93: Feeling Like a Stumbling Fool

93. "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" by Billy Joel {#9; 7/85} [iTunes? Yes.] {Video: You're Only Human. Things we know about George Young: He's good at climbing bridges. He has a cute blonde girlfriend. He is easily distracted. He is a bad driver. He needs a new wallet. He's from the Class of '88. He's very good at catching harmonicas. He really likes blue jean vests.

(Me, I've never really understood vests. Unless it's bulletproof or part of a three-piece suit, I don't see the purpose.) (One more exception: my father-in-law uses the many pockets of his vest to smuggle contraband into Disneyland. They'll search your diaper bag, but they won't look at the vest.)

(And, in the "Things I Learned From the Interwebs" Files, the actor who played the drowning nerd with thick glasses would later go on to fame as Adam Savage, one of the hosts of the popular-ish television program Mythbusters.)}

This song was released on July 1, 1985, about two weeks before I reported to the MTC for the beginning of my two-year Mormon mission. So, since I wasn't going to be able to listen to the song for two years, I listened to it pretty much non-stop for those two weeks. (I imagine it would have been pretty difficult to be a huge Billy Joel fan and know that he came out with a new song right at the same time as a two-year departure to a strange, foreign land. I'm sure I had pity for someone in that situation while I listened to the song for the 423rd time.)

Obviously, the song also has a very good message. Over the years, I've had different periods where I fought with depression. I don't think I ever had really bad, clinical depression, more likely just the blues, doldrums, and the feel-sorry-for-myselfs. But, I never, ever got close to the point of thinking about suicide. I guess I'm the kind of guy who wants to watch the show all the way to the end, even if it's a crappy show. (Which explains why I didn't walk out of the theater during Modern Problems, possibly the worst Chevy Chase movie ever. (And that's saying a lot!))

(This, of course, is not to make light of those who have actually suffered from real depression. Never having really had it, I can't fathom how it can control people's lives. I'm just glad that my own personal funks never reached those depths.)
(Also, I think "My Own Personal Funks" would be a good album title.)

Anywho, I'd like to thank Billy Joel for making a great anti-suicide song. (And for doing so without multiple usage of the word, "damn.")

COMING UP NEXT: 45 or 33 and a third?