Career Choice
Ben Lee Lyrics

When I was a kid I was best at whatever I did
As a child, I had a natural talent for almost any task.

When I was a kid I was smart, at the top of the class
As a child, I excelled academically and was always ahead of my peers.

When I was a lad I was sure I had the world in my hands
As a young person, I was confident and felt like I had infinite potential.

I was my own teacher I had my own plan
I was self-motivated and had a strong sense of direction for my future.

I could have been an athlete could have trained all the time
I had the physical ability to become a professional athlete with relentless dedication.

Been just like the others could have left them behind
I could have risen to the top of my field and outperformed others in my sport.

But I was too lazy I could not see ahead
Unfortunately, I lacked the necessary drive to fully commit to a single path.

All I thought of was music that was filling my head
Music was a constant passion and distraction, occupying my thoughts and creative energy.

I could have been a painter painting life in a rush
I had the artistic talent and vision to create captivating paintings in my own unique style.

All I saw in a day on canvas with my brush
I could have translated the beauty of everyday life into vivid artworks.

But I was just painting my life in a song
Instead, I chose to express myself through music, using songwriting to tell my own stories and emotions.

Getting all the chords right getting all the words wrong
Despite my dedication to music, sometimes my technical proficiency outshone my lyrical abilities.

Full of stories of crimes, sex and beer, girls and drugs
As a writer, I could have crafted edgy, provocative stories about taboo subjects.

But instead I was writing my first song so bad
However, I was still learning as a songwriter and struggled to create polished, professional pieces.

On the cheapest guitar that the music store had
Despite limited resources, I persisted in my music endeavors with whatever equipment was available to me.

Cause instead I strummed on guitars
Ultimately, even though I had many other options available to me, I always found myself coming back to music.

I could have been a lawyer defending some guy
I had enough intellectual prowess to become a successful attorney and serve in legal capacity.

With a paycheck so big for my heart paid to lie
However, I couldn't bring myself to compromise my personal values and integrity for the sake of profit and wealth.

But instead I was keeping the truth to myself
Instead, I focused on personal artistic expression rather than external validation or financial gain.

In the records I placed one by one on my shelf
Each new album and song I created felt like a personal victory, adding to the collection of works I cherished and honored.

But here I am playing to people sat down
Despite all the other careers I could have pursued, I am content playing music to crowds of listeners who enjoy and appreciate my work.

Nursing their beers while I play the clown
Even if my audience isn't the most glamorous or high profile, I still get the satisfaction of entertaining and moving people with my music.

I could have been a racing car driver speed mad
With my competitive spirit and thirst for adrenaline, I could have succeeded in the fast-paced world of motorsports.

Seeking the thrills that my youth never had
The daring and adventurous lifestyle of a racecar driver would have fulfilled my childhood fantasies of adventure and excitement.

But instead I was busy enjoying my age
As an adult, I prioritized enjoying my current lifestyle and hobbies instead of consistently chasing new thrills.

With teen punk rock anthems and hearts paid to rage
Through my music, I was able to channel my passions and emotions into a creative outlet and connect with others who felt the same way.

I could have been a scientist, doctor or man
I had the intellectual aptitude to excel as a scientist or medical professional with years of education and training.

With a stethoscope diagnosing ladies' old hands
Instead of treating patients, I spent my time refining my musical abilities and perfecting my instrument.

On my ten year old hands meant for toy ships and cars
As a child, my hands were meant for play and exploration, but instead I honed my guitar-playing skills until they were calloused and scarred.

I could have been so much
Looking back on all the opportunities I didn't take, I could have accomplished much more in many different fields.

But I wasted my time on useless guitars
However, I don't regret pursuing music instead, as it has brought me the most personal fulfillment and happiness.

And I'm glad
At the end of the day, I'm content with my choices and grateful for the experiences and skills that music has given me.

Cause when I was a kid I was best at whatever I did
As a child, I had boundless potential and excelled at anything I put my mind to, including music.