Michael Lowman is a singer songwriter born in Durban, South Africa. He grew… Read Full Bio ↴Michael Lowman is a singer songwriter born in Durban, South Africa. He grew up in a home filled with music from iconic artists such as The Beatles and Eric Clapton, and although no one in his family apart from his father played a musical instrument, Michael developed a huge love and appreciation for the art form. When he was just ten years old his father was killed in a car accident and it was around this time that he started to view the world through a different set of eyes. An older set of eyes. The next few years would prove to be some of the hardest of his life. He has often said that these were his “material gathering” years, and although he didn’t know it at the time the songwriter in him was taking shape. He started playing guitar at the age of 17 and started singing and writing songs shortly after. Michael, now just 23, sounds like someone who has been playing all his life.

Growing up in South Africa seems to have grounded this musician and given him a different perspective on how the world works, and it certainly comes across in his personality and in his music.

In July of 2009 Michael sent Scott Austin (CEO of Authentik Artists) an email seeking advice from someone “in the know” - someone who he later described as being relatable and surprisingly approachable - In the email Michael also sent Scott the links to some recently uploaded YouTube videos. The two began emailing back and forth and to the amazement of both men, each had found something worth holding onto. After just a few months of planning, fund raising and songwriting, Michael found himself on a plane to Las Vegas ready to dive head first into his dreams.

Michael arrived in Las Vegas on December 16th 2009 and over the next few days, with the help of producer Mark Needham (Fleetwood Mac, The Killers), Scott Austin and some incredibly talented musicians, the “dream team” set out to record six songs in the comfort of the Studio at The Palms - music and lyrics by Michael Lowman.

With his gift for storytelling and an underlying rhythmic and melodic sense on guitar, this young man just might be the next “real deal” to hit the music scene.

Producer Mark Needham (Fleetwood Mac, Chris Isaak, The Killers) along with musicians Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction, Alanis Morissette) Dave Palmer (Chris Isaak, Fiona Apple) Robin DiMaggio (Paul Simon, Steve Vai) and Eric Schermerhorn (Seal, Iggy Pop)

What I See
Michael Lowman Lyrics

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It seems like the world has come undone
So much is said so little done
It's in the hands of you and me
To leave behind a legacy, a home for those to come

The politicians of this world don't own ya
They're breeding lies it's their disguised persona
Its up to you to make a choice

So go ahead and use your voice, the time to stand is now

There's still fields that cover up the pain
Where the children play
Still wars forced upon the man

I believe in what I see but not what I see today
There's got to be an easier way
If everyone agreed to peace and equality for all
It's not so hard to realise the truth
It's not so hard to empathise with you

I'm counting back the years till when
I last saw somebody hold a strangers hand
Its time we put the past aside and read between the lines
Its time we made way for change

I see children holding up the guns
They can barely lift the weight
Of the soldier they've become

Chorus

Overall Meaning

The song "What I See" by Michael Lowman talks about the ongoing problems in the world and how little is being done despite the constant talk. The world seems to be in a state of chaos and it is up to every individual to make a difference and leave behind a legacy for those who will come after us. The song speaks about the politicians who are only interested in their own benefits and how it is up to the masses to use their voice and make a difference.

The lyrics talk about the pain in the world, the wars, the suffering of the children and how we have to make a choice to bring about peace and equality for all. Michael believes in what he sees, but not what he sees today. There must be an easier way and everyone needs to agree to peace and equality for all. He talks about the need to put the past behind and read between the lines to make way for change.

The chorus of the song talks about the tragic end of childhood innocence with children holding up guns and becoming soldiers way too early. It is a song that speaks about the need for change and how it is up to us to make a difference.

Line by Line Meaning

It seems like the world has come undone
The current state of the world is chaotic and disorganized.

So much is said so little done
There's a lot of talk about fixing the world's problems, but not enough action is taken to truly make a difference.

It's in the hands of you and me
We all have a responsibility to create a better world for future generations.

To leave behind a legacy, a home for those to come
We should strive to make our mark on the world in a positive way, creating a better future for those who come after us.

The politicians of this world don't own ya
We have the power to make our own choices and not be swayed by the political agenda of others.

They're breeding lies it's their disguised persona
Politicians often deceive the public in order to gain power and support for their own agenda.

Its up to you to make a choice
Individuals must take responsibility for their actions and choices.

So go ahead and use your voice, the time to stand is now
Now is the time to speak up and take action for what we believe in.

There's still fields that cover up the pain
Despite the chaos in the world, there are still areas of beauty and hope that serve to mask the pain and suffering that exists.

Where the children play
Children are able to find joy and happiness in even the darkest times.

Still wars forced upon the man
War is still a reality that affects many people around the world, despite efforts to create peace.

I believe in what I see but not what I see today
The world has become so chaotic that I struggle to believe in the reality of what I'm seeing.

There's got to be an easier way
There must be a better solution to the world's problems that we have yet to discover.

If everyone agreed to peace and equality for all
The world could be a much better place if we all shared the common goal of creating peace and equality for everyone.

It's not so hard to realise the truth
The truth is often right in front of us, but it may take some effort to recognize it.

It's not so hard to empathise with you
We can all make an effort to try and understand each other and put ourselves in other people's shoes.

I'm counting back the years till when
I'm reflecting on the past and comparing it to the present, hoping to see progress or change.

I last saw somebody hold a strangers hand
Acts of kindness and compassion towards strangers seem rare in today's world.

Its time we put the past aside and read between the lines
We need to move forward and strive to understand the underlying meaning behind events and actions in order to create a better future.

Its time we made way for change
It's time to take action and create the change we want to see in the world.

I see children holding up the guns
The reality of war is that children are often recruited to fight, taking on more responsibility than they are able to bear.

They can barely lift the weight
Children are not physically or emotionally equipped to handle the demands of war.

Of the soldier they've become
Through the trauma of war, children are transformed into soldiers who must act tough and unfeeling in order to survive.

Contributed by Penelope D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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