What's Important

From the Lifesmith Group album, "Rant."

A breath of fresh air, a warm bit of food, a long drink of water so cold,
Most would agree that these are the things that quell our survival’s need.
But I would argue most vehemently that society has twisted the mold
Higher ideals once sacrosanct but beneath now avarice and greed.
The ethics of truth, an admittance of Ruth, have commonly been rolled
Into abomination, intellect’s starvation, and no fear of human misdeed.
Everyone’s out to squeeze the consumer, the fool’s soul is bought and sold,
We covet another’s everything, where goods, land, and wealth are envied.

So many are driven, as a game to be played, to succeed at all it is true,
But success is a gray goal and not what you make it, so shiny and gold and green.
Happiness comes as a personal thing, a mind set that none could dare argue,
You make up your mind, life treats you kind, and not malevolent and mean.
Is it the absence of things that makes me sad, so downhearted and blue
Or is it the shallow indulgence of greed that vexes our ideal’s dream
Can western man once more be satisfied with simple pleasures and love that is true
Can he resist TV’s peer pressure, the six-pack mentality, ignorant of hygiene.

Do we think we are less than the next for a nicer car, house or plane?
Isn’t our will strong enough to overcome insecurity’s shaky facade?
What is to say for a man’s character if his life’s work is merely his gain?
What about relations with others, the loves he has had, the path he has trod?
Aren’t we the sum of what we have done, not what we have on this plane?
To give of ourselves for the welfare of all before we’re lowered into sod,
Or are we to take what we can, corporate man, stroking our covetous mane,
The time comes to all, indeed when you’re called, to answer the name of your God.