Song Blog: Head Full Of Doubt/Pocket Full of Promise

Today’s song blog is the Avett Brothers ‘Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promises’. I heard this song for the first time a year ago and was struck by the emotions it pulled out of me. I couldn’t quite explain the feeling at first. I’m not sure that I can now. When I listen to it, feelings that I struggle to name come to the surface.

And in times like these, we need more good art to express the things that struggle to be said.

We live in a time of increasing division and uncertainty. We struggle to know and define the truth of our situation as a country. There is so much misinformation. So much distrust. So much doubt.

Not only are we experiencing this in our own country, but we’re feeling it in larger ways. Our interconnected struggle is broadcast worldwide. We have news streams at our fingertips in an instant. Any information we seek out, whether we want it to gain knowledge or suit an agenda, is only a Google away. We are simultaneously drowning in information and misinformation.

There’s a Darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those who don’t see it.

The struggle of our time is the grey areas within all the black and white. We are being presented information as if there are only two sides to the issue. You are either on one side or the other. But the truth is somewhere in the grey.

This song speaks to me about the grey. Recent events have highlighted many grey areas we are struggling with as a society. Issues of race and gender equality, environmental degradation vs. economic “progress”, social safety nets vs. socialism, government reform, and the status quos. We are facing down multiple issues at once while being told there are only two sides with which to solve those issues. Meanwhile, we watch as both sides fail to solve them.

I can see this clearly. I see my mounting frustrations and worry increase as the issues become more pronounced and complicated. I see my concerns not being addressed by the majority of our political leaders. I see the continued poverty of my communities in both wealth and mental/physical health. I see my fellow POC and Indigenous Americans being treated by a double standard that has been built into our society.

I see I see I see. And I'm frightened by those who don't.

Now is the time to name what our issues are so we can begin to address them. By naming it we can begin the process of healing it. 

I anticipate much good art to spring forth from this time we are living in. There’s too much not being spoken for it to not come out in other ways. I know there’s been much creation coming from my unanswered frustrations and anxiety. Poems and paintings and powerful heArtwork that spills from my soul onto paper.

Hopefully, we will continue to see that new come forth, from every able and willing heart out there feeling the same. Scream it out. With your words, your songs, your paint, your dance. Find a way to express that inexpressible feeling that we are all struggling with.

In the meantime, we have art like this song to pull from. Find comfort in. To get the last of those bad thoughts finally out.