Anything
Jonny Lang Lyrics

Let me tell you
The singer wants to share his personal experience and insights with the listener

I remember in the days of old
The singer recollects the days when he was told he cannot be successful with his passion for music

Doesn't seem that long ago
Though it feels like it was just a while ago, it was still relentlessly nagging him, pushing him to abandon his dreams

It was, "Johnny you won't be nothing
People around the singer had made him believe that his choice of career will not provide for him, and he will not be successful at it

Unless you do what you're told"
The advice was for him to pursue medicine or law instead of pursuing his career in music

Study medicine or study law
The people around the singer advised him to pursue these professions instead of music

And please put away the guitar
They advised him to detach from his passion and focus on something more ‘practical’

The best you'll ever be
The people around the singer believed he would never reach success in his chosen field

Is a local star at the local bar
The people around the singer believed he could only perform at local bars and wouldn’t reach global success

But I went and did it anyway
The singer decided to follow his passion and pursue a career in music anyway

Family helping all the way
Encouragement and support from the singer's family were instrumental in his success

Now I'm here today, 5 records later
The singer's dedication and hard work contributed to his success and led him to the present moment

So see you can hear me say
The singer wants to convey to his audience that anything is possible with hard work and dedication

'Don't let 'em tell you can't be
The singer encourages the listeners to ignore naysayers who tell them they cannot succeed in their pursuits

Anything you wanna be
One should not limit their aspirations and always aim for what they truly want to achieve

Don't be deceived
The singer warns against believing in pessimistic advice and doubts that can hinder one’s success

Anything's possible'
The singer repeats this message to emphasize his point that one shouldn't limit oneself in achieving their aspirations

'If you will just believe
The singer is emphasizing the importance of belief in oneself when chasing goals and aspirations

Then you can succeed
The singer is reminding the listener that success is possible with hard work and determination

It might not be easy
The singer is acknowledging that the journey to success is not easy

But anything's possible'
The singer reiterates that one shouldn't abandon their dreams and aspirations due to the tough journey to get there

What if old Ben Franklin
The singer brings up Benjamin Franklin as an example of someone who did not give up on their goals despite the risks

Would've been frightened by lightning?
The singer is highlighting how Ben Franklin faced danger when he pursued his experiments with electricity, but he did not let that hinder his curiosity and determination

If he would of stayed inside then
The singer emphasizes that if Ben Franklin had played it safe and avoided danger, then he would not have discovered his ground-breaking theories about electricity

We'd still be in the dark
The singer is emphasizing how we all benefit from people pursuing their goals, as their discoveries can bring light to society literally or figuratively

Martin Luther King
The singer highlights Martin Luther King to remind the audience of the civil rights movement in America, particularly how MLK pursued his dream of racial equality despite the threatening environment

Did some beautiful things
MLK's hard work and determination led to impactful, positive changes in America

All because they had a dream
The singer is emphasizing that MLK’s dream was one of the driving forces behind his change-making efforts

Just like you and me
The singer is reminding the audience that dreams are not unique to famous people like MLK, and everyone has the power to aspire and reach their goals

Don't you know it's gonna be sweat
The singer is acknowledging that achieving big dreams is not a simple feat, and it requires hard work and determination (‘sweat’)

And some tears, some hard years
In addition to hard work, the pursuit of one's dreams also involves some setbacks, obstacles, and challenges

Best believe they'll be hurt
The singer acknowledges that trying to achieve dreams can lead to some pain, both physical and emotional

And some pain, expect some rain
The ‘pain’ here implies setbacks and failures. The mention of ‘rain’ can be interpreted as a metaphor for hard times, which the singer expects while pursuing one's dreams

You're gonna make it if you try
The singer is reminding the audience that one can achieve their goals if they keep working hard and not give up

Keep your eye on the prize, you can take it
The phrase ‘Keep your eye on the prize’ means staying focused on the end goal. The singer is telling the listener that if they focus on their goals and work hard, they can accomplish anything

Might have to work it but it's gonna be worth it
The singer acknowledges that the pursuit of dreams requires hard work, but the reward will be worth the effort

Don't let em tell you that you don't deserve it
The singer is telling the listener not to believe others when they say that they don't deserve a happy, successful life, and should instead follow their passions

No, no, don't let 'em tell you can't be
The singer is repeating his earlier message to not allow others to discourage them from pursuing their dreams

Anything you wanna be
The singer is repeating the idea that one can aspire to achieve anything one desires

No, no, anything's possible
The musical repetition is driving home the point that with the right mindset and determination, one can achieve anything they desire

No, no, anything's possible
Continued repetition of the phrase, emphasizing this important point to the audience that they should move forward with their dreams and aspirations, despite any potential obstacles

No, no, anything's possible
Final repetition of the phrase, solidifying the message that with a combination of hard work and determination, anything is possible, and one should not be deterred by the naysayers or obstacles in one's way.