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All You Got
I was first introduced to the Marcus Brothers approximately ten years ago. It was before they recorded professionally, before they had become an official band. They had written a few songs and recorded them. Someone got hold of the songs and copied them onto a CD. Someone got a hold of that someone and made their own CD. That someone passed it on to a few someones who passed it on to a few more people until it reached my sister. By extension, it reached me as well.
From the very first time I heard their music it sparked something within me. It kindled my imagination. It resonated.
Over the years they’ve become a band called 8th Day and put our professionally recorded albums. On my recent trip to New York I discovered that the Marcus Brothers had put out a new album. I immediately bought it and on my bus ride home listened to it. The bus is dark and silent. The baby is, thankfully, sleeping in the seat beside me. I put in the ear buds and begin listening. This song. Wow.
This is my favorite song. The truth hit me hard, smacked me in the face, took my breath away, made me marvel. I need to internalize this message. I’ve got to give it all I got.
All You Got
after one hundred and twenty-five years
you go up to heaven you climb all those stairs
they won’t ask you were you wise like Solomon
they won’t ask you were you strong like Samson
they’ll ask just one question
and you’ll give just one answer
it’s the end of the game
and only one thing matters
they’ll say did you give it all you got
because in this life you only have what you got
so give it all you got
in this world we only have what we got
so give it all you got
Such a clever play on words. We only have what we’ve got, but we’ve got exactly what we need to give it our all. That is the only thing that is expected from us; that’s what we’re capable of doing.
if you say it’s easy I’ll say it’s not
you gotta give it all you got
if you say it’s not for you I’ll say it’s your lot
you gotta give it all you got
if you say you’re tired I’ll say tick tock
you gotta give it all you got
you could put my album on the shelf to rot
just give it all you got.
No excuses. This is your lot whether you like it or not, it’s what you’ve got, so give it your best shot. (Put my album on the shelf to rot – I love their self-deprecating humor.)
after working so hard and wiping those tears
you look in the mirror you face all your fears
don’t be a fool trying to be wise like Solomon
only the weak try to be strong like Samson
I love those last two lines. Don’t be a fool trying to be wise like Solomon and only the weak try to be strong like Samson. True wisdom and strength is to be myself and not try to be like anybody else.
I did what I said
I got no one to blame
only one thing matters
at the end of the game
they’ll say did you give it all you got
This is a question I should ask myself every day, during every challenging moment of every day. Am I giving it all I got? Because at the end of the game, when I climb all those stairs, I want to be able to answer: Yes, I gave it all I got.