I’m just a believer, that things will get better
It doesn’t matter what is out there
Monday: The day voted most likely to make you want to stay in bed
Moxie: Confidence, determination, force of character
Monday Moxie: A tiny spark of “Go get ‘em!” curated by yours truly to help you get your day (even a Monday) off to a good start
Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
I don’t think I go so far that I fall into the Pollyanna category. And I am careful to steer clear of toxic positivity. But I do have a natural tendency toward believing that everything will work out. Eventually.
That’s the theme of this week’s Monday Moxie pick: “Believer” by American Authors.
This was the song that helped launch the band’s career, even though the early demo that landed in the hands of folks at Sirius Radio’s Alt Nation station wasn’t the finished version.
Talking to American Songwriter, Zac Barnett (vocals and guitar) tells the story of the song’s creation, “When we wrote that, we wanted to do something completely fun and upbeat. James had just found a banjo under his girlfriend’s bed like two days before that, so he actually learned banjo for that song.”
The Songfacts page about “Believer” quotes Barnett in an interview on Radio.com (now Audacity):
"In the verses it's talking about all these flaws and insecurities that we have as people. It's saying, 'I'm sheltered, I'm scared, I'm nervous that I'm not getting anywhere. I'm jealous and I'm slow. But at the end of the day, these are the things that make me who I am.'"
"When the chorus hits," Barnett added, "it's 'I'm a believer that things are going to get better.' You can be who you are and stay true to yourself, but in the end things are always going to get better in life."
That’s a really nice sentiment, don’t you think?
They may be based in Brooklyn, NY now, but I was tickled to learn that this band first came together when its members were students at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. Living just north of Boston, I now feel a little local pride about this band’s success.
Anyway, this one goes out to everyone, but especially to you if you’re having a particularly tough day or living through a difficult era of your life. There are a lot of really hard, scary things going on in the world today. Sometimes, it can seem irresponsible to be optimistic about anything. But I do believe (See what I did there?) that every good thing starts with someone being willing to believe in something.
What about you?
How do you feel about the power of believing?
Believer
American Authors, 2013 — Track 1 on the album, Oh, What A Life
I’m just a believer, that things will get better
Some can take it or leave it, but I don’t wanna let it go
[x2]
I’m a little bit sheltered
I’m a little bit scared
I’m a little bit nervous
I’m goin’ no where
I’m a little bit jealous
I’m a little bit slow
I’m a little bit hurtful
And I don’t wanna let it go
No…
And I don’t wanna let it go
I’m a little bit angry
When every one’s around
But I get a little lonely
When no one’s out
I feel my demons
Misleadin’ me
I’m just a believer, that things will get better
Some can take it or leave it, but I don’t wanna let it go
[x2]
Maybe when I get older
And I’m in the ground
The weight’s off my shoulders
It was bringin’ me down
I’ve never been that lucky
I’ve never tasted fame
I’m always lookin’ for something
But I hate changin’
Time fades
There’s no space
As life breaks new ground
I’m just a believer, that things will get better
Some can take it or leave it, but I don’t wanna let it go
[x2]
It doesn’t matter what is out there
My head is spinning and it won’t bail out
It doesn’t matter what is out there
Cause time fades
There’s no space
As life breaks new ground
I’m just a believer, that things will get better
Some can take it or leave it, but I don’t wanna let it go
[x3]
Writers: David Rublin, Zachary Barnett, Aaron Accetta, Matthew Sanchez, James Shelley, Shep Goodman
Producer: Shep Goodman
©(P) The Island Def Jam Music Group
I've often wondered if our ability to believe in a better future is what actually creates that future. It's like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Maybe believing isn't just a coping mechanism, but an active force shaping our reality.
I’m a believer! I think life would be a lot more miserable for me if I wasn’t. I am a firm believer that ALL IS WELL. That doesn’t mean that everything’s always great - there will always be difficulties. But I believe in the end everything will work out. “And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”