When people think of the band MADNESS they normally associate them with quirky upbeat songs with fun and witty lyrics, songs like “House Of Fun” and “Baggy Trousers” for example. But they have a darker side to their music and one song in particular has really always made me stop and think about life.
“Mistakes” was written by former band member John Hasler and was the B-Side to the bands second single “One Step Beyond” and was released on October 26th 1979.
I myself have felt the same way John must have been when he wrote this beautiful dark piece of poetry as i think most men at some stage of their life have.
MISTAKES BY MADNESS
It’s not so easy to find out later
About the necessary knowledge for survival,
You think you know enough to get you through life
But find out too late of chances passed by.
An early start is not so important
But timing is most essential,
Opportunity gone is gone forever
You’ll never know how much you could have been.
And once gone, gone forever
as You will find out to your cost
A better use can be made of your time
But don’t think that life is easy
You may never get a lucky break
They’ll put you down, cold and unknown
A total failure from womb to grave
“The true key is a trust in self
For when I trust myself, I fear no one else
I took control of my life, just as anyone can
I want everyone to see it’s in the palm of your hand
The past s gone, the future is yet unborn
But right here and now is where it all goes on”
– Beastie Boys
Quoted the above as the last thing in my 2nd book – it is everything i believe in, everything I stand for and something i remind myself of every day xxxx
Anstey
I know I’m high and I’m flying, but who’s the pilot,
Nobody home in this dome, I’m all alone in this zone,
Don’t think I’ll make it all alone, with these poems, you know
I’m like a lost prophet, and not to get off topic,
I got enough skeletons to fill a large closet,
On my way to heaven, every time I grab the ladder,
It’s shatters collapses to ashes,
It’ passes with the traffic,
I stay there sipping the plastic cups until that liquor hits me seven whites …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us1atMq3POY