I recently saw Lyle Lovett perform on Austin City Limits and one of his songs captured me so much I went to Amazon
The title of the song is “In My Own Mind” and some of the lyrics are:
“I live in my own mind
Ain’t nothing but a good time
No rain, just sunshine
Out here in my own mind.”
While the song has some traditional country music themes and lyrics (Randy and Danny Ray are hooked on fishing and hunting 🙂 ), I was most struck by the chorus above. Very few things have I ever seen or heard that reflect the truth more than those words.
When we fully realize that the only way we ever really know the world is through our own thoughts and feelings — “in my own mind” — we determine the quality of life we live. If there’s “no rain, just sunshine” in our mind, that’s exactly how we see the world and the circumstances we encounter. Just as one person sees failure and another person sees opportunity in the exact same circumstance.
Of course, James Allen turned the Proverb writer’s words into a book — “as a man thinketh in his heart so is he,” and Earl Nightingale taught us that “you become what you think about.” But I kinda like the way the rural poet Lovett reminds me: “I live in my own mind, ain’t nothing but a good time.”
I love that. That makes me want to buy the CD. It’s so true and inspiring. It makes you think. I’m going to look up that guy right now. Thanks, Vic.
I first heard this song while flipping through channels. I stumbled upon a man swimming in a lake while fully clothed. As I increased the volume, I, like you, heard the chorus of the song and imediately connected with Mr. Lovett. This is an outstanding song, and I look forward to “discovering” his other songs as well. Thank you so much for your insight.