A Good Man

As an english assignment, i am to take a song, and tear it apart. In a good way, of course...

I picked Emerson Drive- A Good Man

***

I don’t need a whole lot of money 
But I wouldn’t turn a lottery down
I just need a little green in my pocket
So I can buy my buddies a round
All I want is a place to lay my head with the woman I love lyin’ in my bed
Kind of understated
My dreams aren’t that complicated…

I wanna be the one
When all is said and done
Who lived a good life, loved a good wife, and always helped someone in trouble
On the day they lay me down
I want everyone to gather ‘round
And say he was a father, brother, neighbour and a friend
He was a good man!

I used to dream of being a rock star
And seein’ the world in style
Used to dream of havin’ a fast car
And driving that miracle mile
But I’ve heard tales those streets aren’t paved in gold
They’re full of pot holes and empty souls
Who never learn…
Love is something you gotta earn

I wanna be the one
When all is said and done
Who lived a good life, loved a good wife, and always helped someone in trouble
On the day they lay me down
Want everyone to gather ‘round
And say he was a father, brother, neighbour and a friend
He was a good man!

When I’m gone, I wanna leave a legacy
Of love and laughs and honesty behind me
Behind me…

I wanna be the one
When all is said and done
Who lived a good life, loved a good wife, and always helped someone in trouble
On the day they lay me down
Want everyone to gather ‘round
And say he was a father, brother, neighbour and a friend
He was a good man…

Yaaaaa…I wanna be a good man…a father, a brother, a neighbour, and a friend
I wanna be a good man!

***In my opinion, its about a man who wants nothing more than to be a strong simple man everyone can look up to and respect. His aspirations are not above means, and he only desires to live life as a normal man. A good man.

1: What were the songs each of you choose individually (song name and artist)?

Emerson Drive- A Good Man

2: What was the song you choose as a group, and why (song name and artist)?

I wonder.

3: What is the song about?

In my opinion, its about a man who wants nothing more than to be a strong simple man everyone can look up to and respect. His aspirations are not above means, and he only desires to live life as a normal man. A good man.

4: How do you know? Support your assertion.

I may sound a bit idealistic, but i believe he straight up says he wants to be a good man. In all seriousness though. The things he wants in life are not those of the rich, powerful, or poor, or weak. He wants normality, a steady life of helping others, loving his family and friends.

5: Why was it worth choosing/writing about? What about the song appealed to
the group?

Its the song that i try to live by.  I only want a normal life. I want to have a family, I dont want a lot of money, and i want to be remembered as a man who tried to make everyone elses life better.

6: Does it have a video? Does this video alter or augment your perception of the
song? If so, how?

The video is in one part, very good at portraying the "Good Man" on the other part, its the band playing in a barn with splices of hard working real men in videos or pictures being thrown in. Sorry, but country songs arent the best for videos...then again nor is rap.  It doesnt alter my perceptions of the lyrics at all though.

7: How does the music affect how you interpret the lyrics?

Well, its country music with a nice twang in it. Normally i associate things like that to "Good 'ole country boy" or back woods redneck in AL. But, i like to stick to the former rather than the latter. The country music fits my mental image of a good man very well, being raised by people who grew up very southern, theres no way to escape that thought.

8: If you were to create a video of this song, what would it be like?

I would most likely remove the band entirely and only show "Good Men" It would give more support to the lyrics, and less from the band. Making the words more impactive.