This is about my song for this week, a focus. “No Shortcuts” by Heather Maloney with Darlingside
I usually have a song focus of a week, often of a day as well. I listen to music almost constantly. I don’t hear lyrics, I only hear the tune. What I do from there is look up the lyrics for something that sounds compelling (which is why I’m delighted that Spotify now makes it easy to look them up).
I love this song, sent to me by my friend Katie, because wow. WOW. Wow, wow, wow.
Check it out:
I love this because I know the truth in this. The shortest way to anything is to simply go through it. The shortest way through the profundity of pain is simply sitting with it, feeling it, letting it move through you, letting is pass.
In the moment, nothing feels longer and call for distractions is intense. The yearning to not feel it or to not be present can be overwhelming. But ultimately? It’s longer that way.
There are no shortcuts.
We’re looking at our own evolution as a culture here, our own movement through our lives, our world. Either we dig in, dig deep and feel it all, overcome the agony that presence can be. Or we lose it.
Watch Heather Maloney and Darlingside sing this on YouTube (they are so cute!)
The Lyrics for No Shortcuts
We were drivin in the country woods and we didn’t know why we were there.
Well maybe we were runnin from the big city or maybe we were runnin to the mountain air.
And then we came upon a cabin of a diner and oh, how they did stare.
I said “Hey…
what’s the quickest way to your Motel 6, out in these sticks?”
Said “Hey…
we’re feelin kinda weary, we been drivin all day and we need a place to stay.”
And they said “Baby there aint no shortcuts on your way.
Baby there aint no highways in these parts.
You know baby gonna have to drive yourself down every little windy road,
If you really wanna get to where you’re goin.”
Well I was sittin on the therapist couch and I didn’t know why I was there.
Well maybe I was runnin from the big issues or maybe I was runnin to a listenin ear.
And then I came upon a maze of emotion and oh, how I did fear.
I said, “Hey…
what’s the quickest way out of this mess to that happiness?”
Said “Hey…
I’m feelin kinda weary, I been cryin all day and I need a little break.”
And they said “Baby there aint no shortcuts on your way.
Baby there aint no highways in these parts.
You know baby gonna have to drive yourself down every little windy road,
If you really wanna get to where you’re goin.”
Well I was sittin in the meditation hall and I didn’t know why I was there.
Well maybe I was runnin from the noise outside or maybe I was runnin to the stillness there.
And then I came upon greed, hatred and delusion and oh, how I did fear.
I said “Hey…
what’s the quickest way to freedom and love, how do I rise above?”
Said “Hey…
I’m feelin kinda weary I’ve been sittin all day with my mind in disarray.”
And they said “Baby there aint no shortcuts on your way.
Baby there aint no highways in these parts.
You know baby gonna have to drive yourself down every little windy road,
If you really wanna get to where you’re goin.”
If you really wanna get to where you’re goin.
If you really wanna get to where you’re goin.
Meriah Nichols is a counselor. Solo mom to 3 (one with Down syndrome, one on the spectrum). Deaf, and neurodiverse herself, she’s a gardening nerd who loves cats, Star Trek, and takes her coffee hot and black.
