500 miles
Somebody once told me that this song is a popular pub song down under. New Zealand specifically. Inebriated people, tipsy people, even those who are just less than sober sing this song together while they are downing their pints. Besides the fact that this song has the word "drunk" in it, this song does sound better sung when you’re cross-eyed and slobbering drunk. Believe me, I tried it. And i almost got mauled by an angry mob but that’s beside the point. I heard myself singing it and it sounded like i’m having fun or something like it. (well, at least, before the broken beer bottles thrown at me).
A few months ago, I forgot when, for some mystical reason I suddenly felt the urge to sing (this happens a lot) and for some reason this was the song that came to my mind. I believe i was hung over that day. So there I was, bored, and singing a god-awful song. Idly, as only a man hung over would, i thought about the length of a mile- i mean, is it that long that walking 1000 miles is theme enough to write a song about. Then, after a while, after being settled that indeed a mile is very long and 1000 mile is something like a thousand times of that, i thought to myself "can somebody do it?" "is it doable?"
At first i thought, well, only a drunken man will attempt such a dare. and even so, that drunken man won’t even get a yard away from the pub till he collapses and sleeps on the pavement (based on actual experience). And of course, there’s the MRT so why walk.
But alas, on the news a few nights ago, a man just did the impossible, encouraged and inspired by this song, he walked 1000 miles. And here’s the punch, he did it for exactly the reason glorified in the song- that thing they call "love". He walked 1000 miles to get to his girlfriend to prove that when he sang the song to her one night he really meant it and that he wasn’t just drunk that midnight and hoping that the song will excuse his going home late less than sober. I’m pretty sure he was drinking when he thought of the idea. But he did it, and succesfully he accomplished the herculean task and made the news. And he did it all for love. Awww. Wow! what a love story, yeah? Truly profound, read the lyrics then tell me it’s not profound. Well, it’s not Shakespeare or Neruda but it got this guy moving his fat ass away from the bar stool. If only for this, this song ranks as one of the best songs in the world for me this week- only for this week.
But seriously, it is sweet. I think I’m going to do the same when i get the chance.
Proclaimers - 500 Miles Lyrics
When I wake up well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you
When I go out yeah I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you
If I get drunk well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver yeah I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you
But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked 1,000 miles
To fall down at your door
When I’m working yes I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s working hard for you
And when the money comes in for the work I’ll do
I’ll pass almost every penny on to you
When I come home oh I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who comes back home to you
And if I grow old well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s growing old with you
But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked 1,000 miles
To fall down at your door
na na na, na na na
na na na, na na na
lika lika lika lika lika la
na na na, na na na
na na na, na na na
lika lika lika lika lika la
When I’m lonely well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man whose lonely without you
And when I’m dreaming well I know I’m gonna dream
I’m gonna dream about the time when I’m with you
When I go out well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you
and when I come home yes I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who comes back home with you
I’m gonna be the man whose coming home with you.
But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked 1,000 miles
To fall down at your door
na na na, na na na
na na na, na na na
lika lika lika lika lika la
na na na, na na na
na na na, na na na
lika lika lika lika lika la
na na na, na na na
na na na, na na na
lika lika lika lika lika la
na na na, na na na
na na na, na na na
lika lika lika lika lika la
But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked 1,000 miles
To fall down at your do-o-or