Existentialism is one of the dark versions of humanism. You are free to do and say anything you want. Yet you are completely responsible for the outcome of your actions. We were aware of this when we were children. But as time passed and we got old, we became more aware of it until we had only two options left: to deny it and blame other people or entities such as politicians, religious institutions, and the Illuminati or to accept it.
If we are truly free, what are we supposed to do with the time we have here? That’s the puzzle of existentialism. If we are truly responsible for our lives, all we have in this world is decisions. How should we spend our time? Where should we focus our attention?
While these notions are universal, confronting them becomes a dilemma. While thinking about such abstract topics, it’s easy to get confused and unable to comprehend what’s happening around us. There have been several musicians who have incorporated philosophy into their songs. They include:
1. Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone
There are a lot of songs composed by Bob Dylan that could make it on our list. But this is the most obvious song. Most people have declared it as the “greatest song of all time”. It encapsulates the deepest meaning of rock and roll. The song acknowledges the validity of intuition and intellect.
In addition of this philosophical song, you may be interested in reading books, articles, or essays on the topic. For example, recently it has become a fashionable trend in philosophy – teaching philosophy. Many interesting studies have been written about this trend in philosophy, as well as essays, some of which can be found at https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/teaching-philosophy/ to learn a lot of new things for yourself. Perhaps it even motivates someone to become a music and essay teacher or mentor.
2. Bonnie Billy – Wolf Among Wolves
This song is all about having an animal body in a civilized culture around human beings. Bonnie Billy uses his song to lament about the gender stereotypes and reflect what it means to be a man who has an urge to become free in a culture where he has to deny his instincts to make a living and to feel like a man among men. His song also delves into the mind-body problem which is a subject that has been debated for years by the Western culture.
3. Bob Marley ft. the Wailers – Running Away
Running Away is a strange but famous song in Bob Marley’s collection. He seems to be having an inner dialogue with someone who is doing wrong and can’t find a suitable place where he or she belongs. While Marley is referring to the insight that every man thinks he is carrying the heaviest burden, he tries to express himself in a general and engaging way to the world. According to Bob, a man who runs away from a woman is simply trying to run away from himself. Therefore, he should cease denying his intuition.
4. Elvis Presley – Milk Cow Blues Boogie
This is one of the first and best pop songs that Presley released at Sun Studio. Presley starts singing with his band and then stops the band after a few seconds. He then follows with an extended well of words that explode into an energetic rhythm of rock and roll. Starting with this recording, Presley and other famous rock and roll singers started focusing on collective awareness as a way to relate to their new experience.
5. The Beatles – The Word
Can you guess which word The Beatles were talking about? It’s something that children cry for and men look for. If you guessed it right, the word is love. The Beatles say that they exist to show everyone the light. And by light, they mean love. Love refers to empathy, care, and compassion for others. He tries to tell his listeners to give their loved ones something better or greater than their needs. This is one of the best songs for students studying philosophy. The words he uses are simple and the message is direct.
Conclusion
As you have seen, philosophy is such a complex and confusing puzzle. You cannot understand it by listening to one side alone. Plus, you have to rely on facts to come up with a comprehensive and logical conclusion. The world around us is full of things that we cannot comprehend how they operate to leave alone where they came from.
How do you become a free person when you live in a place that you cannot understand or comprehend? You can choose to listen to philosophical music and then reflecting thereafter. Once you start thinking clearly, the world around you will naturally open up.
Author Bio:
James Collins is an exceptional writer and editor. He is interested in painting, drawing, physics, and philosophy. He loves playing with his toddlers and singing during his free time.
