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I’ve been ridiculously addicted to Sundance Channel’s “Live From Abbey Road” since I discovered it a few months ago. The second season opened with Bryan Adams, Ben Harper, and Justin Currie. Harper (who is unfortunately not related to me) talks about his background in music and his love for writing. As a writer (and a writing teacher), I was more than impressed to hear what he had to say.

“Inspiration is the moment I pull out my book. I never leave home without these two things: the moleskin and the pen. And then you just dig in, you just get pages. So at the end, you have a book, and each book tells a story. I go through about about a book every couple weeks. It’s just all about the ideas and what’s going on. Ideas get hummed into a tape machine or telephone answering machine.



The majority of my day ends up in a book. Because I know it’ll retain it. I wish I could retain everything I hear and every conversation I have that’s worth repeating, but I don’t. So I always just… you’ll see me in a corner and that’s how every day… really it’s the best way to stay inspired daily. Just take the best parts of life and get them on the page.”

This dialogue came after his performance of “Better Way” from his 2006 album Both Sides Of The Gun. I have heard the song several times, but to see it performed live was mesmerizing. He sings with such passion and conviction that you feel every word in the deepest part of you. I’ve seen him perform live twice now, and I was less than impressed. But watching him sing “Better Way” gave me chills. Maybe it’s because of the state of our current economy and the upcoming election, but the lyrics and his performance resonated within me and gave me inspiration for this post.

Here are the lyrics for “Better Way”:

I’m a living sunset,
Lightning in my bones.
Push me to the edge,
But my will is stone.



‘Cause I believe in a better way!



Fools will be fools,
And wise will be wise.
But I will look this world
Straight in the eyes.



I believe in a better way!
I believe in a better way!



What good is a man
Who won’t take a stand?
What good is a cynic
With no better plan?



I believe in a better way!
I believe in a better way!



Reality is sharp;
It cuts at me like a knife.
Everyone I know
Is in the fight of their life!



I believe in a better way!



Take your face out of your hands
And clear your eyes.
You have a right to your dreams
And don’t be denied.



I believe in a better way!
I believe in a better way!
I believe in a better way!

The lyrics that stick out most to me are “Everyone I know /Is in the fight of their life!” and “Take your face out of your hands /And clear your eyes. /You have a right to your dreams / And don’t be denied.” Although this was written in 2006, it sounds to me as if it were written today.

Everyone I know is struggling to make ends meet. It’s hard to pay for increasing gas prices and living expenses when wages stay the same and the stock market goes down.

The last verse is the most important and has a call to action for its listeners. We can’t sit around and feel sorry for ourselves and our situations. We have to fight for what we want, what we dream of, and we can’t take no for an answer.

With the election coming up in less than two months, we have an option to make a difference. While you make think that your one vote won’t matter, you couldn’t be more wrong. And if you truly believe in one party over the other, then you have an even greater chance to make a change by letting your voice be heard to as many people who will listen.

I believe there’s a better way, and I hope you do too.