Singled Out: Big Daddy Love's Heed the Call

"Heed the Call" This song was inspired by the Chris McCandless story, known as "Into the Wild". I was very moved and inspired when I first encountered this tale of a young man who was unafraid to go after what he wanted. I was also inspired by what he sought. Chris McCandless would not have faired well in urban America in my opinion. Though I only know him through the presentation of his history, I can't help but feel like I did or at least could have known him. Regardless, I felt a connection to him and his ideals.

In the first verse the line, Time is just a wasted thought, a forgotten memory, peace is my battle lost, like a bird I have spread my wings, means that in his search for truth and purity, he had no sense of time and the battle lost was that he gave up on the path laid before by his parents and blazed his own trail.

In the last verse, as in the last days of McCandless' life, the realization that we are social creatures and experiences are meant to be shared brings the idealism back to earth. Some people may look at Chris McCandless in disgust or claim he had a death wish or go unaffected by what he did, but to me the point of the story is that he knew what he wanted and he went after, his own way. To hell with the rest.

Chorus:
Don't you bury me in that ground.
Just take what's left of me and toss it to the wind.
That willow tree can weep there all alone.
Mark my grave with a memory in your heart.
Cause I'm FREE