Transcendental Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHVBzLGAIbU

Link to song ^

Like the pine trees lining the winding road
I got a name, I got a name
Like the singing bird and the croaking toad
I got a name, I got a name
And I carry it with me like my daddy did
But I'm living the dream that he kept hid

Moving me down the highway
Rolling me down the highway
Moving ahead so life won't pass me by

Like the north wind whistling down the sky
I've got a song, I've got a song
Like the whippoorwill and the baby's cry
I've got a song, I've got a song
And I carry it with me and I sing it loud
If it gets me nowhere, I go there proud

Moving me down the highway
Rolling me down the highway
Moving ahead so life won't pass me by

And I'm gonna go there free

Like the fool I am and I'll always be
I've got a dream, I've got a dream
They can change their minds but they can't change me
I've got a dream, I've got a dream
Well, I know I can share it if you want me to
If you're going my way, I'll go with you

Moving me down the highway
Rolling me down the highway
Moving ahead so life won't pass me by
Moving me down the highway
Rolling me down the highway
Moving ahead so life won't pass me by

For my song I chose Jim Croce’s “I Got A Name” because I feel that it strongly represents Emerson’s ideas regarding transcendentalism. At the core of Emerson’s belief were his ideas on self-reliance. Emerson believed that we needed to trust ourselves and our own intuition. He said that the knowledge we were looking for was already inside of us. Emerson opposed conformity because he felt it was a denial of self and would hinder creativity and original thought. Similar ideas can be conveyed through Croce’s song. The title and refrain of the song imply that Croce is relying on himself and treats himself as an individual. Croce makes implications to conformity saying “they can change their minds but they can’t change me”. He also indicates that he trusts his own intuitions when he says “If it gets me nowhere, I go there proud”.

            Emerson also strongly believed that we were connected with all other parts of the universe and that through this self-awareness we could find truth within ourselves. Throughout the entire song Croce conveys this idea that we are connected with all parts of nature. Croce reveals this type of thinking in lyrics such as “like the pine trees lining the winding road” or “like the north wind whistling down the sky” and many other lines as well. Croce also exhibits his self-awareness through the songs chorus. Croce is not afraid to chase his dreams because he trusts himself and he understands the significance of time. Croce always continues to chase his dream in order that life will not pass him by.