live for work. I especially find the line
"Well I've found
The more I want the less I got"
to be very true. People need to be happy with what they have but that is understandably hard in a environment where one is constantly bombarded by images of whats "in" or the latest and greatest.
It's also about being ambitious I think. Maybe at some point life hasn't happened how you wanted it to, and you have to ask yourself whether you can be at peace with that and find happiness anyway.