song can conjure an emotion experienced by the listener in an entirely different context but reframe and restate that emotion through the lens of the artist . A typical day for a physician can encompass a remarkable range of emotions and Stapleton remarkably captures and reframes the lion ’ s share . Therein lies the magic of music , this music , taking us out of our own heads , however briefly , and coming back in a better place . Stapleton lays this bare on “ Starting Over ,” a true album , meant to be savored and consumed as a whole , immersive musical journey . He pushes every button .
Stapleton bookends the album with the final track , “ Nashville , TN ,” a period at the end of a powerful sentence . Holly Gleason of American Songwriter captured the essence calling it a “ lullabye of good-bye to a place that shaped him , that showed him what was possible , but also offered a truth he couldn ’ t live with .” Starting the song , Stapleton sings “ I met you when I had a dream , not so long ago it seems ,” clearly recalling those first hopeful years in a new city . It does not take long to get to the goodbyes . “ So long , Nashville , Tennessee . You can ’ t have what ’ s left of me . And as far as I can tell , it ’ s high time I wish you well .” Yet with little regret and a realization gained from years closing down bars and writing songs , Stapleton wisely croons “ Now you won ’ t miss me when I ’ m gone . You ’ re custom made for movin ’ on .”
If those lyrics won ’ t pull you out of your head after a tough day at the office , nothing will . The truth is , Stapleton could be singing about anything in life : a lover , a colleague , an administrator , a friend , a career path . Substitute any of these for “ Nashville , TN ” and the song works ; it puts into perspective those things we all lose along our way and sometimes , the little care they pay us in return . Medicine is a tough field that we all met when “ we had a dream ,” but it changes at a breakneck pace that is often not for the better . Stapleton captures it , winding down the song , singing “ You ’ re not who you used to be .” As Stapleton punctuates the end of his album with this period , it feels remarkably translatable to punctuation in our own stories as physicians . Stapleton concludes with the most sage advice on the album , advice that would be indispensable to any physician fighting those who seek to tear down our autonomy and altruism . Simple and to the point , it ’ s pure Stapleton . “ So you be you , and I ’ ll be me . So long Nashville , TN .”
Dr . Kolter is a practicing internist with Baptist Health .
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