Exploring the Deeper Themes in Four Different Songs

Arise and Glory Days by Ella Wheeler Wilcox and Bruce Springsteen

Pick ONE of the following questions and discuss. Answers must be in paragraph form. Pay particular attention to dates the poems were published and make sure your answers are reasonable given the time period. 1. While both of these texts talk about seemingly different subjects, they share a deeper theme. What is each song saying (i.e., paraphrase the texts), and what is the deeper theme that these two texts share? (Be sure to consider the speaker’s tone as well.) In what ways are the two texts similar and different, how do they complement each other and contribute to the deeper theme? Why is this significant? Ella Wheeler Wilcox - Arise (1916?) Why sit ye idly dreaming all the day, While the golden, precious hours flit away? See you not the day is waning, waning fast? That the morn’s already vanished in the past? When the glowing noon approaches, we will rest Who have worked through all the morning; but at best, If you work with zeal and ardor till the night, You can only make the wasted moments right. Think you life was made for dreaming, nothing more, When God’s work lies all unfinished at your door? Souls to save and hearts to strengthen—ah! such work, Such a richly freighted labor, who should shirk? Then arise, O idle dreamer! Dreams are sweet, But better flowers are growing at your feet. If you crush, or pass unheeding, idle friend, You shall answer for their ruin in the end. Bruce Springsteen – Glory Days (1984) I had a friend was a big baseball player, Back in high school. He could throw that speedball by ya’, Make you look like a fool boy. Saw him the other night at this roadside bar. I was walkin’ in, he was walking out. We went back inside, sat down, had a few drinks, But all he kept talkin’ ‘bout was Chorus Glory days. Well they’ll pass you by, Glory days. In the wink of a young girl’s eye Glory days. Glory days. Well there’s a girl that lives up the block. Back in school she could turn all the boys’ heads. Sometimes on a Friday I’ll stop by And have a few drink, after she puts her kids to bed. Her and her husband, Bobby, well they split up, I guess it’s two years gone by now. We just sit around, talkin’ ‘bout the old times. She says when she feels like crying She starts laughing thinkin’ ‘bout Chorus Now I think I’m going down to the well tonight, And I’m gonna drink ‘til I get my fill. And I hope when I get old, I don’t sit around thinkin’ about it, But I probably will. Yeah, just sittin’ back, tryin’ to recapture, A little of the glory of. Well time slips away And leaves you with nothin’ mister but Boring stories of glory days 3 2. While both of these poems talk about seemingly different subjects, they share a deeper theme. What is each song saying, and what is the deeper theme that these two songs share? How do these songs complement each other and contribute to the deeper theme? “Are You Gonna Go My Way” (1993) – Lenny Kravitz (b. 1964) I was born long ago I am the chosen I'm the one I have come to save the day And I won't leave until I'm done So that's why you've got to try You got to breath and have some fun Though I'm not paid I play this game And I won't stop until I'm done But what I really want to know is Are you gonna go my way? And I got to got to know I don't know why we always cry This we must leave and get undone We must engage and rearrange And turn this planet back to one So tell me why we got to die And kill each other one by one We've got to love and rub-a-dub We've got to dance and be in love But what I really want to know is Are you gonna go my way? And I got to got to know Are you gonna go my way? 'Cause baby I got to know, yeah “What Did I Do With My Life?”(2004) – Lenny Kravitz (b. 1964) Did I work on the battlefield? Did I do what I thought was right? Did I do all that I could do? Did I put up a good fight? Did I love all that I should? To everyone in my sight? What did I do with my life? Did I exercise giving and forgiveness with all my might? Did I honor my freedom and did I live in the light? Did I cherish my moments? Did I take a good enough bite? What did I do with my life? You can live any way you wanna All you have to do is dance Achieve anything you thought of You just have to take the chance You can fall in love with your life 'Cause that truly is romance What did I do with my life? Did I learn what I came to learn? Did I listen with my heart? Did I do what I came to do? And how did I play the part? Did I see all the beauty? Because living is an art What did I do with my life? You can live any way you wanna All you have to do is dance Achieve anything you thought of You just have to take the chance Learn to love your life 'Cause that truly is romance Oh what did I do with my life? What did I do? Say it again! What did I do with my life? Oh what did I do? What did I do with my life? What did I do? What did I do?