I feel that this song is Anthony's way of expressing two things: (1) that life will ALWAYS have "uncertainty", but it should not stop you from being able to live or make decisions, and (2) not to let the appearance of other people's lives distort the reality of your own life in this regard (I feel like he uses himself as an example).
The first verse seems like his way of empathizing with this idea. In the 1st paragraph, he relates a person's internal doubts about their job/work--for him, his music and the perfectionist in him questioning if his lyrics are too metaphoric or misunderstood. In the 2nd paragraph he relates to the classic "cynic" in all of us...in his case, trivializing songwriting as simply "detailing every ounce of pain he's been through". He continues by referencing a person's natural fear of "overworking" and the possibility that our jobs will take an undesired and permanent toll on us--in his case, how opening himself up to write deep and emotional music might impact him, and his desire to maintain a connection to the normal, non-expressive everyday life (leaving a "trail" to keep himself grounded).
And obviously, AG is a successful musician and songwriter and we would think him crazy to doubt his own music in that way, but that's exactly the point of the first 2 paragraphs. All people--you, me, rock stars, athletes, celebrities--have doubts about what they do in life on a daily basis. It's human nature. We should expect, be responsible for, and not be afraid of even our most confident decisions to carry a measure of uncertainty from day-to-day.
The chorus is this exact idea, that the journey of our lives is not some "easy" thing and will not always be clear-cut (inaccurate/imprecise). There being "no gift without a price" means that no one can reap life's rewards for free. You can't live depressed and uncertain then expect to be rewarded without taking risks, and failing (being "wrong"), and learning from your mistakes. Even when your soul is "shaken and lost all direction." I think this song is speaks perfectly to Generation Y'ers like me who grew up in the late 80s and 90s with the unrealistic notion that life was a piece of cake, that we could do anything or be anyone, and that we should all strive to find our "purpose" in life. All very good thoughts, but not really helpful when expectations are totally crushed by reality. The lyrics of this song speak wonderfully to being content with, and embracing, life's constant uncertainties.
I feel that this song is Anthony's way of expressing two things: (1) that life will ALWAYS have "uncertainty", but it should not stop you from being able to live or make decisions, and (2) not to let the appearance of other people's lives distort the reality of your own life in this regard (I feel like he uses himself as an example).
The first verse seems like his way of empathizing with this idea. In the 1st paragraph, he relates a person's internal doubts about their job/work--for him, his music and the perfectionist in him questioning if his lyrics are too metaphoric or misunderstood. In the 2nd paragraph he relates to the classic "cynic" in all of us...in his case, trivializing songwriting as simply "detailing every ounce of pain he's been through". He continues by referencing a person's natural fear of "overworking" and the possibility that our jobs will take an undesired and permanent toll on us--in his case, how opening himself up to write deep and emotional music might impact him, and his desire to maintain a connection to the normal, non-expressive everyday life (leaving a "trail" to keep himself grounded).
And obviously, AG is a successful musician and songwriter and we would think him crazy to doubt his own music in that way, but that's exactly the point of the first 2 paragraphs. All people--you, me, rock stars, athletes, celebrities--have doubts about what they do in life on a daily basis. It's human nature. We should expect, be responsible for, and not be afraid of even our most confident decisions to carry a measure of uncertainty from day-to-day.
The chorus is this exact idea, that the journey of our lives is not some "easy" thing and will not always be clear-cut (inaccurate/imprecise). There being "no gift without a price" means that no one can reap life's rewards for free. You can't live depressed and uncertain then expect to be rewarded without taking risks, and failing (being "wrong"), and learning from your mistakes. Even when your soul is "shaken and lost all direction." I think this song is speaks perfectly to Generation Y'ers like me who grew up in the late 80s and 90s with the unrealistic notion that life was a piece of cake, that we could do anything or be anyone, and that we should all strive to find our "purpose" in life. All very good thoughts, but not really helpful when expectations are totally crushed by reality. The lyrics of this song speak wonderfully to being content with, and embracing, life's constant uncertainties.