ExpressYourself4Him

Inspiration Behind Tom Sawyer:

Tom Sawyer is a fictional character conceived within the mind of Mark Twain. Tom is a young boy who grew up along the banks of the Mississippi River, highlighted by unconstrained mischievous adventures exploring this massive body of water. The inspiration behind Rush’s song relied on Mark Twain’s 1876 novel and Canadian poet Pye Dubois. These resources helped Rush imagine what a modern Tom Sawyer would be like if alive today.

Biblical Application:

The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ ⁵ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. ⁶ And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. ⁷ You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. ⁸ But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you,”Ezekiel 2:4-8.

Exegesis of Tom Sawyer:

A modern day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today’s Tom Sawyer
Mean, mean pride

Rush envisions Tom Sawyer as cocky, cruel and someone with swagger.

Though his mind is not for rent
Don’t put him down as arrogant
His reserve, a quiet defense
Riding out the day’s events
The river

This Tom is self-taught. His arrogance comes from learned experiences, far more advanced from young boys his age. Every day provides a new chance to learn like the original Tom on the Mississippi River.

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the mist, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift

Don’t judge a book by its cover. This is what every generation says about the one that follows. Take time to look at someone’s background and back story to see who they really are and why they act and behave the way that they do.

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his skies are wide

The world is complex. Meanwhile, love and life run deep into one’s soul. It takes time to figure people out.

Today’s Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the space he invades
He gets by on you

Every day was an adventure for Tom. Self-discovery kept Tom hungry to learn more about the unknown. This led Tom to invade private property, sneaking in and out before being noticed.

No, his mind is not for rent
To any god or government
Always hopeful, yet discontent
He knows changes aren’t permanent
But change is

The original Tom was into rugged individualism. He didn’t care what others thought, only concerned with self-discovery. Tom wasn’t influenced by any government or religion. Rather, life is an adventure filled with hope and disappointment. Change is a constant part of life.

And what you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the witness, catch the wit
Catch the spirit, catch the spit

The Bible disagrees with this stanza as the apostle Paul warns a first century church that bad character does corrupt good morals, 1 Corinthians 15:33.

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his eyes are wide

Life is filled with mysterious, questions that you search for answers to for years.

Exit the warrior
Today’s Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the energy you trade
He gets right on to the friction of the day

If you focus too much on what others are doing instead of what you need to be doing, you let Tom Sawyer get under your skin, your emotions. Instead, turn your energy and focus on the concerns of current events so that you can make a difference in life.

Final Thoughts:

What if the newest version of Tom Sawyer is Donald J. Trump? This would explain the rise in Trump Derangement Syndrome as democrats, liberals, progressives and socialists are obsessed with everything Trump. Rather than wakeup and try to find something that you hate about this president, start each new day by coming up with solutions to make this world a better place.

by Jay Mankus

Guy guy

Inspiration Behind the Living Years:

Mike Rutherford was touring with Genesis when he received a phone at 3AM in the morning. Mike’s father, a Royal Naval Captain during World War II, had passed away. Mike immediately went home, taking the Concorde to be there for his father’s funeral. The inspiration for the Living Years began a year following his dad’s death as Mike began to reassess their relationship. This time of reflection conceived the lyrics of the Living Years.

Biblical Application:

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. ¹² It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹³ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹⁴ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. ¹⁵ See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. ¹⁶ For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. ¹⁷ But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, ¹⁸ I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess, Deuteronomy 30:11-18.

Exegesis of the Living Years:

Every generation
Blames the one before
And all of their frustrations
Come beating on your door
I know that I’m a prisoner to all my father held so dear
I know that I’m a hostage, to all his hopes and fears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years

As the son of a former Captain in the Army during the Korean War, I understand how hard it is to talk to a military leader. The lyrics likely reflect the topics of conversation that Mike’s father was passionate about when he was alive.

More crumpled bits of paper
Filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations
I’m afraid that’s all we’ve got
You say you just don’t see it, he says it’s perfect sense
You just can’t get agreement, in this present tense
We all talk a different language, talking in defence

Mike appears to have tried to communicate with his father through letters and brief exchanges, but they could never get on the same page. Mike tried but couldn’t find the right words to say.

(Say it loud) say it loud (say it clear) oh, say it clear
(You can listen as well as you hear)
(It’s too late) it’s too late (when we die) oh, when we die
(To admit we don’t see eye to eye)

Mike’s regret is expressed in a powerful way through the chorus. Mike’s words serve as a call to action for anyone in a similar situation.

So we open up a quarrel
Between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future
It’s the bitterness that last
So don’t yield to the fortunes, you sometimes see as fate
It may have a new perspective, on a different day
And if you don’t give up, and don’t give in, you may just be OK

Timing is everything when it comes to a serious conversation. If it’s not the right moment or your opening words result in silence, it’s hard to get any where.

So say it, say it, say it loud (say it loud)
(Say it clear) oh, say it clear
(You can listen) as well as you hear
Because it’s too late (it’s too late)
It’s too late (when we die) oh, when we die
(To admit) we don’t see eye to eye

It’s okay to disagree, but you need to find common ground to move beyond a superficial conversation.

I wasn’t there that morning
When my father passed away
I didn’t get to tell him
All the things I had to say
Think I caught his spirit, later that same year
I’m sure I heard his echo in my baby’s newborn tears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years

Mike didn’t have any warning signs that his father’s health was in jeopardy. Perhaps Mike was reliving his last interaction with his father, wishing he said how he really felt.

So say it, say it, say it loud (say it loud)
(Say it clear) come on say it clear
(You can listen) as well as you hear
(It’s too late) it’s too late
(When we die) it’s too late when we die
(To admit we don’t see eye to eye)
Hey, so say it, say it, say it loud (say it loud)
Say it loud (say it clear) come on say it clear
(Say it loud, say it clear) don’t give up, don’t give in, and don’t look back ’til it’s too late
Come on say it (say it loud) say it loud, say it loud

Mike is urging sons who have living fathers to take the time in their living years to fully express what is on your heart, soul and mind. Do this now while your parents are still alive.

Final Thoughts:

I said goodbye to my father the Tuesday after Mother’s Day in 2023. I was fortunate enough as during my last embrace with my dad, he had a feeling that this would be our last time talking. Less than a week later, he passed away after a bad fall. Therefore, don’t assume anything in life. Treat each visit with your parents as if it’s your last.

by Jay Mankus