FOMO* (fear of missing out)
I wrote this one a few months ago. Listening to some of my songs while I was out on my morning walk and this one came up.
I write differently, depending on whatever mood I happen to be in at the time. This one goes in the bin under “snark”. 🙂
I try to avoid a lot of the FUD* (fear, uncertainty, doubt) on social media and the (so-called) “news”. There’s really no escaping it in its entirety, but for me anyway, it helps to at least reduce the quantity. YMMV* (your mileage may vary) I’ll often have friends disagree with my philosophy of avoidance – “Don’t you want to know what’s going on?!” they’ll ask, incredulous. Hey, if that’s your thing, go for it. For me, it’s not unlike asking a recovering alcoholic “don’t you want to go enjoy a beer?” No. Actually, I don’t, but thank you for asking.
It goes without saying that – here in the US, at least – we’ve just been through yet another contentious election season. Pummeled by TV ads, web ads, a steady flood of paper junk-mail (what happened to caring about “the environment”…?) and not a few friends on different teams shouting at each other “Your candidate is a Nazi!” “No, YOUR candidate is a Nazi!”
And of course, all year round, the endless ads for unpronounceable medications promising to cure you of ailments you never even knew existed “This song is brought to you by Damitol – because reality can be STRESSFUL!” Ask your doctor if Damitol is right for you…
And that’s not even to mention my platform of choice for making my songs available for anybody who’s interested (or bored) – YouTube. Have you noticed? Everything seems to be “INSANE!” From new iPhone colors to some self-proclaimed productivity guru hawking his/her “next-level” plan for “getting sh*t done” Yes, the obligatory potty word is there to prove that their GTD* (getting things done) plan is
INSANE!…
and only $99 if you sign up in the next 12 hours.
So this one is called FOMO – written with a healthy dose of snark and designed to help me vent a little of my frustration.
(Psssst…! Don’t forget to smash that LIKE button and subscribe for more INSANE songs from me! You don’t want to miss out! 😉 But seriously – if you have any thoughts you want to share, feel free! Likes, listens, subscriptions, etc. not required)
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Breaking news! Another breaking story!
Breaking news! Somebody’s outraged now!
If you’re not perpetually distracted
How can you claim you’re really living anyhow?
Better check your phone before your coffee
Some celebrity is having too much fun
Somebody posted, there’s already ninety-nine replies-
No opinion? Well, you must be the only one.
[Chorus]
Don’t you want to know what’s going on?
Don’t you want to keep up with the news
Gotta check your timeline every morning, noon and night
Gotta stay engaged – You snooze – you lose
[Verse 2]
I used to know the names of all my neighbors
Now I know the names of strangers’ fights
I’ll tell you every headline from this morning
And find a fresh catastrophe tonight
Seems like everybody’s got another angle
Glad to sell you something you can use
Whatever plagues your day – whether real or imagined
There’s a new prescription med to cure your blues
[Spoken]
This song is brought to you by Damitol…
Because reality can be stressful!
[Bridge]
If I didn’t know any better-
I’d think it’s to distract me from what’s real
Could be life was what was happening
While I was watching someone’s highlight reel
(Spoken: don’t forget to subscribe and smash that “LIKE” button!)
[Verse 3]
When did this become my steady diet?
Seems a lot like junk food for my brain
Hey, I like Doritos as much as the next guy
But something real might help me to better maintain
I’ve been working on this song for hours
Something’s missing – something that I need
Think I’m gonna go and grab a bag of Oreos,
A Mountain Dew, and check my Facebook feed…
[Final Chorus]
Don’t you want to know what’s really going on?
Is it all just noise disguised as news?
Maybe something meaningful is happening
Where do I spend my hours? I can choose…
Don’t you want to know what’s going on?
Don’t you need to keep up with the news
Gotta check your timeline every morning, noon and night
Gotta be engaged – You snooze – you lose…