Are You Coming Home?

Are You Coming Home by timpepper

Are You Coming Home? There's a story here and it goes like this:

I've lived a life of great expectations. I don't know if it's because I'm part of generation X, or is it Y? Either way it's been said that we all expect too much. We feel entitled. I don't recall a time when I ever consciously felt entitled but perhaps there is some truth to it. I've always expected that I was capable of great things and what's more I've expected that great things would happen to, around, in the general vicinity and basically all over me. What sense of entitlement?

Seriously though...Somehow I, and perhaps my whole generation, have been raised up with this idea that greatness is not something to be strived for but rather something that we deserve and expect. I've lived enough life to realise that greatness is not a bad thing to desire but that to expect it just because I live and breath and walk around is maybe a bit naive.

The picture I was painting in the song, "Are You Coming Home" is that of a person sitting alone in the universe waiting for God to throw a big lump of greatness, or maybe purpose, or achievement, or some such thing into their laps. After striving for a dream for a few minutes I got pissed off that what I expected to happen didn't happen.

Maybe one of the best lessons I've learned in the past few years is that expecations are often not met. It might be one of the best things that ever happened to me that I learned that goals don't reach out and touch you...you have to reach out for them and probably keep reaching and growing and reaching some more. It's probably a great thing that I learned this lesson early. Once your expectations are shattered you can move on and start to get things done.

Of all the songs I've ever written, this one of the ones I am most proud of. It's had a couple of incarnations and versions and what not. The one above is a little more rocked up and "Nashvilled" than the original but the message is the same: If you're searching for purpose...keep searching. If you're striving for greatness...keep striving. Get mad and angry and then get over it and get on with it.

The first time I played this song in public I cried. Yeah....I cried. And I'm not ashamed to say it.