Vagabonds: Anthology of the Mad Ones Vagabonds Vol. 3 | Page 36

B: (B speaks plainly with the unexpected compassion) You want music
with real depth? Look at the way music affects the fans. They like music
that says what they’re thinking, they love to relate to it – to know they’re
not alone. That is on the surface. That is what they want. But like most of
us who have confused what we want with what we need they are left
unfulfilled… Real depth is going beyond that, giving them what they
crave. What they need. There is all this suffering in society, and if you
only take the words your fans feel and give it back to them it is only
adding to it. You keep them stuck. And you stay stuck with them. Clinging
and grasping to the refuse of a world that could have been. What you have
to do is move beyond that, take the next step – shoot out into nothingness
and move past the popular symbols and scripts. Reimagine life. Give them
back their hope. How can the fans start to feel better about themselves if
the artist never evolves? Their journey happens through you. You’ve got
to dig deeper to make real depth and then you have to take responsibility
and make something of it. If you continue to be miserable – or writing
songs like you actually are even when you aren’t -- your fans will stay
miserable too. There is no progress when the artist fails to take the
journey… (Beat.) Here’s some advice: (Quoting the advice A gave B when
they met the very first time.) “Start calling your own shots.” … Quit your
band. Leave the record company. Go back to making music on street
corners… rediscover purpose in what you sing. Play what is in your heart.
(Stands up to leave.) And take off those bullet-proof pajamas, gramps.
(Exits. A continues to sit while smoking.)
A: Young and arrogant… just like I used to be. (Beat. Pours more coffee
and sits starring out the door.)
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