Slow Down
Acoustic Junction Lyrics
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put me to sleep if I'm awake
I hear the earth mother screaming
she's nearly had all she can take.
People where are we going
why must we get there so fast
we do things without really knowing
Slow down people
where are we going so fast
there's still time to change the road we're on take
the less traveled path.
What kind of sanity is this
where phony values reign supreme
when you're successful if you're rich
we call it the American dream.
And in this land of sleepwalkers
what will cause us to awake
and find the dream is really a nightmare
leaves us unconscious in it's wake
The lyrics to Acoustic Junction's Slow Down speak to the chaotic pace of modern life and the pressure people feel to constantly move forward. The opening lines suggest a sense of disorientation and a desire for guidance--the singer doesn't know if they're dreaming or awake, and the earth mother (a reference to the natural world) is crying out in distress. The second stanza questions the motivations behind our perpetual rush. Why are we so fixated on speed and progress, the song asks, without taking the time to consider the long-term impact of our actions? The chorus asserts that it's not too late to slow down and take a more deliberate path.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake me up if I'm dreaming
If I'm living in a dream world, let me know the truth
put me to sleep if I'm awake
If reality is unbearable, allow me to escape from it
I hear the earth mother screaming
Environmental destruction is hurting the planet
she's nearly had all she can take.
Mother nature is close to reaching its limit
People where are we going
Where is humanity headed?
why must we get there so fast
Why the rush to get to our destination?
we do things without really knowing
We act without fully understanding the consequences
how long the side effects will last.
The lasting impact of our actions is unknown
Slow down people
Take it easy, humans
where are we going so fast
What is the hurry?
there's still time to change the road we're on take
We can still alter our path for the better
the less traveled path.
The road not taken might lead to greener pastures
What kind of sanity is this
What kind of reality are we living in?
where phony values reign supreme
False beliefs dominate our society
when you're successful if you're rich
Financial wealth is often equated with success
we call it the American dream.
This is what we consider to be the epitome of success
And in this land of sleepwalkers
In a society where people are just going through the motions
what will cause us to awake
What will spur us to action?
and find the dream is really a nightmare
To realize that our perceived reality is actually terrible
leaves us unconscious in it's wake
Leaves us in a daze, unable to comprehend what has happened
Contributed by Xavier K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hollie
on Do What You Do
I was just hiking in a forest with a friend when she said that somebody started to build a house nearby. We went to explore. The first thing I noticed was a tree growing in the middle of where the floor should have been. It triggered a memory of a song I knew when I was a kid, that I probably learned when I was at a long-ago campfire with somebody playing the guitar. It took me a while, but gradually the words to Uncle Jed's shed came to me. I sang it for my friend, and we both totally enjoyed the moment. So, thank you, for this delightful, quirky song