Willy Porter is a contemporary American folk musician from Wisconsin. His c… Read Full Bio ↴Willy Porter is a contemporary American folk musician from Wisconsin. His career as a published singer began in 1990 with his album, The Trees Have Soul, although his popularity began in 1994 with his album Dog Eared Dream, which had the successful single Angry Words, and led to his touring as an opening act for artists including Tori Amos and The Cranberries. Recently, Porter opened for Jethro Tull, where he formed a friendship with Tull's guitarist, Martin Barre.

Be Here Now
Willy Porter Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If we can think it, we can do it, we can be it
We've got to be here now

Can't find your soul inside a bottle
Can't smoke love out of a pipe
Ain't no shortcut to the Bodhisattva
Only dim out your flashlight

If we can think it, we can do it, we can be it
We've got to be here now

It's like my brother Tom, he told me
He said, "Man, you think too hard
If you can't make a decision
Get your head out of the way of your heart"

If you can think it, you can do it, you can be it
You've got to be here now

May your feet be firmly grounded
And rooted in black soil
Give your conscience to the children
Help to spread some peace and joy

If we can think it, we can do it, we can be it
We've got to be here now

Overall Meaning

Willy Porter's song Be Here Now talks about the importance of being present and living in the moment. The lyrics convey the message that we have the power within ourselves to achieve anything we set our minds to, as long as we focus on the present moment and take action towards our goals. The verses caution against using vices like alcohol and drugs to escape reality, and remind us that shortcuts to enlightenment do not exist.

In the first verse, Porter suggests that if we can imagine something, we can make it happen. This is followed by the chorus, which emphasizes the importance of being present and involved in the here and now. In the second verse, the song references Porter's brother Tom, who advises him to stop overthinking and follow his heart. The final verse urges listeners to stay grounded and to share their knowledge and compassion with others.

Overall, the song encourages listeners to take responsibility for their own lives and to make the most of each moment. By living in the present and taking action towards our goals, we can create a better world for ourselves and for those around us.

Line by Line Meaning

If we can think it, we can do it, we can be it
Anything we can imagine, we can achieve and become as long as we believe that we can and take action to make it happen. However, we need to live in the present moment to make it a reality.

We've got to be here now
To make our dreams a reality, we need to be present and mindful of the present moment, and fully engaged in it.

Can't find your soul inside a bottle
You cannot find happiness, joy, or inner peace by excessive drinking or any substance abuse. You need to look for it in other ways like connecting with nature, loved ones, meditation, and spiritual practices.

Can't smoke love out of a pipe
Love cannot be bought, sold, invoked, or experienced using smoke or any substances. It comes from giving and receiving affection, kindness, respect, and gratitude from yourself and others.

Ain't no shortcut to the Bodhisattva
Achieving enlightenment or being spiritually awakened, like the Buddhist Bodhisattva, cannot be rushed or shortcuts. It takes self-awareness, humility, compassion, and long practice.

Only dim out your flashlight
If you try to rush your spiritual journey, you may end up making things worse by losing sight of your true purpose and getting lost in the dark.

It's like my brother Tom, he told me
The singer's brother, Tom, gave him some wise advice that he is sharing with the listeners.

He said, "Man, you think too hard
Tom's advice was that the artist worries and overthinks stuff, which clouds his decision-making abilities, preventing him from following his heart.

If you can't make a decision
If you find it challenging to make a choice, it would help if you stopped thinking too much and relied on your intuition, heart, and inner voice to guide you.

Get your head out of the way of your heart"
The heart is wiser than the thinking mind and has more direct access to your true purpose and desires. So, you need to trust it more than your mind when making crucial choices.

May your feet be firmly grounded
The singer wishes for us to have a strong foundation, both physically and mentally, so that we may feel secure, stable, and aligned with our values and beliefs.

And rooted in black soil
By being grounded in the dark, rich, and organic soil, the artist symbolically means that we should stay connected to our roots, traditions, ancestors, and nature, even as we pursue our dreams.

Give your conscience to the children
Teach the younger generation how to be responsible, kind, fair, and empathetic, and show them how their actions can benefit themselves and others.

Help to spread some peace and joy
Lastly, the singer urges us to use our talents, resources, communication, and efforts to make the world a more peaceful, harmonious, and joyful place for all.

Contributed by Audrey M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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